1952 Southern 500
Encyclopedia
The 1952 Southern 500 was a NASCAR
Grand National (now Sprint Cup Series) race that took place on September 1, 1952 at Darlington Raceway
in the American
community of Darlington
, South Carolina
.
was the winner. He would stop on the front straight, climb up on his hood and lead the entire crowd in singing his own version of the classic Southern American
song Dixie
. Flock's uniform would consist of Bermuda shorts
and argyle socks in addition to a pencil-thin moustache reminiscent of Clark Gable
.
Total winnings for this race were $23,855 ($ in today's money). Sixty-six divers competed; all of them were born in the United States of America. Jim Paschal
was the last place driver of the race; finishing in 66th with an engine
problem on lap 18.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Grand National (now Sprint Cup Series) race that took place on September 1, 1952 at Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...
in the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
community of Darlington
Darlington, South Carolina
Darlington is a city in and the county seat of Darlington County, in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is a center for tobacco farming. The population was 6,720 at the 2000 census and is part of the Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
Summary
Seven cautions were waved for forty laps in front of 32,400 audience members. The notable speeds were: 74.512 mi/h as the average speed and 88.55 mi/h as the pole position speed. This race was constantly threatened to be postponed because of rain and was red flagged once because of actual rainfall. It took six hours, forty-two minutes, and thirty-seven seconds for the race to reach its conclusion; Fonty FlockFonty Flock
Truman Fontello "Fonty" Flock of Fort Payne, Alabama was an early NASCAR driver.-Flock family:He was the brother of NASCAR pioneers Tim Flock and Bob Flock, and the second female NASCAR driver Ethel Mobley...
was the winner. He would stop on the front straight, climb up on his hood and lead the entire crowd in singing his own version of the classic Southern American
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
song Dixie
Dixie (song)
Countless lyrical variants of "Dixie" exist, but the version attributed to Dan Emmett and its variations are the most popular. Emmett's lyrics as they were originally intended reflect the mood of the United States in the late 1850s toward growing abolitionist sentiment. The song presented the point...
. Flock's uniform would consist of Bermuda shorts
Bermuda shorts
Bermuda Shorts, also known as walking shorts or dress shorts, are a particular type of short trousers, now widely worn as semi-casual attire by both men and women...
and argyle socks in addition to a pencil-thin moustache reminiscent of Clark Gable
Clark Gable
William Clark Gable , known as Clark Gable, was an American film actor most famous for his role as Rhett Butler in the 1939 Civil War epic film Gone with the Wind, in which he starred with Vivien Leigh...
.
Total winnings for this race were $23,855 ($ in today's money). Sixty-six divers competed; all of them were born in the United States of America. Jim Paschal
Jim Paschal
James Roy "Jim" Paschal, Jr. was a NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup driver. He won twenty-five races and twelve poles over his career. Elected to the "Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame" in 1977, he won the World 600 in 1964 and the 1967 Charlotte Motor Speedway...
was the last place driver of the race; finishing in 66th with an engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
problem on lap 18.
Top forty finishers
- Fonty Flock (in his 1952 Oldsmobile 88Oldsmobile 88The Oldsmobile 88 was a full-size car sold by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors and produced from 1949 until 1999. From 1950 to 1974 the 88 was the division's top-selling line, particularly the entry-level models such as the 88 and Dynamic 88...
) - Johnny PattersonJohnny PattersonJohn Francis Patterson was an Irish singer, song writer and circus entertainer.He was born in Kilbarron, Feakle, County Clare. Both his parents had died by the time he was three years old and so he was raised by an uncle in Ennis. At the age of 14 he enlisted in the 63rd Regiment of Foot which...
(in his 1952 Hudson HornetHudson HornetThe Hudson Hornet is an automobile that was produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan between 1951 and 1954. The Hornet was also built by American Motors Corporation in Kenosha, Wisconsin and marketed under the Hudson brand between 1955 and 1957.The first-generation Hudson...
) - Herb ThomasHerb ThomasHerbert Watson Thomas was a NASCAR pioneer who was one of the series' most successful drivers in the 1950s.-Background:...
