JULIUS TIMOTHY "TIM" FLOCK - 05/11/1924 - 03/31/1998
was one of NASCAR's early pioneers, and a two time NASCAR Cup Series Champion. He was a brother to NASCAR's second female driver Ethel Mobley and NASCAR pioneers Bob Flock and Fonty Flock. He finished 5th in NASCAR’s inaugural Strictly Stock race at Charlotte, North Carolina in 1949. NASCAR's first official season ended with Tim in eighth in the points standings, with Tim's brother Fonty Flock in fifth, and his brother Bob Flock in third. Tim would claim his first win in 1950 at Charlotte Speedway. He would start fifth and lead 153 of the 200 laps around the 3/4 mile dirt track. His brother Bob would finish second; the only two cars on the lead lap. It would be his lone win for the season. The following year Tim ran 30 of the 41 races that season and posted seven wins and finish third in the points. 1952 brought eight wins and four poles and he ran all but one race this season. He would kick off the season with a win at West Palm Beach where he started on the pole; and led 194 of the 200 laps to beat Lee Petty for the win. At the end of the 1952 NASCAR season, Tim Flock had 106 more points than Herb Thomas, earning Flock his first NASCAR Cup Series Championship title. In 1953 Flock only won one race; but it would be memorable. Tim had a Rhesus monkey co-driver named "Jocko Flocko" with him in his May 16, 1953 Cup win at Hickory Motor Speedway. Jocko Flocko became the only winning monkey ever. Jocko was not approved by NASCAR and was
smuggled into the car at the start of his first race. It apparently caused quite a stir when Tim would pass someone and they would look over and see a monkey waving back, clad in tiny driver's suit and helmet! Since he had run in one race, NASCAR decided they would let him run again. Two weekslater, racing at Raleigh speedway in Raleigh, NC, Tim Flock’s monkey co-pilot Jocko Flocko would chew through his seat belts on his specially designed seat and ended up on the floor of the car and opened the tire inspection panel (at the time, a hole was cut into the floor so the driver could pull a cord and look at the tire to see if it was wearing). A rock came in, pelted Jocko upside his
head, and he went crazy, apparently attacking Tim Flock. He had to pit and make an extra pit stop to give the monkey to his pit crew,.... costing him a second place finish. Tim commented after the race "The pit stop cost me second place and a $600.00 difference in my paycheck. I had to get that monkey off my back!" Jocko had run his last race and was retired immediately. 1954 would see a seeming good start to the season cause Tim to quit NASCAR racing. Tim skipped the season opening race at West Palm Beach; but came to race at the Daytona Beach and road course and would start fourth. He would cross
the finish line first but after the race he was disqualified. In post-race inspection, Tim Flock's carburetor screws were found to be soldered into place, which was deemed an illegal modification. He was so angry about the DQ ruling, he quit NASCAR and didn't return to run a Cup race again until the 32nd race of the season. 1955 was a record setting year for Flock as well as NASCAR. On the way to Flock's second NASCAR Cup Championship title, Flock had 19 poles and 18 victories in 45 races. His first race of the season was again at the Daytona beach course and he won beating out Lee Petty by nine seconds. He ripped off a string of events where he won five out of seven races; and finished second in the other two. Later he would win seven of 11 starts with a second and two thirds in that span - his worst finish during that streak was 11th. He would cap off the season winning the closing event of the season held at Orange Speedway in Hillsborough NC. He started on the pole; led all 100 laps on the way to the win. Tim would scale back his racing the following year; only competing in 22 of 56 events. He would win four times but still finish in the top ten in points despite skipping so many races. His final Cup win came in this season and it would come at the road course of Elkhart Lake WI. He would start sixth and take the lead on lap six. Buck Baker; Marvin Panch and Speedy Thompson would all also have stout cars on this day. Panch had a rear end failure 37 laps into the race; Thompson had motor failure on lap 53; and Baker blew a motor two laps from the end; Flock
Jocko Flocko
Daytona Beach Road Course win 1956
assumed the lead with 10 laps to go to claim his final victory. The next four years Flock never ran more than three races in a season. His final year (1961) he ran seven races of the 52 events. His final start would come at Charlotte in the World 600. 55 cars took the green flag with Flock pulling off 24th. He would run 255 laps before he engine billowed smoke and he was done for the day; finishing 37th. After retiring, Flock was then employed by the Ford Motor Company to entertain customers at track events. For his career Tim had 39 wins in his 187 Cup starts and was the Cup champion in 1952 and 1955. Tim also ran in four NASCAR Convertible series races. His first start saw him in victory lane. He would win in the 1957 Daytona Beach and Road Course race after leading 18 of the 39 laps. In his only other Convertible start in 1957 he finished second to Fireball Roberts. He ran two convertible races in 1957 also. He would finish seventh at Atlanta's
Lakewood Speedway. He qualify second; and lead 58 laps. He would take the lead on lap 74 and looked to be headed for the win; but he run out of gas with four laps to go and fell to seventh place. He died of lung and liver cancer on March 31, 1998 at the age of 73 which was during NASCAR's 50th Anniversary. A month before his death, Flock was honored as one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers. He was inducted into the 2014 NASCAR Hall of Fame class. Some info from Wikipedia
1958 Daytona Beach Convertible win
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