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39-511: The Monroe County Agricultural Society organized its first fair in 1849, but it wasn’t until 1948 that it was moved to this permanent location. All of the 120 acres of property is owned by the county and leased to the fair association on a 99-year agreement. In 1952 , a one half mile dirt oval on the premises hosted its only Grand National Series (now NASCAR Cup) event. The race was won by racing pioneer Tim Flock , who went on to win that year’s series championship . Glenn F. Stock Arena

78-500: A 125-mile (201 km) Modifield/Sportsmen race, and the second was a 160-mile (260 km) Late Model Convertible event. Tim Flock and Curtis Turner were the victors. In the main event, Cotton Owens moved from his third-place starting position to lead the first lap. Paul Goldsmith took the lead briefly after 40 mi (64 km) (of 160 mi (260 km)). Goldsmith took the lead back from Owens after Owens pitted after 94 mi (151 km). Goldsmith's quick pit stop gave him

117-471: A lead that he maintained until he went out with a blown piston with 36 mi (58 km) left in the race. Owens led the rest of the way for his first career win. The win was the first NASCAR win for Pontiac , and the first Grand National race speed average over 100 mph (101.541 mph). 1958 Paul Goldsmith started from the pole to win the final event at the course. He drove a Pontiac prepared by Ray Fox . Curtis Turner finished second, Jack Smith

156-483: A top speed of 211 mph (340 km/h). Washington, DC resident William France, Sr. was familiar with the history of Daytona. He moved there in 1935 to escape the Great Depression and he set up a car repair shop. Daytona Beach officials asked local racer Sig Haugdahl to organize and promote an automobile race along the 3.2 mi (5.1 km) course in 1936. Haugdahl is credited for designing

195-532: Is a 2,000-seat indoor arena located in Monroe, Michigan . It is used for sporting events, concerts , conventions , and trade shows . It is part of the Monroe County Fairgrounds . Stock Arena is also used for graduation ceremonies of Monroe County's high schools. The arena measures 174 feet (53 m) wide by 252 feet (77 m) long with a 40-foot (12 m)-high ceiling. Although

234-471: The Darlington Raceway on September 1. The purse for the 400-lap, 500-mile event was $ 23,855; after six lead changes, and seven caution flags, Fonty Flock took home the winner's trophy with an average speed of 74.5 mph. Over 32,000 fans watched as Flock's victory in his number 14, 1952 Oldsmobile, netted him a $ 9,430 check for over 6.5 hours of driving. Flock started on the pole, and led

273-440: The 125-mile (201 km) Modified race, and the 160-mile (260 km) main event. Dick Joslin and Cotton Owens won the preliminaries, respectively. Tim Flock finished the main event first, but was disqualified on a minor technicality. Second-place finisher Lee Petty edged out Buck Baker , and Petty was declared the winner of the main event. Flock became the first driver to have radio contact with his crew. 1955 The 1955 race

312-550: The Hudson Hornet was so successful, winning over 80 NASCAR races between 1951 and 1955, has been attributed to its low center of gravity, "mono-built" body and center point steering system. The center point steering system contributed to the car's superior handling and cornering abilities; allowing the vehicle to excel on the dirt-covered race tracks of the day. Palm Beach Speedway in West Palm Beach, Florida,

351-578: The July 27, 1941, event after rolling twice. He returned on August 24 that year to win the event. He was killed by a family member in a dispute over the family moonshine business. Roy Hall won on the course several times. France was busy planning the 1942 event, until the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor ; he spent World War II working at the Daytona Boat Works. Most racing stopped until after

390-640: The Monroe County Fair's website hails the arena one of the "largest arenas in Michigan," this is actually not true as far as seating capacity is concerned; in fact, Stock Arena seats up to 3,500 for concerts. Many indoor arenas in Michigan have larger seating capacities. Also, several of them, including Little Caesars Arena , Breslin Center , and Van Andel Arena have higher ceiling heights. Stock Arena is, however, Monroe County's largest arena and