- Bub King
- Banjo MatthewsBanjo MatthewsEdwin Keith "Banjo" Matthews was a NASCAR driver, car owner and builder.-Driver:...
- Lee PettyLee PettyLee Arnold Petty was an American stock car driver in the 1950s and 1960s. He was one of the pioneers of NASCAR, and one of its first superstars. He was born near Randleman, North Carolina.-Career:...
- Joe EubanksJoe EubanksJoe Eubanks was a NASCAR Grand National driver from Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA. Eubanks raced from 1950 to 1961 collecting one win, thirty-seven finishes in the top five, and eighty-one finishes in the top ten along the way. His total career earnings were $35,338 and he successfully...
- Herschel Buchanan
- Buck BakerBuck BakerElzie Wylie Baker Sr. , better known as Buck Baker, was an American race car driver.-Racing career:...
- Ray Duhigg
- Jack Smith
- Rollin Smith
- Jimmy Thompson
- Speedy ThompsonSpeedy ThompsonAlfred Bruce "Speedy" Thompson was a NASCAR pioneer and driver in the Grand National series from 1950 to 1971; capturing 20 wins along the way.-Racing career:...
- Lloyd MooreLloyd MooreLloyd D. Moore was a NASCAR Grand National Series driver from 1949 to 1955, recording 13 top-5 and 23 top-10 finishes. He was born in Frewsburg, New York, USA. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living former NASCAR driver.In 1950, Moore was a teammate of NASCAR champion Bill Rexford...
- Joe WeatherlyJoe WeatherlyJoseph "Joe" Weatherly was a two-time NASCAR championship driver. Weatherly was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2009 after winning NASCAR's Grand National championships in 1962 and 1963, three A.M.A...
- Buddy ShumanBuddy ShumanBuddy Shuman was a stock car driver for NASCAR when it was known as the Grand National Series. He raced between 1951 through 1955, achieving one victory, four top 5s, and 16 Top 10s....
- Keith Hammer
- Clyde Pittinger
- Pat KirkwoodPat Kirkwood (NASCAR driver)Patrick "Pat" Kirkwoood was a NASCAR Grand National Driver from 1949 to 1957.-As a driver:...
- Gene ComstockGene ComstockGene Comstock was a NASCAR Grand National driver from Chesapeake, Ohio, USA. In his career spanning from 1950 to 1955, Gene racked up one top-five position, six top-ten positions, 3038.6 miles of racing experience, and $2,549 in take home pay...
- W.E. Baker
- Herb Fry
- Iggy KatonaIggy KatonaEgnatius "Iggy" Katona was an American stock car racer from Willis, Michigan. He is most famous for his performance in the ARCA series in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, where he won six championships and a series record 79 races...
- Dick PasswaterDick PasswaterRichard "Dick" Passwater is a retired American racecar driver who raced in NASCAR and USAC.Born in Indianapolis, Passwater started racing after World War II, and was active in the 1950s and 1960s. He won the fifth race of the 1953 NASCAR Grand National season at Charlotte Speedway in his 1953...
- Bill Miller
- Tony Bonadies
- Donald Thomas
- Bob FlockBob FlockRobert Newman Flock of Fort Payne, Alabama, USA was an early NASCAR driver. He qualified on the pole position for NASCAR's first Strictly Stock race.-Flock family:...
- Erwin Blatt
- Ted Chamberlain
- Al Fleming
- Tim FlockTim FlockJulius Timothy Flock was one of NASCAR's early pioneers, and a two time series champion. He was a brother to NASCAR's second female driver Ethel Mobley and NASCAR pioneers Bob Flock and Fonty Flock.- NASCAR career :...
- E.C. Ramsey
- Dick RathmannDick RathmannDick Rathmann was an American racecar driver....
- Al ConroyAl ConroyJohn Allan Conroy is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played in 114 National Hockey League games over parts of three seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers.-External links:...
- Coleman Lawrence
- Charles Wielder
- Rudy Hires
- Ralph LiguoriRalph LiguoriRalph Liguori is a former American racing driver from New York City.-Indycar career:He competed in the USAC Championship Car series from 1957 to 1971 making 61 starts. His best finish was 2nd place at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Speedway in 1970. 1966 was his most active year, when he made 7...