Fantasy NASCAR Racing

Sales was born in Winston Salem, NC, on October 4, 1923.  He served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of World War II.  After the war, Sales would make his first career Cup start at North Wilkesboro on September 24, 1950.  Hubert Westmoreland owned the car, and an interesting item is that the "sponsor" was listed as "Southern 500 Winner".  Sales was driving the same car, Johnny Mantz had driven a few months earlier to win the first Southern 500.  Sales would drive to a win at North Wilkesboro NC, in his first Cup start.  It was 200 laps around the 5/8 mile dirt track.  Fireball Roberts won the pole, but Red Byron would jump to the lead, and hold it for just three laps, before Fonty Flock led the next 104 circuits.  Byron would reassume the lead but fall out, as did Flock.  Jack Smith took the lead with 63 laps to go and would be at the point until Sales would pass, and lead the final eighth laps to get the win.  He is one of the few drivers who have won in their first career start.  Smith would finish second, Ewell Weddle third, Herb Thomas fourth and Gayle Warren was fifth.  Sales made his next start at Martinsville on October 15, 1950, and now the car sported the "sponsor" as "Souther 500 Winner / North Wilkesboro Winner".  Sale would run into issues and crash out of the race at Martinsville, finishing 21st.  His next start would come in 1951, and he ran four races that year.  He gave the car a good run once again at Darlington in the Southern 500.  He started 27th in the 82 car field, kept the car clean, and was running seventh, when the checkered flag fell