429-648: The beachfront. France Sr. knew that a permanent racetrack was needed to hold the large crowds that were gathering for races. He looked for alternatives and negotiated with the city of Daytona Beach to purchase a site near the Daytona airport. He arranged financing and in 1957, construction began on the Daytona International Speedway , a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) tri-oval circuit with steep bankings that permitted higher speeds. The Daytona Beach course hosted its last event in 1958 and, in 1959

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468-445: The end of the race. Flock captured the pole position for the race in 27.78 seconds, with an average speed of 64.79 mph. The second event of the 1952 season took place on the famed 4.1 mile road course of Daytona Beach Speedway , and driver Marshall Teague took the victory in a 1952 Hudson. Herb Thomas led the first lap of the event, but Teague managed to lead laps 2 to 37. Twenty-thousand spectators witnessed 61 drivers start

507-946: The event, only three were running at the end. 21. Gene Comstock 22. Banjo Matthews 23. Ralph Liguori 24. Jack Reynolds 25. Dick Passwater 26. Bucky Sager 27. Frankie Schneider 28. Otis Martin 29. Coleman Lawrence 30. Ed Samples 31. Fred Dove 32. Slick Smith 33. Iggy Katona 34. Jack Smith 35. Tommy Moon 36. Rollin Smith 37. Speedy Thompson 38. Jimmy Thompson 39. Bud Farrell 40. Weldon Adams Other notable drivers with at least one start include: Curtis Turner , Louise Smith , Frank Mundy , Hershel McGriff , Marshall Teague , Nelson Stacy , Bill Rexford , Bob Welborn , Gober Sosebee , Bill Snowden , Fireball Roberts , George Bush , Al Keller , Bob Flock , Cotton Owens , Joe Weatherly , Smokey Yunick . Daytona Beach Road Course The Ormond Beach and Road Course

546-462: The event; but at the end of the race, only 10 cars were still running. The race was eventually halted on lap 37 due to the incoming tide which encroached on the beachfront straight off the track. The third event of the season took place at the half-mile dirt track of Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Florida. Marshall Teague won his second race in a row in the 200 lap, 100 mile contest, defeating

585-469: The first 17 laps before the first lead change between four drivers. Flock recaptured the lead for the final time on lap 185. Eventual season champion Tim Flock and his No. 91 Hudson were involved in an accident on lap 321, but Flock stepped in and replaced driver Jack Smith in the No. 9. While Flock drove the No. 9 Hudson to an 11th-place finish, he was credited with finishing 34th of the 66 starters, and Smith

624-566: The job of running the course in 1938. Two events were held that year. Danny Murphy beat France in the July event, which made $ 200. France beat Lloyd Moody and Pig Ridings to win the Labor Day weekend event, this time making $ 20,000. Three races were held in 1939, and in three races in 1940, France finished fourth in March, first in July, and sixth in September. Lloyd Seay finished fourth in

663-627: The largest in Toledo 's northern suburbs. Other amenities include a 100-foot (30 m)-by-210-foot pipe fence separating the stands from the arena floor, and a wireless PA system that can be used inside and outside the building. Other facilities at the Monroe County Fairgrounds include: 41°55′41″N 83°27′45″W  /  41.92816°N 83.46254°W  / 41.92816; -83.46254 1952 NASCAR Grand National Series The 1952 NASCAR Grand National Series

702-419: The lead for one lap on the 111th circuit. Flock, with the fourth and final lead change, on the next lap, went on to lead the remaining laps of the event. Shuman finished the event in second place, capturing a total of $ 2,225. The event concluded after four hours, with over half of the 47 contestants still running at the drop of the checkered flag. For the 25th race of the season, fans and drivers assembled at

741-496: The ocean on A1A (S. Atlantic Ave) to the end of the road, where the drivers accessed the beach at the south turn at the Beach Street approach 29°05′05″N 80°55′32″W  /  29.084705°N 80.925566°W  / 29.084705; -80.925566 , returned 2 miles (3.2 km) north on the sandy beach surface, and returned to A1A at the north turn. The lap length in early events was 3.2 mi (5.1 km), and it

