Ralph and Dale
Raymond Parks
NASCAR pioneer Raymond Parks, who was owner of the car that won its first championship, has died at the age of 96.
Parks was the last living member of the group that formed NASCAR in 1947 in a hotel in Daytona Beach, Fla.
"The NASCAR community is saddened by the passing of Raymond Parks. Raymond was instrumental in the creation of NASCAR as a participant in the historic meeting at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach. He was also our first championship owner. Raymond is a giant in the history of NASCAR and will always be remembered for his dedication to NASCAR," NASCAR chairman Brian France said in a statement.
Parks teamed with mechanic Red Vogt to produce championship-caliber equipment, and in 1948 his driver, Red Byron, won the modified championship. Then in 1949, Parks and Byron again teamed up to win the Strictly Stock -- the predecessor to today's Sprint Cup -- title
