Katron “Cannonball” Sosebee

Katron "Cannonball" Sosebee

Katron Sosebee of Lilburn, Georgia was born in rural Habersham County, Georgia, and would be a force to be reckoned with on dirt tracks throughout the state.

He began his racing career in 1953 at the legendary Peach Bowl in Atlanta.

From the early 50s to the 70s, Sosebee went toe-to-toe with the likes of Leon Sells, Bud Lundsford, Jabez Jones, T.C. Hunt, Bruce Brantley and Harold Fryar, just to name a few.  Sosebee was a frequent winner in the Super Modified ranks at the famed Peach Bowl in Atlanta, where he was the NASCAR points champion in 1963.

1963 was a big year for “Cannonball”.  That was the year he set a qualifying records at Montgomery Motor Speedway in Montgomery, Alabama, Boyd’s Speedway in Ringgold, Georgia and Cleveland Speedway in Cleveland, Tennessee.

He also recorded wins at those tracks

Sosebee made it all the way to Daytona in the early 70s, but his bid to run in the Daytona 500 was thwarted by an accident in the pits that totaled his car.

After retiring from racing, Sosebee went on to build and maintain cars for his son Bo, and his nephew Michael, racing mostly at Lanier National Speedway.

Sosebee with Jimmy Mosteller in victory lane at Atlanta's Peach Bowl. Photos courtesy Katron Sosebee

A look at "Cannonball's" super modified.

Sosebee is congratulated in victory lane.