Today we will take a time trip back to July 6, 1952. to a half-mile dirt track known as Monroe Speedway located in Monroe, Michigan. Fifteen drivers would show up to run 100 miles/200 laps. My reference source, Greg Fielden's "Forty Years of Stock Car Racing" doesn't give us many details, but we do know that Tim Flock qualified on the pole with Buddy Shuman second fastest. Herb Thomas qualified third, Fonty Flock fourth, and Bob Moore fifth.

There is no record of lap leaders, lead changes or caution flag laps. We do know the average speed of the race was 44.499 mph so we can imagine there were a few caution laps run.

Buddy Shuman, second place qualifier, was out of the event on lap 146 when the engine quit in his Hudson. This race would be Tim Flock's 14th Grand National win of his career and the fifth win in the 1952 season of the 20 races to date. Herb Thomas would record his third consecutive runner up finish.

Top five finishers were:

1. Tim Flock, Ted Chester Hudson, winning $1,000.00

2. Herb Thomas, FABUOUS Hudson Hornet, winning $700.00

3. Lee Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $450.00

4. Fonty Flock, Air Lift Oldsmobile 88, winning $350.00

5. Ray Duhigg, Julian Petty Plymouth, winning $200.00

Remaining positions, sixth through fifteenth were Red Deval, Ted Chamberlain, Iggy Katona, Fred Bethune, Bob Moore, Gibb Orr, Buddy Shuman, Bucky Sager, Dick Rathmann, and Dick Martin.

Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.

You may want to note the name of 8th place finisher, Iggy Katona. If you are not familiar with that name, do yourself a favor and Google the name. While not widely known in NASCAR circles, Iggy Katona is a stock car racing legend in other series, mainly the ARCA series. He ventured into NASCAR several times and performed very respectable although it is my personal belief the lack of equipment equal to the NASCAR teams was the main reason he didn't have more success on the NASCAR circuit. My personal encounters with the gentleman were always very pleasant and he is someone of whom I still have good memories every time I read his name. Check him out. It's worth the time in my humble opinion.

I noted that my reference book shows these guys raced in Detroit, MI on June29th, Ontario, Canada on July 1st, Owego, NY on July 4th, Monroe, Michigan on July 6th, and Morristown, NJ on July 11th. That was quite a bit of traveling on two lane roads of the day. Some of that was through the narrow, twisting mountain roads my Daddy would drive the family on our yearly trips to visit his family in Rochester, NY. Every time I think of those pioneers and all they did to give us the sport we have, I am thankful that men of such dedication came into the sport of stock car racing. No other sport, no other civilian endeavor required as much sacrifice as what these guys made.

I think I'm going out today and drive some of the South Carolina back roads, the old two lane highways now filled with abandoned gas stations. Most of those abandoned gas stations probably once housed, or at least sponsored a local race car. Think I'll drive my Chevy truck on this adventure. Have a great day everyone!

I love that kind of drive. Used to go out around 6:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings and make a drive like that. Hope you enjoy.

I do recall the late Iggy Katona driving a particular brand of stock car highly favored by certain RR members!!!

From Dave Westerman's Florida Stock Cars Site

Yes, Dave, I know. That is one reason I would go out of my way to speak to Iggy every chance I got.

Found the info below about Monroe Speedway - Monroe, Michigan on a retro Michigan history site - www.waterwinterwonderland.com

6/20/2007 - Ron Gross Nascar ran a Grand National race here on July 6, 1952. It was 200 laps on the 1/2 mile dirt track. Average speed was 44. 499 mph, and the pole speed was 57. 6 mph. The race was won by Tim Flock in a ''52 Hudson, Herb Thomas was second, and Lee Petty came in third. Nine of the fifteen starters finished the race, and there were two cars on the lead lap. 6/20/2007 - Art Bean My Dad Jessie Bean had a 1937 Ford race car there in 1951 that my uncle Lee Goins drove #777. I know it was 1951 because my Dad had a new 1951 Ford that he pulled the race car to the track with. I think it was out South Custer Rd toward Dundee, Ida area. Joe Lake had a garage or tire place on Telegraph Rd and had several race cars there. There were a few more race tracks in the Monroe area. FROM BRIAN NORTON FROM BRIAN NORTON FROM BRIAN NORTON