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.
I just came across this photo of Buck Clardy from the Charleston News & Courier, May 21, 1949 -
That's why I love the goodol' days so much more, Dave. My, how times have changed.
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.
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)
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.
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 -
Thanks for the great write-up on the 1955 Grand National races in Winston-Salem!I had dug up the newspaper articles on these awhile back but forgot about them, so it was a pleasure reading up on them again. So far I haven't found any pictures of these races other than a couple of grainy microfilm photos, but I know they're out there.
One correction though - The photo you have on your blog of the track is actually the early Piedmont Park Fairgrounds. That was built in the very early 1900's by the Reynolds family. The track was built for horse racing, but they did have quite a lot of motorcycle racing startingin the 20's andopen wheel big car racingfrom the mid to late 30's, and some negro stock car racing in 1949. That track and fairgrounds was torn downafter 1952. A new fairgrounds was built in 1951 which is still used today call the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds. This was the track used in the 1955 Grand National races. Sadly, this trackwas removed in the early 80's but the grandstands are still there.
Here's a couple of photos of the track, and you're welcome to use them if you'd like -
This just sold on eBay for a song. I was going to bid but snoozed. I'd really like to know what year it is though. There's got to be some clues in there somewhere. Ned Jarrett didn't start racing full time until what.. 53? And the pics of him look really early. I'd guess this is around '53 to '55. It's a rare piece of racing history and I hope someone here got it.
Wow, that looks like early 40s. This is when the fairs were really great - midget car and motorcycle races, real freak shows, acrobat shows, circus animal shows, burlesque and girly shows, hell drivers and wall of death... most all that has been sterilized or taken away today. I wish I could go back in time. Great find, Dave!
