Ethel Mobley
Encyclopedia
Ethel Mobley (March 8, 1920 – June 26, 1984) of Fort Payne
, Alabama
was tied for the second female to drive in NASCAR
history. Her brother Tim Flock
said she was named after the gasoline
her father used in his car.
, Fonty Flock
and Bob Flock
. She was married to Charlie Mobley, who fielded Tim's car in NASCAR's modified series.
events in her career.
She had two Strictly Stock (now Sprint Cup) starts. She raced against her brothers at NASCAR's second event ever on July 10, 1949 at the Daytona Beach Road Course
. The event was the first to feature a brother and a sister, and the only NASCAR event to feature four siblings. Ethel beat Fonty and Bob by finishing eleventh (her career high), and Tim finished second. She made her only other career Cup start at Langley Speedway
and finished 44th. Both events featured three female drivers (Sara Christian
and Louise Smith
).
In June, 1949, she entered a racing competition in Florida, competing against 57 men drivers. She finished in 8th place.
On August 7, 1949, Ethel Mobley became the first female racecar driver to compete against men in the state of Georgia when she entered a race at Central City Park Speedway in Macon, Georgia. She was rated as the top woman driver in the southeastern United States,. having won many competitions in all-women races.
Fort Payne, Alabama
Fort Payne is a city in DeKalb County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 12,938. The city is the county seat of DeKalb County. It bills itself as the "Official Sock Capital of the World."...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
was tied for the second female to drive in NASCAR
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...
history. Her brother Tim Flock
Tim Flock
Julius 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 :...
said she was named after the gasoline
Ethanol fuel
Ethanol fuel is ethanol , the same type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. It is most often used as a motor fuel, mainly as a biofuel additive for gasoline. World ethanol production for transport fuel tripled between 2000 and 2007 from 17 billion to more than 52 billion litres...
her father used in his car.
"Flying Flocks"
Part of the racing Flock family, three of her brothers are considered to be NASCAR pioneers: Tim FlockTim Flock
Julius 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 :...
, Fonty Flock
Fonty 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...
and Bob Flock
Bob Flock
Robert 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:...
. She was married to Charlie Mobley, who fielded Tim's car in NASCAR's modified series.
Racing career
She raced in over 100 NASCAR ModifiedWhelen Modified Tour
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is a stock car racing series owned and operated by NASCAR in the Modified division. The Modified division is NASCAR's oldest division, and its one of two open-wheeled divisions...
events in her career.
She had two Strictly Stock (now Sprint Cup) starts. She raced against her brothers at NASCAR's second event ever on July 10, 1949 at the Daytona Beach Road Course
Daytona Beach Road Course
Daytona Beach Road Course was a race track that was instrumental in the formation of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, or NASCAR. It originally became famous as the location where fifteen world land speed records were set...
. The event was the first to feature a brother and a sister, and the only NASCAR event to feature four siblings. Ethel beat Fonty and Bob by finishing eleventh (her career high), and Tim finished second. She made her only other career Cup start at Langley Speedway
Langley Speedway (Virginia)
Langley Speedway is a race track located in Hampton, Virginia, in the United States. In November 1970, it became the site of the last Grand National race before the series was renamed Winston Cup . The track is located in front of NASA's Langley wind tunnel on Armistead Avenue...
and finished 44th. Both events featured three female drivers (Sara Christian
Sara Christian
Sara Christian was the first woman driver in NASCAR history. Her fifth place finish at Pittsburgh reigned as the highest female finish from 1949 until 2011, when Danica Patrick finished fourth.-1949:...
and Louise Smith
Louise Smith
Louise Smith was tied for the second woman to race in NASCAR at the top level. She was known as "the first lady of racing."...
).
In June, 1949, she entered a racing competition in Florida, competing against 57 men drivers. She finished in 8th place.
On August 7, 1949, Ethel Mobley became the first female racecar driver to compete against men in the state of Georgia when she entered a race at Central City Park Speedway in Macon, Georgia. She was rated as the top woman driver in the southeastern United States,. having won many competitions in all-women races.
