CENTRAL CITY SPEEDWAY - MACON GA
The track was opened in 1947 and hosted the season finale' of the AAA Eastern Big Car Series; and was won by Ted Horn. 1948 saw NASCAR start racing on the 1/2 mile dirt track with the Modified Series; and four races being held. They were won by Fonty Flock, Gober Sosebee, Red Byron and Billy Carden. NASCAR's Grand National (now Cup) Series began racing there in 1951. Over the span of four years; seven points races were held. One race in 1951 and two races each of the following three years. The first race was 200 laps. Bob Flock started on the pole and led the first eleven laps. He would suffer mechanical problems and fall out finishing 18th. Jesse James Taylor would take the
lead and lead until lap 106 when he fell out with over heating issues. From there, Herb Thomas would go on to lead the final 94 laps and win by over two circuits. Sosebee was second and Jim Paschal third. The next event saw the length increased to 300 laps. Jack Smith started on the point and would run away from the field and lead the first 186 laps. But he then broke a wheel and was out of the race finishing 16th. When Smith suffered his issue; Thomas was again there to take advantage and inherited the lead. Rain would fall 12 laps later and the race was official after 198 laps with Thomas the winner. Fonty Flock was second and Ed Samples third. The second race of 1952 was also 300 laps. Fonty Flock started on the pole and led the first 44 laps, but a broken fuel line sidelined him at that point relegating him to a 24th place finish. Brother Tim Flock would take command at that point and lead for the next 210 laps. Records don't show what happened, but Flock must have had some sort of issue then, because the final finish shows he finished third two laps down. Once again Herb Thomas stepping in to take the lead; looking to make it three wins in a row. However, Lee Petty passed Thomas with five laps to go and take the win. Thomas was second. 1953 saw the race length reduced back to 200 laps; a distance it would remain for all the other Cup races NASCAR ran there. In this race Dick Rathman would start on the pole; but be bypassed by Fonty Flock before they completed the first lap. He would lead 120 laps before Thomas worked his way by him to take the lead. With 35 laps to go Rathman would take the lead and go on to take the win. Once again Thomas was second. The Fall race of 1953 saw a pretty competitive race. Five different drivers led, and there were seven lead changes. The final pass came with 24 laps to go as Speedy Thompson passed Lee Petty to claim the win. The spring race of 1954 saw four drivers hold the lead and there was againseven lead changes. Drivers who took a turn in the lead included Dick Rathman; Buck Baker, Al Keller, and Sosebee, the pass for the win was made with 32 laps to go when Sosebee got by Keller to take the checkers. Rathman came home second while Jim Paschal was third. The final Cup race at the facility was in September of 1954. Tim Flock won the pole and dominated the first 180 laps. But with 20 laps to go he was passed by Hershel McGriff who went on to claim the win by 25 seconds. This was the last event held at the track. Central City Speedway was rated as one of the most popular, safest, and fastest tracks in the South.
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