NASCAR’S SUCCESS WAS ON DISPLAY ANYTHING BUT A GIVEN IN 1948 July 11, 2018 – January 2019 faced an uncertain future in 1948, as rival sanctioning bodies and GENERAL ADMISSION promoters wrestled for control of the sport. Members FREE; Adult $25; This is the story of that first tumultuous, Youth (8–12) $18; Children (3–7) $12 but ultimately triumphant NASCAR season: a tale of vision, a tale of will, a tale of risk- takers, thrill-seekers and men willing to CURRENT HOURS OF OPERATION gamble anything and everything on the Monday - Sunday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. dusty proving grounds. * see nascarhall.com for most up-to-date hours

THE GREEN FLAG SPEED DEMONS HEROES AND DOWN AND DIRTY THE CHAMPIONSHIP IS WAVED FORD COUPES RULED HELL-RAISERS NASCAR’S ROOTS WERE TO THE WIRE . . . ’48 NASCAR SEASON IN RED CLAY AND BEYOND NASCAR’S EXPERTS ENTER THRILL-SEEKING DRIVERS A CLUTTERED FIELD The weapon of choice for ELECTRIFIED RACE FANS In the beginning, NASCAR The first NASCAR season Stock car racing was NASCAR racing in 1948 With World War II over was all about dirt. All but saw a 52-race schedule gaining traction by was the ubiquitous 1939 and no pro sports in one track—the Daytona for the Modified Division February 1948, but Ford Coupe. In addition to the South yet, young Beach-Road Course— that came down to a in order to flourish, featuring the mighty Ford men took to racing were dirt tracks 1 mile one-race, winner-take-all NASCAR founder Big Bill Flathead V-8 engine, the their hopped-up Fords or shorter, making for showdown between the France knew it needed ’39 Fords were plentiful, for entertainment and intense, up-close action. charismatic Fonty Flock strong leadership and inexpensive and easy adrenaline rushes on These primitive and and injured war hero Red organization, better to tweak and tinker for the weekends. What they unkempt race tracks– Byron. They would settle promotion, consistent high performance—the had in common were many of which are now their season-long battle purses, a structure to same reasons they were nerves of steel, fierce lost to racing history— in the season finale at determine a national popular with moonshine competitive spirits and served as NASCAR’s Columbus, Georgia. champion and a year-long runners. the ability to put on a proving grounds. points fund to get drivers great show for race fans. to compete regularly.

Media Contacts NASCARHall NASCARHall Laura Hill White • Director of Communications • (o) 704.414.4183 • (c) 704.989.3700 • [email protected] Kristen Moore • Senior Public Relations Manager • (o) 704.414.4184 • (c) 704.641.3098 • [email protected] NASCARHall NASCARHall Kaitlin Sheppard • Public Relations Manager • (o) 704.414.4185 • (c) 704.996.3447 • [email protected] nascarhall.com 33 5 3 2 1 1 PHOTOS IN PERIOD-CORRECT RACE REPORTS FORD FLATHEAD 1948 NASCAR 1948 NASCAR THE EXHIBIT CARS IN THE FROM JUNE 20, V-8 ENGINES COMPETITION TROPHY EXHIBIT 1948 LICENSE

1948: THE YEAR IN REVIEW NASCAR MODIFIED DIVISION WORLD EVENTS

February 15 JAN February 16 Red Byron wins first officially sanctioned NASCAR Modified First newsreel telecast, “20th Century Fox-Movietone News” Division race on the Daytona Beach-Road Course. televised on NBC. FEB February 21 February 24 NASCAR is incorporated. Communist Party takes control of Czechoslovakia.

March 4 MAR March 10 Fonty Flock scores his third consecutive NASCAR “Gentleman’s Agreement” wins Golden Globe for Modified Division race victory, this one in Macon, Georgia. Best Picture with Gergory Peck and Dorothy McGuire. APR May 23 May 25 For the first time, NASCAR hosts three Modified Golfer Ben Hogan wins PGA Championship at Division races at three different tracks on the same day. MAY Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis. June 20 June 21 Brothers Fonty, Bob and all win NASCAR Long-playing 33 1/3 RPM vinyl records are introduced. Modified Division races on the same day. JUN Never happens again with 2 siblings. July 7 Cleveland Indians sign 42-year-old pitcher July 4 JUL Leroy “Satchel” Paige. Fonty Flock wins the first NASCAR race at in . July 15 AUG President Harry Truman is nominated for a July 11 second term by the Democratic Party. Red Byron wins the first NASCAR Modified Division race at the newly opened . September 14 SEP Groundbreaking takes place for UN world September 5 headquarters in New York City. Future NASCAR Hall of Famer Curtis Turner (2016) sweeps a pair of races at North Wilkesboro Speedway OCT October 3 in North Carolina. NFL becomes first major sport to be televised weekly.

October 16 NOV November 15 For the second consecutive weekend, Fonty Flock William Lyon Mackenzie King steps down wins a race in Greensboro, North Carolina. after 22 years as Canada’s Prime Minister.

November 14 DEC Red Byron wins his 11th race of the season in the final race of the year, giving him the series championship.