In the late 1940s, you would have been hard-pressed to find a more fanatical racing family than the Flocks.
A native of Fort Payne, Ala., Julius Timothy Flock was one of four siblings who helped pioneer NASCAR. But that's not to say he was thrust into the career by his family. In fact, two of his racing brothers – Bob and Fonty Flock – tried to talk him out of taking up the often-dangerous sport after he was inspired by his racing sister, Ethel Mobley. But an undeterred Tim Flock took to the wheel and embarked on a record-setting string of victories.
Before retiring in 1962, he had racked up two NASCAR Grand National Championships (1952 and 1955). A master of beach-course driving, he was the only driver to win in every NASCAR division on Daytona Beach. He also holds five world records for Daytona's "Measured Mile."
Although he died of cancer in 1998, Tim Flock is remembered today by racing enthusiasts and sports historians. He was named Sports Illustrated's 11th Greatest Driver of the Century in 2000 and was inducted into more than a dozen halls of fame, including the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
To learn more about Tim Flock and his family, visit his official Web site at timflock.com.
