Bob Flock
Encyclopedia
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 (now Sprint Cup Series) race.
and Fonty Flock
, and the second female NASCAR driver Ethel Mobley
. The four raced at the July 10, 1949 race at the Daytona Beach Road Course
, which was the first event to feature a brother and a sister, and the only NASCAR event to feature four siblings. Ethel beat Fonty and Bob by finishing in eleventh.
business. The federal agents one discovered the Flock would be running a race in Atlanta, and they staked out the place to make an arrest. A gate opened as the race was beginning, and he drove on the track to take the green flag. The police vehicles quickly appeared on the track. They chased Flock for a lap or two before he drove through the fence. The police followed him until he ran out of gas later. Reminiscing years later, Bob said, "I would have won that race if the cops had stayed out of it" http://www.kellyflock.com/.
's ride in 1946. He won both events at the Daytona Beach Road Course
in 1947.
He sat on the pole for NASCAR's first race at Charlotte Speedway
on June 19, 1949. He had two wins that season, and finished third in the points behind Lee Petty
and champion Red Byron
.
He won two 100 lap ARCA races at Lakewood Speedway
in 1954.
Bob Flock retired from driving when he broke his back in an on track accident. He had over 200 modified
wins http://www.garhofa.com/driver-bio.php?id=3&hof=1 in his career.
, and Mildred Williams, and his sister Ethel Mobley) to race at his new track.
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...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was an early 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...
driver. He qualified on the 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...
for NASCAR's first Strictly Stock (now Sprint Cup Series) race.
Flock family
He was the brother of 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 :...
and 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 the second female NASCAR driver Ethel Mobley
Ethel Mobley
Ethel Mobley 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.-"Flying Flocks":...
. The four raced at the July 10, 1949 race 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...
, which was the first event to feature a brother and a sister, and the only NASCAR event to feature four siblings. Ethel beat Fonty and Bob by finishing in eleventh.
Moonshine business
The Flock family had an illegal moonshineMoonshine
Moonshine is an illegally produced distilled beverage...
business. The federal agents one discovered the Flock would be running a race in Atlanta, and they staked out the place to make an arrest. A gate opened as the race was beginning, and he drove on the track to take the green flag. The police vehicles quickly appeared on the track. They chased Flock for a lap or two before he drove through the fence. The police followed him until he ran out of gas later. Reminiscing years later, Bob said, "I would have won that race if the cops had stayed out of it" http://www.kellyflock.com/.
Racing career
He was a well established driver before NASCAR was formed. He took over NASCAR founder Bill FranceWilliam France Sr.
William Henry Getty France Sr. , also known by Bill France Sr. or Big Bill, was an American race car driver. He is best known for co-founding and managing NASCAR, a sanctioning body of United States-based stock car racing.-Early life:France was born in Washington, D. C...
's ride in 1946. He won both events 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...
in 1947.
He sat on the pole for NASCAR's first race at Charlotte Speedway
Charlotte Speedway
For the current NASCAR track in Charlotte, North Carolina, see Charlotte Motor Speedway.Charlotte Speedway was the site of NASCAR's first Strictly Stock series race on June 19, 1949. The Daytona Beach Road Course held the first race sanctioned by NASCAR in 1948...
on June 19, 1949. He had two wins that season, and finished third in the points behind Lee Petty
Lee Petty
Lee 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:...
and champion Red Byron
Red Byron
Robert "Red" Byron was a NASCAR driver who was successful in the sanctioning body's first years. He was NASCAR's first Modified champion in 1948 and its first Strictly Stock champion in 1949.-Background:Born in Colorado he moved to Anniston, Alabama at an early age, Byron began...
.
He won two 100 lap ARCA races at Lakewood Speedway
Lakewood Speedway
Lakewood Speedway was a race track located south of Atlanta, Georgia, in Lakewood, Georgia, just north of the eastern arm of Langford Parkway . The track held many kinds of races between 1919 and 1979, including events sanctioned by AAA/USAC, IMCA, and NASCAR. It was a one-mile dirt track which...
in 1954.
Bob Flock retired from driving when he broke his back in an on track accident. He had over 200 modified
Modified racing
Modified stock car racing, also known as Modified racing or simply Modified, is one of the oldest types of racing in the United States, dating back to the days of the post-World War II coupes. The name for modified racing cars come from the fact that they are not stock but, rather, modified...
wins http://www.garhofa.com/driver-bio.php?id=3&hof=1 in his career.
Track promoter
Flock became a track promoter in Atlanta. He hired three women (Sara ChristianSara 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 Mildred Williams, and his sister Ethel Mobley) to race at his new track.
Awards
- He was inducted in the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame in 2003.
- He was a member of the National Motorsports Hall of Fame Association.