On June 5, 1949 Winston-Salem Speedway aka Peace Haven Speedway had a NASCAR sanctioned Double Feature Modified event in which Cotton Owens won the first feature, and Fonty Flock won the second.
I was hoping one of you historians could tell me if this was Cotton's first ever NASCAR victory? If not, could you tell me what NASCAR sanctioned events he had won before this?
Here is an article from the 1950 NASCAR Yearbook -
Perry, thank you very much for your response and insight to this. Even though he had won many races prior to this under other early sanctioning bodies,I thought it would be interesting trivia about the track and Cotton's career if it actually was his first 'NASCAR' win. I'll take your advice and dig up as many race records as I can find to establish if it is true or not. I believe I can do it, and I'll post my findings here.
About Fonty Flock living in Spartanburg - in the 1950 yearbook there is a great section with 100 driver profiles, from Bob Apperson to Ralph Zrimsek. Some of them are pretty extensive, with a lot of personal info like their birthday, home addresses, and kids names. Fonty Flock's address was RFD 1, Hillcrest, Spartanburg, S.C.
It's also interesting to me that Tim Flock's address was 1017 Louise Road, Winston-Salem, N.C. I had spoken to a man here in Winston-Salema few years ago that said he went to high school in the late'60s with a girl with the last name Flock, and the rumor was her father was a famous race car driver. Tim did win the 1949 Bowman Gray Championship.
Here are my findings so far -
According to the list of 52 NASCAR races for the 1948 season, Cotton Owens didn't get any wins. His best finish was 2nd at Greensboro Fairgrounds on June 20.
For the 1949 NASCAR Modifiedseason leading up to his June 5 win, here are the dates, tracks, and winners -
Date Track Winner
Jan. 16 Daytona BeachMarshall Teague
Jan. 23 Broward Speedway, Fort Lauderdale Fonty Flock
March 27 North Wilkesboro Speedway Fonty Flock
April 3 Charlotte SpeedwayRed Byron
April 10 Greensboro Fairgrounds Curtis Turner
April 17 Lakeview Speedway Bob Flock
April 18 Winston-Salem Speedway Curtis Turner
April 25 Martinsville SpeedwayFonty Flock
May 1 Occoneechee Speedway Fonty Flock
May 8 Lakewood Speedway Olin Allen
May 15 Charlotte Speedway Red Byron
May 18 Bowman Gray Stadium Fonty Flock
May 22North Wilkesboro Speedway Tim Flock
May 25 Bowman Gray Stadium Joe Eubanks
May 29 Lakeview Speedway Tim Flock
June 1 Bowman Gray StadiumCurtis Turner
(Source - 1950 NASCAR Yearbook)
Looking through the other profiles, here are a few more drivers in your area -
Samuel Richard "Dick" Blackwell - Tucapau, S.C. (no exact address given)
Buck Clardy - 155 Augusta Street, Greenville, S.C.
Joe F. Eubanks - 414 Brawley Street, Spartanburg, S.C.
John Alvin Hawkins - 426 North Church Street, Spartanburg, S.C.
Louise Smith - New Easely Highway, Greenville, S.C.
Billy Richard Tidmore - 22 Sorentrue Ave., Naval Base, S.C.
Can you imagine the squawks from today's prima donna millionaire NASCAR drivers if an event program listed their addresses??? Heck, they don't even want the fans to know the parking spot address of their fancy motorcoaches at the track.
That's why I love the goodol' days so much more, Dave. My, how times have changed.
I just came across this photo of Buck Clardy from the Charleston News & Courier, May 21, 1949 -
I can never say it often enough, Bud Moore was the finest car owner I ever worked with in NASCAR. He always kept his word, contract or no. He always gave more than asked. He did favors behind the scenes for people expecting nothing in return. Today's money grubbers should thank their lucky stars that Bud helped pave the way for their financial windfalls.
Great picture of the Spartanburg gang, Perry. My father grew up in Spartanburg, his father worked there for the Clinchfield Railroad.
Good luck on the new book, and thanks for keeping the history alive.
