Race number 41 of NASCAR's third season of the Strickly Stock, by now known as Grand National racing, was run on this date in 1951 on the .75 mile dirt track known as Lakeview Speedway in Mobile, Alabama. As is the situation with many of the early races, there is not much information as to qualifying, lap leaders, attendance or caution flags. However, for this event, we do know that Frank Mundy in Perry Smith's Studebaker captured the pole with a speed of 61.113 miles per hour. As for lap leaders, that is not an issue for this event as Frank Mundy led all 150 laps and won going away. The National Championship belonged to Herb Thomas after the race although he had fallen out on lap 40 when the rear end in the Leonard Trippett Hudson he was driving failed. Even so, Thomas beat out Fonty Flock for the title althought Flock finished fourth in Mobile.
Bob Flock flipped his Oldsmobile early in the race and was treated for injuries at the track. Leaving before the race was over, Bob drove himself to Pensacola, Florida and checked himself into a hospital. Upon examination, the doctors determined that Bob had broken several ribs. Doctors did what they could for the ribs and when Bob returned 8 days later for a follow up examination, doctors discovered he had broken his neck as well. Doctors were stating that Bob would not be able to race at all in the 1952 season.
Perry Smith, who owned the Studebaker driven by Mundy, was a well known and popular car owner who was also known for his willingness to help anyone at any time. Less than 2 weeks after this race, Perry was flying an invalid woman, her nurse and another passenger to Chicago in his private plane. It was necessary for theinvalid women to be in Chicago, but the plane went down near Greensburg, Indiana, killing the 83 year old women and the others aboard the plane. It was indeed a sad day for many people when the news spread of Smith's crash.
Finishing order:
1. Frank Mundy, Perry Smith Studebaker, winning $1,000.00
2. Tim Flock, Mobile Motors Hudson, winning $700.00
3. Red Duvall, Hammond Motors Packard, winning $450.00
4. Fonty Flock, Augusta Speed Shop Oldsmobile, winning $350.00
5. Don Oldenberg, Hammond Motors Packard, winning $200.00
6. Buddy Shuman
7. Gober Sosebee
8. Ed Samples
9. Jimmie Lewallen
10. Sonny Black
11. Lucky Mays
12. Bill Miller
13. Bud Erb
14. Hank Lee
15. Ted Tedrow
16. Lee Petty
17. Gene Tapia
18. Lewis Luther
19. Billy Carden
20. Bob Flock
21. Herb Thomas
22. Jack Smith
Top five in Championship standings for the season.
1. Herb Thomas, starts 33, wins 7, total earnings $21,025.00
2. Fonty Flock, starts 33, wins 8, total earnings $15,535.00
3. Tim Flock, starts 33, wins 7, total earnings $15,165.00
4. Lee Petty, starts 31, wins 1, total earnings $7,340.00
5. Frank Mundy, starts 24, wins 3, total earnings $7,095.00
Honorthe past, embrace the present, dream for the future
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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
