Daredevil Driver

Stock car racing is a slam-bang sport with its own special sound effects--screeching tires, crumpling fenders and ten-car smashups. It requires nerve and verve for a driver to compete with any success. Tops in this careening career is a slim, wiry young (28) man named Julius Timothy Flock of Hapeville, Ga. A onetime auto salesman, "Tim" Flock, who comes from a family of racing drivers, discovered six years ago that racing a car was more profitable than selling one. His estimated income this season: $40,000.

Tim Flock was one of the starters this week at West Palm Beach in the final race of the year, sponsored by NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing). Flock was involved in a neck & neck race with Herb Thomas, defending national champion, for the 1952 title.

Ever since last January, when Flock set a Palm Beach Speedway record of 64.89 m.p.h., he and Thomas had dueled it out at tracks all over the U.S. in NASCAR's grand circuit. The NASCAR rules are rigid, a cut above the fly-by-night promotions involving jalopies with wild-eyed teen-agers at the wheels. All cars must be 1949 makes or newer. They must be strictly stock, with no special tires, no extra-heavy springing and no "souping up" of engines. Safety rules are rigidly enforced. Headlights are taped to prevent flying glass, and the drivers must wear crash belts and helmets. Even hubcaps are removed--a flying hubcap can be more deadly than a flying saucer.

Before this week's race, Tim Flock took an extra precaution. He welded a safety rollover bar to the top of his Hudson Hornet. As it turned out, it saved his life. Hitting 85 m.p.h. on the straightaways of the Speedway's half-mile track before 10,000 racing fans, Flock was in second place behind Thomas when disaster struck. On the 163rd lap of the 100-mile race, Flock's rear axle broke. The right rear wheel went spinning into the infield, and the Hudson rolled over. Brother Fonty, one of the daredevil Flock family,* driving in third place, slammed to a stop and watched. Tim stepped out of the wreck, shaken but unhurt.

Defending Champion Thomas won the race at an average speed of 63 m.p.h., with Fonty Flock second. Thomas earned 200 points for winning, but Tim Flock, before his crackup, had earned enough starting and lap points to edge Thomas for the national title, 6,858.5 to 6,752.5.

*One sister, Reo, was a professional parachute jumper. Another sister, Ethel, was the top woman racing driver in 1947-48. Brother Carl was an outboard-motorboat racer. Brother Bob was a leading racing driver in 1951 until he broke his neck. He retired after two races this season.

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