Hall was also involved in the moonshine trade in north Georgia in the 1930s and 1940s and would compete in three events in the NASCAR Strictly Stock Series shortly following its formation.
Born to a poor family in Dawsonville, Georgia, Roy Hall was described as "obscenely handsome and absurdly cocky".
[4] His first major stock car race was at Lakewood Speedway near Atlanta, Georgia on November 11, 1938;[5] he was credited with a fifth-place finish.
[15] Hardened by the experience, Hall returned to compete in the newly formed NASCAR Strictly Stock series at North Wilkesboro Speedway in October 1949, finishing sixth;[16] two weeks later NASCAR Modified race at Tri-City Speedway, Hall suffered a serious accident, leaving him in the hospital for over a month.
[18] Through his exploits moonshining and racing, Hall became a Southern legend; in addition to being considered "one of the best early stock car racers",[19] ballads were written about him by Blind Willie McTell and Jim Croce.