Bob Flock

Robert Newman Flock (16 de abril de 1918 - 16 de mayo de 1964) fue un piloto estadounidense de carreras de autos de serie . Se clasificó en la pole position para la primera carrera de Strictly Stock (ahora NASCAR Cup Series ) de NASCAR ^{[ 1 ]} y, junto con Red Byron , es considerado uno de los dos mejores pilotos de esa época. ^{[ 2 ]} Flock murió de un ataque al corazón en 1964. ^{[ 3 ]}

Flock was a well-established driver before NASCAR was formed. He took over NASCAR founder Bill France Sr.'s ride in 1946. He won both events at the Daytona Beach Road Course in 1947. Flock was known for his daring driving style. For example, during a race on June 15, 1947, Flock overturned his car in an accident. Instead of accepting a DNF, he solicited help from spectators, who turned the car back on its wheels, and he finished the race:^[4] "Like other wrecks it wasn’t anywhere near as serious, and folks flipped Flock’s car over on its wheels."^[5] In an October 1947 race at Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds, he suffered a crushed vertebra when his tire blew, sending his car through the track fencing and into a light pole.^[6]

Flock sat on the pole for NASCAR's first race at Charlotte Speedway on June 19, 1949, setting a qualifying time of 38.37 seconds.^[7] He had two wins that season, and finished third in the points behind Lee Petty and champion Red Byron.

Flock was the only winner of a Cup Series race held at the mysterious Air Base Speedway in Greenville, South Carolina in 1951 on August 25. His brothers, Tim and Fonty also took part in the event.^[8] The track was closed in 1952 after only three years of racing but was still visible by 1964 and only partially by 1976.

Flock won two 100 lap ARCA races at Lakewood Speedway in 1954.

Flock retired from driving when he broke his back in an on-track accident. He had over 200 modified wins in his career.

Flock competed in one NASCAR Convertible Division event, at Montgomery Motor Speedway, he started on pole position but finished 20th after having a broken axle.

Flock became a track promoter in Atlanta. He hired three women (Sara Christian, and Mildred Williams, and his sister Ethel Mobley) to race at his new track.

Flock era hermano de los pioneros de NASCAR Tim Flock y Fonty Flock , y de la segunda mujer piloto de NASCAR, Ethel Mobley . Los cuatro compitieron el 10 de julio de 1949 en el circuito de Daytona Beach , el primer evento en el que participaron un hermano y una hermana, y el único evento de NASCAR en el que compitieron cuatro hermanos. Ethel superó a Fonty y Bob al terminar en undécima posición.

• Estadísticas del piloto Bob Flock en Racing-Reference
• Salón de la Fama de las Carreras de Automóviles de Georgia
• Resumen de la temporada de 1949 en NASCAR.com
• Página web de la familia Flock: incluye fotos (principalmente de Fonty).