Marion Cox
Encyclopedia
Marion "Preacher" Cox was a NASCAR
Grand National Series (now Sprint Cup Series) car owner. Cox has a widow named Mrs. Nina Cox whose birthday is January 25, 1930. Cox would serve more than two years in the Second World War
.
in four races that would take place in the 1955
and 1956 seasons. Darrell Waltrip
, Richard Childress
, and Cale Yarborough
have raced for Marion Cox (in the lesser known series of NASCAR) and have become three of the biggest names in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. As of 2010, Childress is the owner of Richard Childress Racing
while Waltrip is an announcer for FOX Sports
during their NASCAR Sprint Cup Series coverage. Even though Yarborough had his championship wins record broke by Jimmie Johnson
(in 2009
) after defending it since 1978, he is still notable for being employed under Mr. Marion Cox. Cox fielded Chevrolet
vehicles in the 1955 season but switched to Ford
vehicles in the 1956 season.
His career earnings as a NASCAR owner would be a paltry $260 ($ in today's money) along with zero wins, zero finishes in the top five, and zero finishes in the top ten. Cox would experience only 646 laps as a race car owner. Notable races for this owner were the 1955 Southern 500
and the 1956 Southern 500
. All of his vehicles were created right out of his garage (with the formal business name being Marion Cox Garage) which was located in Hemingway
, South Carolina
. Due to his religious beliefs, Cox never allowed his vehicles to race on a Sunday (keeping him out of most of the Grand National Series races). During the 1970s, he pulled out one of his cars out of the race before it ended because the numerous delays made the race continue into midnight Sunday. Midnight
is the traditional start to the next day; the race started on Saturday evening and eventually ended after midnight on a "Sunday morning."
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 Series (now Sprint Cup Series) car owner. Cox has a widow named Mrs. Nina Cox whose birthday is January 25, 1930. Cox would serve more than two years in the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
History
He provided a vehicle for now-retired NASCAR Grand National series driver Roy BentleyRoy Bentley
Roy Thomas Frank Bentley is a retired English football player who played most notably for Chelsea and the England national side. He later became a manager...
in four races that would take place in the 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...
and 1956 seasons. Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Lee Waltrip is a 3-time NASCAR Cup Series champion , 3-time runner-up , winner of the 1989 Daytona 500 and 5-time winner of the prestigeous Coca-Cola 600 ,...
, Richard Childress
Richard Childress
Richard Childress is a former NASCAR driver and the current team owner of Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. As a business entrepreneur, Childress became one of the wealthiest men in North Carolina...
, and Cale Yarborough
Cale Yarborough
William Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships...
have raced for Marion Cox (in the lesser known series of NASCAR) and have become three of the biggest names in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. As of 2010, Childress is the owner of Richard Childress Racing
Richard Childress Racing
RCR Enterprises, LLC, doing business as Richard Childress Racing, is a NASCAR team based in Welcome, North Carolina, and is owned and operated by former driver Richard Childress...
while Waltrip is an announcer for FOX Sports
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
during their NASCAR Sprint Cup Series coverage. Even though Yarborough had his championship wins record broke by Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
(in 2009
2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season was the 61st season of professional stock car racing in the United States, which began at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, with the 2009 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, a race for the top six teams of the four brands in the 2008...
) after defending it since 1978, he is still notable for being employed under Mr. Marion Cox. Cox fielded Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
vehicles in the 1955 season but switched to Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
vehicles in the 1956 season.
His career earnings as a NASCAR owner would be a paltry $260 ($ in today's money) along with zero wins, zero finishes in the top five, and zero finishes in the top ten. Cox would experience only 646 laps as a race car owner. Notable races for this owner were the 1955 Southern 500
1955 Southern 500
The 1955 Southern 500 was a NASCAR Grand National racing event that took place on September 5, 1955 at the Darlington Raceway in the American community of Darlington, South Carolina. This race officially spanned on a paved oval track...
and the 1956 Southern 500
1956 Southern 500
The 1956 Southern 500 was a NASCAR Grand National race that took place at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina on September 3, 1956...
. All of his vehicles were created right out of his garage (with the formal business name being Marion Cox Garage) which was located in Hemingway
Hemingway, South Carolina
Hemingway is a town in Williamsburg County, South Carolina. The population was 573 at the 2000 census.- Historical Sketch :Hemingway was created from a crossroads community named Lamberts in 1911 by Dr. W. C. Hemingway, in an effort to secure a depot for the proposed Seaboard Air Line Railroad,...
, 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...
. Due to his religious beliefs, Cox never allowed his vehicles to race on a Sunday (keeping him out of most of the Grand National Series races). During the 1970s, he pulled out one of his cars out of the race before it ended because the numerous delays made the race continue into midnight Sunday. Midnight
Midnight
Midnight is the transition time period from one day to the next: the moment when the date changes. In the Roman time system, midnight was halfway between sunset and sunrise, varying according to the seasons....
is the traditional start to the next day; the race started on Saturday evening and eventually ended after midnight on a "Sunday morning."