Frank Christian was a 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...

 race car owner who owned a series of stock car

Stock car racing

Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...

 vehicles from 1949

1949 in NASCAR

The 1949 NASCAR Strictly Stock season was the inaugural season of professional stock car racing in the United States. Beginning at Charlotte Speedway on June 19, 1949, the season included eight races and two exhibition races. The season concluded with the Wilkes 200 at North Wilkesboro Speedway on...

 to 1955

1955 in NASCAR

The 1955 NASCAR Grand National Season began on November 7, 1954 and ended on October 30, 1955. Even though the season was resolved in the course of two different years, all NASCAR personnel were allowed to have their traditional two-month silly season that traditionally comes between mid-November...

. He was also the husband of former NASCAR Grand National Series driver 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:...

. As a pioneer in multi-car ownership, Christian would lead the way for the modern day "super teams" like Hendrick Motorsports

Hendrick Motorsports

Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...

.

He earned $81,285 in monetary prizes as an owner ($ in today's money) in addition to winning 22 races. Notable drivers under his employment included: Speedy Thompson

Speedy Thompson

Alfred 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:...

, Buddy Shuman

Buddy Shuman

Buddy 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....

, Banjo Matthews

Banjo Matthews

Edwin Keith "Banjo" Matthews was a NASCAR driver, car owner and builder.-Driver:...

, 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...

, Buck Baker

Buck Baker

Elzie Wylie Baker Sr. , better known as Buck Baker, was an American race car driver.-Racing career:...

, and Curtis Turner

Curtis Turner

Curtis Turner was an early NASCAR driver. In addition to his success in racing, he made a fortune, lost it, and remade it buying and selling timberlands. Throughout his life he developed a reputation for drinking and partying...

. Christian even did several races as a driver/owner; adding to the lap total of 21,804 that his vehicles did while under his ownership. Out of all these laps, only 5220 were by Mr. Christian's drivers. However, his vehicles did do well in finishing races as the average starting position was sixth place and the average finishing position was twelfth place. Pole positions were plentiful for Frank Christian's vehicles as they managed to accumulate 35 pole position

Pole position

The term "pole position", as used in motorsports, comes from the horse racing term where the number one starter starts on the inside next to the inside pole. The term made its way, along with several other customs, to auto racing. In circuit motorsports, a driver has pole position when he or she...

s within a 6-year span.