ROBERT NEWMAN "BOB" FLOCK - 04/16/1918 - 05/16/1964
was an early NASCAR Cup driver. He qualified on the pole position for NASCAR's first ever Strictly Stock (now Monster Cup Series) race. He was the brother of NASCAR pioneers Tim Flock and Fonty Flock, and the second female NASCAR driver Ethel (Flock) Mobley. The siblings were known as "The Flying Flocks". 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. He was a well established driver before NASCAR was formed. He took over NASCAR founder Bill France's ride in 1946 and he won both events at the Daytona Beach Road Course in 1947. Bob's first Cup start came on 6/19/1949; as would every driver who started this event since it was the first ever Cup Series race. Bob would start on the pole, but had motor issues and finished 32nd. Bob's first Cup win would come in the third race of the year. He started on the pole again; and this time would lead all 200 laps in his #7 Bob Flock's Garage sponsored 1948 Oldsmobile. Sara Christian took a wild ride on lap 38 as she looped he car after losing a right front tire. As she tried to make it to the pits she was hit by Felix Wilkes. Christian had to be cut out of the car with an acetylene torch and received surgery putting four pins in her knee and 50 stitches. Flock would win a
second race in 1949 and it would come at North Wilkesboro. Bill Blair led the first 180 laps; but blew his motor and Flock was waiting in the wings to assume the lead. He led the final 20 laps to get the win. Even with two wins; Flock would finish third in the points while Red Byron took the first ever Cup Championship. Bob Flock only ran four events in 1950 and almost won on one occasion; finishing second to his brother Tim Flock. In 1951 Bob raced in 17 of the 41 Cup races that year. He would claim his third career Cup win at Greenville SC at Air Base Speedway driving his #7; 1951 Oldsmobile "Gray Ghost". Brothers Tim and Fonty Flock would start on the front row while Bob started seventh. Bob would go on to claim the win, while Tim would finish second and Fonty fourth. Bob's final win came in 1952 at Asheville-Weaverville Speedway in Weaverville NC. He would again beat out brother Tim for the win, out distancing him by two
laps. Bob Flock's final Cup start would come in 1956 at Memphis-Arkansas Speedway in Lehi AR. He would start 15th; but a failed fuel pump would put him out of the race on lap 154 relegating him to a 11th place finish. Bob ran one career Convertible Series race. It would be at Montgomery AL. He won the pole; but after only 54 laps his motor gave up and he ended up in 20th position. He won four Cup races in his career in only 36 starts. Bob Flock retired from driving when he broke his back in an on track accident. Flock then 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. He was inducted in the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame in 2003. Some info from Wikipedia
All Photos copyright and are property of their respective owners