780-553: The other 28 drivers. On June 29, NASCAR traveled to Detroit, Michigan, for a scheduled 250-mile event, dubbed the "Motor Sports 250". The race was held at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway ; a one-mile dirt oval built in 1899. NASCAR offered its first five-figured purse, of $ 11,675, to the contestants, and driver Tim Flock came away with the winner's share of $ 5,050. Fans watched as Flock led laps 88 – 110, until driver Buddy Shuman took

819-401: The pits. Bill Blair passed to win the race in a 1953 Oldsmobile. Flock finished second by 26 seconds. In the 100-mile (160 km) Modified/Sportsman race that year, 136 cars started, making it the largest field ever in any NASCAR-sanctioned event. Cotton Owens was the victor. 1954 The " Speedweeks " weekend was expanded to three events, the 100-mile (160 km) Sportsmen race,

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858-400: The pole in his 1956 Chrysler C-300 . The car was owned by legendary NASCAR car owner Carl Kiekhaefer . He led every lap except for the four after his first pit stop. Charlie Scott became the first African-American to compete in a NASCAR Grand National race, driving another Kiekhaefer-entered Chrysler. 1957 The three-race weekend was revised with new preliminary formats. The first race was

897-693: The premiere event of the fledgling series until Darlington Speedway was completed in 1950. NASCAR held a modified division race at the track on February 15, 1948. Red Byron beat Marshall Teague . NASCAR had several divisions in its early years. 1949 The first NASCAR Strictly Stock Series race was held in 1949 at the Charlotte Speedway . The second race on the series schedule was held at Daytona Beach in July; 28 cars raced, including Curtis Turner , Buck Baker , Bob Flock , Fonty Flock , Marshall Teague , Herb Thomas , and second-place finisher Tim Flock . Red Byron scored for his fourth win at

936-469: The rest of the way. Byron surged from seventh to finish second. A second race was added to the weekend, the 100-mile (160 km) Modified Stock race, the day before. Gober Sosebee won. 1951 Marshall Teague glided his 1951 Fabulous Hudson Hornet into victory lane for his first career victory. He beat Tim Flock by 1 minute and 14 seconds. Gober Sosebee won the Modified Stock race for

975-485: The results, but their appeals were overturned. France finished fifth in the event. The city lost a reported $ 22,000 ($ 483050 in 2016 dollars), and has not promoted an event since. Haugdahl talked with France, and they talked the Daytona Beach Elks Club into hosting another event in 1937. The event was more successful, but still lost money. Haugdahl did not promote any more events. France took over

1014-520: The second year in a row. 1952 Teague made it two in a row in his 1952 Hudson. He gained the lead on lap two. The race was shortened by two laps because of an incoming tide. Teague won by 1 minute and 21 seconds over Herb Thomas . A day earlier, Tim Flock was flagged the winner at the Modified/Sportsman race, but was disqualified for having wooden rollbars and 2nd place runner up Jack Smith (American racing driver, born 1924)

1053-494: The track in the decade. Byron went on to win the series’ first championship in his 1949 Oldsmobile . 1950 The Strictly Stock series was renamed the Grand National Series. The race was moved to February, which becomes a tradition still held to this day with the modern Daytona 500 . Harold Kite won the race in a 1949 Lincoln . He took the lead on lap 25 when Red Byron pitted with gearshift problems. Kite led

1092-493: The track. The city posted a $ 5,000 purse. The ticket-takers arrived at the event on March 8 to find thousands of fans already at the track. The sandy turns became virtually impassable, which caused numerous scoring disputes and technical protests. The event was stopped after 75 of 78 laps. Milt Marion was declared the winner by the AAA (the sanctioning body). Second-place finisher Ben Shaw and third-place finisher Tommy Elmore protested

1131-580: The war. Car racing returned to the track in 1946. France knew that promoters needed to organize their efforts. Drivers were frequently victimized by unscrupulous promoters who would leave events with all the money before drivers were paid. On December 14, 1947, France began talks at the Ebony Bar at the Streamline Hotel at Daytona Beach, Florida , that ended with the formation of NASCAR on February 21, 1948. The Daytona Beach and Road Course hosted

