1949 NASCAR Strictly Stock Series inaugural race

Summary

The NASCAR Strictly Stock Series inaugural race was the first stock car race sanctioned by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). Held on June 19, 1949 at the Charlotte Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina, the race comprised 200 laps on a 0.75-mile (1.21 km) dirt oval. Bob Flock won the pole position for the race with a top speed of 67.958 mph (109.368 km/h). Glenn Dunaway initially claimed the victory in his 1947 Ford, but was later disqualified because his car had spread rear springs. The win was instead awarded to Jim Roper, driver of a 1949 Lincoln.[2]

1949 Strictly Stock Race 1
Race details[1]
Race 1 of 8 in the 1949 NASCAR Strictly Stock Series season
Date June 19, 1949 (1949-06-19)
Location Charlotte Speedway, Charlotte, North Carolina
Course Permanent racing facility
0.75 mi (1.2 km)
Distance 200 laps, 150 mi (241.402 km)
Weather Hot with temperatures reaching up to 89.1 °F (31.7 °C); with winds being sustained up to 7 miles per hour (11 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Davis Brothers
Most laps led
Driver Bill Blair R.B. McIntosh
Laps 145
Winner
No. 34 Jim Roper R.B. McIntosh

Race organization edit

The race was run on the same day as competitor NSCRA, operated by NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr.'s rival Bruton Smith, held a race in Atlanta. In an attempt to attract drivers from the opposing series, France offered prize money totaling $5,000, with $2,000 going to the race winner.[3][4][5] Attendance for the race totaled approximately 13,000, with Houston Lawing, NASCAR's publicity director, stating that over 5,000 fans were not allowed into the stands because the grandstands could not accommodate them.[6] As a result, spectators crossed the track into the infield to watch the race,[5] and state police had to appear to control them.[3]

Race edit

Pole position was held by Bob Flock, who led for the first five laps before his engine malfunctioned,[3] and Bill Blair took the lead, which he held for 145 laps until Jim Roper took the lead on lap 151.[2] In the end, Glenn Dunaway won, but officials had expressed suspicion over Dunaway's car remaining steady while entering the rugged turns,[7] and it was eventually discovered that car owner Hubert Westmoreland had spread the car's rear springs, a method commonly used by bootleggers to improve handling. Roper, who had finished three laps down, was given the victory,[8] while Dunaway was scored as finishing last. Fonty Flock, Red Byron, Sam Rice and Tim Flock closed out the top five, while the top ten consisted of Archie Smith, Sterling Long, Slick Smith, Curtis Turner and Jimmy Thompson.[2] Westmoreland then sued NASCAR[9] for $10,000, but lost after judge Johnson Jay Hayes tossed it out of court.[7]

Results edit

Pos Grid No. Driver Owner Manufacturer Laps Status
1 12 34 Jim Roper R.B. McIntosh Lincoln 197 Running
2 5 47 Fonty Flock Grady Cole / Bruce Griffin Hudson Running
3 3 22 Red Byron Raymond Parks Oldsmobile Running
4 14 2 Sam Rice Sam Rice Oldsmobile Running
5 2 90 Tim Flock Buddy Elliott Oldsmobile Running
6 37 Archie Smith Frank Smith Ford
7 31 Sterling Long Sterling Long Hudson
8 28 Slick Smith Slick Smith Oldsmobile
9 6 41 Curtis Turner Curtis Turner Buick
10 36 Jimmy Thompson Bruce Thompson Chrysler
11 87 Buck Baker Penny Mullis Kaiser
12 8 44 Bill Blair R.B. McIntosh Lincoln 150 Overheating
13 Jack Smith Bishop Brothers Ford Overheating
14 13 71 Sara Christian Frank Christian Ford Overheating
15 John Barker Unknown Kaiser
16 0 Jimmie Lewallen Jimmie Lewallen Ford
17 9 38 Lee Petty Glimer Goode Buick 105 Crash
18 11 Skimp Hersey Skimp Hersey Ford
19 25 Bob Smith Unknown Oldsmobile
20 4 19 Otis Martin Pee Wee Martin Ford Overheating
21 37 Frank Smith Frank Smith Chrysler
22 16 Bill Snowden Bill Snowden Mercury Overheating
23 60 Jim Paschal Jim Paschal Ford Overheating
24 1 B. E. Renfro B. E. Renfro Hudson
25 10 Fred Johnson Fred Johnson Ford
26 88 George Mantooth George Mantooth Ford
27 5 Felix Wilkes Felix Wilkes Lincoln Overheating
28 10 9 Pee Wee Martin Pee Wee Martin Oldsmobile
29 93 Herb Thomas Herb Thomas Ford Springs
30 4 Frank Mundy Sam Rice Cadillac Rear-front spindle
31 29 Clarence Benton Clarence Benton Ford
32 1 7 Bob Flock Davis Brothers Hudson 38 Engine
33 7 25 Glenn Dunaway Hubert Westmoreland Ford 200 Disqualified
Source:[2]

References edit

  1. ^ "Weather information for the First NASCAR Strictly Stock Series racing event". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
  2. ^ a b c d "1949-01". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Kirby, Gordon (June 8, 2009). "The first 'Strictly Stock' race". Motorsport. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  4. ^ "Memorable Firsts in NASCAR". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Richter, Josh (June 19, 2014). "Throwback Thursday: Happy 65th birthday to the NASCAR Cup Series!". Foxsports.com. Fox Sports Digital Media. Archived from the original on June 24, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  6. ^ "1949 NASCAR Strictly Stock Recap". HowStuffWorks. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Higgins, Tom (June 7, 2013). "Higgin's Scuffs: Controversial Finish? So What Else Is New?". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina: The McClatchy Company. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  8. ^ Pearce, Al (March 15, 2003). "No. 9: The first race". The Daily Press. Tribune Publishing. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  9. ^ "The 10: Cheating Controversies". Foxsports.com. Fox Sports Digital Media. July 17, 2013. Archived from the original on October 27, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2013.