Carroll Shelby rose from a modest background as a chicken farmer in Texas to become a legendary figure in auto racing. He achieved fame by defeating the best drivers of his time, including winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959 while still wearing his chicken overalls. A heart condition forced him to retire from racing, but he then founded Shelby American, assembling a team of skilled mechanics to create innovative sports cars like the Shelby Cobra. He later led Ford and the GT40 to numerous victories against Ferrari at Le Mans. Driven by the greatest names in racing history, Shelby's cars secured his lasting reputation. He remains the only person to win Le Mans as both a driver and a manufacturer, and the only American auto-manufacturer to win the World Manufacturing Championship.