1170-624: Was a motorsport race track that was instrumental in the formation of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing . It originally became famous as the location where 15 world land speed records were set. The course started on the pavement of highway A1A (at 4511 South Atlantic Avenue, Ponce Inlet 29°06′32″N 80°56′37″W  /  29.108890°N 80.943669°W  / 29.108890; -80.943669 ). A restaurant named "Racing's North Turn" now stands at that location. It went south 2 mi (3.2 km) parallel to

1209-478: Was a half-mile, dirt track that saw its first NASCAR event when it opened the 1952 NASCAR season on January 20, 1952. The 100-mile event was slowed by two caution flags, and was won by driver Tim Flock. Six-thousand fans were on hand to see Flock capture his first of eight victories in the 1952 season. Flock started on the pole, and drove his No. 91 1951 Hudson, sponsored by Ted Chester, to victory. He claimed his $ 1,025 winnings with only five drivers still running at

Monroe County Fairgrounds - Misplaced Pages Continue

1248-439: Was also the first season that sponsors such as Pure Oil Co (which later became Union 76, and eventually Unocal ), and Champion Spark Plug Inc. started paying contingency award monies in exchange for the publicity they received by drivers sponsoring their products. The 1952 NASCAR Grand National season was dominated by Hudson automobiles, winning 27 of the scheduled 34 races. No other make won more than three times. The reason

1287-418: Was awarded the 11th place points. Palm Beach Speedway both opened and closed the 1952 NASCAR season when it held the 34th and final event on October 30, 1952. Herb Thomas won three of the final four races in the season to finish second in the final standings. Thomas claimed the final victory of the season, winning the event with a two lap advantage over second-place Fonty Flock. Seventeen cars competed in

1326-431: Was declared the winner of the Modified/Sportsman race. 1953 Polesitter Bob Pronger and second-place starter Fonty Flock had a bet as to who would lead the first lap. They both raced wildly into the north corner. Pronger went too fast into corner, and wrecked his car. Flock had over a one-minute lead in the race, but ran out of gas taking the white flag at the start of the final lap. Flock's teammate pushed his car into

1365-479: Was lengthened to 4.2 mi (6.8 km) in the late 1940s. In the video game NASCAR Thunder 2004 by EA Sports , the course is shortened to about half its distance, but still shows how the basic course was set up. March 29, 1927 Major Henry Segrave and his Sunbeam 1000 hp Mystery set a world land speed record on the Daytona Beach and Road Course, at 203.79 mph (327.97 km/h), peaking at

1404-541: Was on June 1, when races were held at both Toledo Speedway in Ohio, and Hayloft Speedway in Augusta, Georgia. Herb Thomas finished second to Flock after competing in 32 races, and Lee Petty finished third in the standings that year. Throughout the 1952 season, a total of 261 drivers entered at least one of the 34 events. Virtually every American car manufacturer had at least one of their cars start that season. This

1443-464: Was the fourth season of the premier stock car racing championship sanctioned by NASCAR . Once the season was concluded, driver Tim Flock was crowned the Grand National champion after winning 8 of the 33 events that he competed in. This was the first year that NASCAR scheduled its events to avoid the conflicts of having two races, at two different tracks, on the same day. The only exception

1482-518: Was third, and Joe Weatherly was fourth. Lee Petty, Buck Baker, Fireball Roberts, and Cotton Owens finished in the top 10. On Friday, Banjo Matthews won the Sportsmen/Modified race, while on Saturday, Curtis Turner won the 160-mile (260 km) Convertible race. By 1953, it became increasingly complicated to run the race on the beach course due to the rapid urban growth of the Daytona Beach area. Hotels were being constructed all along

1521-399: Was won by Fireball Roberts . He was later disqualified, so the official win went to Tim Flock. Roberts was disqualified after NASCAR's technical director found pushrods that were 0.016 inches (0.41 mm) too long. Preliminary races were won by Speedy Thompson (100-mile Sportsmen) and Banjo Matthews (125-mile Modified). 1956 Tim Flock won his second consecutive Daytona race from

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