The 1952 NASCAR Grand National Series was the fourth season of the premier stock car racing championship sanctioned by NASCAR. Once the season was concluded, driver Tim Flock was crowned the Grand National champion after winning 8 of the 33 events that he competed in. This was the first year that NASCAR scheduled its events to avoid the conflicts of having two races, at two different tracks, on the same day. The only exception was on June 1, when races were held at both Toledo Speedway in Ohio, and Hayloft Speedway in Augusta, Georgia. Herb Thomas finished second to Flock after competing in 32 races, and Lee Petty finished third in the standings that year. Throughout the 1952 season, a total of 261 drivers entered at least one of the 34 events. Virtually every American car manufacturer had at least one of their cars start that season.
This was also the first season that sponsors such as Pure Oil Co (which later became Union 76, and eventually Unocal), and Champion Spark Plug Inc. started paying contingency award monies in exchange for the publicity they received by drivers sponsoring their products.
1952 season recap
The 1952 NASCAR Grand National season was dominated by Hudson automobiles, winning 27 of the scheduled 34 races. No other make won more than three times. The reason the Hudson Hornet was so successful, winning over 80 NASCAR races between 1951 and 1955, has been attributed to its low center of gravity, "mono-built" body and center point steering system. The center point steering system contributed to the car's superior handling and cornering abilities; allowing the vehicle to excel on the dirt-covered race tracks of the day.
Palm Beach Speedway in West Palm Beach, Florida, was a half-mile, dirt track that saw its first NASCAR event when it opened the 1952 NASCAR season on January 20, 1952. The 100-mile event was slowed by two caution flags, and was won by driver Tim Flock. Six-thousand fans were on hand to see Flock capture his first of eight victories in the 1952 season. Flock started on the pole, and drove his No. 91 1951 Hudson, sponsored by Ted Chester, to victory. He claimed his $1,025 winnings with only five drivers still running at the end of the race. Flock captured the pole position for the race in 27.78 seconds, with an average speed of 64.79 mph. The second event of the 1952 season took place on the famed 4.1 mile road course of Daytona Beach Speedway, and driver Marshall Teague took the victory in a 1952 Hudson. Herb Thomas led the first lap of the event, but Teague managed to lead laps 2 to 37. Twenty-thousand spectators witnessed 61 drivers start the event; but at the end of the race, only 10 cars were still running. The race was eventually halted on lap 37 due to the incoming tide which encroached on the beachfront straight off the track. The third event of the season took place at the half-mile dirt track of Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Florida. Marshall Teague won his second race in a row in the 200 lap, 100 mile contest, defeating the other 28 drivers.
On June 29, NASCAR traveled to Detroit, Michigan, for a scheduled 250-mile event, dubbed the "Motor Sports 250". The race was held at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway; a one-mile dirt oval built in 1899. NASCAR offered its first five-figured purse, of $11,675, to the contestants, and driver Tim Flock came away with the winner's share of $5,050. Fans watched as Flock led laps 88 – 110, until driver Buddy Shuman took the lead for one lap on the 111th circuit. Flock, with the fourth and final lead change, on the next lap, went on to lead the remaining laps of the event. Shuman finished the event in second place, capturing a total of $2,225. The event concluded after four hours, with over half of the 47 contestants still running at the drop of the checkered flag.
For the 25th race of the season, fans and drivers assembled at the Darlington Raceway on September 1. The purse for the 400-lap, 500-mile event was $23,855; after six lead changes, and seven caution flags, Fonty Flock took home the winner's trophy with an average speed of 74.5 mph. Over 32,000 fans watched as Flock's victory in his number 14, 1952 Oldsmobile, netted him a $9,430 check for over 6.5 hours of driving. Flock started on the pole, and led the first 17 laps before the first lead change between four drivers. Flock recaptured the lead for the final time on lap 185. Eventual season champion Tim Flock and his No. 91 Hudson were involved in an accident on lap 321, but Flock stepped in and replaced driver Jack Smith in the No. 9. While Flock drove the No. 9 Hudson to an 11th-place finish, he was credited with finishing 34th of the 66 starters, and Smith was awarded the 11th place points.
Palm Beach Speedway both opened and closed the 1952 NASCAR season when it held the 34th and final event on October 30, 1952. Herb Thomas won three of the final four races in the season to finish second in the final standings. Thomas claimed the final victory of the season, winning the event with a two lap advantage over second-place Fonty Flock.
1952 Race schedule and results
No. Date Site Winner Make / model Miles Purse1January 20, 1952 W. Palm Beach Tim Flock 1951 Hudson 100 $3,5802February 10, 1952 Daytona Beach Marshall Teague 1952 Hudson 152 $6,1103March 6, 1952 Jacksonville Marshall Teague 1952 Hudson 100 $3,6754March 30, 1952 North Wilkesboro Herb Thomas 1952 Hudson 125 $3,5505April 6, 1952 Martinsville Dick Rathmann 1951 Hudson 100 $3,5006April 12, 1952 Columbia Buck Baker 1952 Hudson 100 $3,5007April 20, 1952 Atlanta Bill Blair 1952 Oldsmobile 100 $3,6458April 27, 1952 Macon Herb Thomas 1952 Hudson 99 $4,8159May 4, 1952 Langhorne Dick Rathmann 1952 Hudson 150 $4,74510May 10, 1952 Darlington Dick Rathmann 1951 Hudson 100 $3,55011May 18, 1952 Dayton Dick Rathmann 1951 Hudson 100 $3,32512May 30, 1952 Canfield Herb Thomas 1952 Hudson 100 $3,70013June 1, 1952 Augusta Gober Sosebee 1952 Chrysler 77 $3,57514June 1, 1952 Toledo Tim Flock 1951 Hudson 100 $3,55015June 8, 1952 Hillsboro Tim Flock 1951 Hudson 100 $3,42516June 15, 1952 Charlotte Herb Thomas 1952 Hudson 113 $3,55017June 29, 1952 Detroit Tim Flock 1951 Hudson 250 $11,67518July 1, 1952 Stamford, Ontario Buddy Shuman 1952 Hudson 100 $3,37519July 4, 1952 Owego Tim Flock 1951 Hudson 100 $3,60020July 6, 1952 Monroe Tim Flock 1952 Hudson 100 $3,32521July 11, 1952 Morristown Lee Petty 1951 Plymouth 100 $3,75022July 20, 1952 South Bend Tim Flock 1951 Hudson 100 $3,42523August 15, 1952 Rochester Tim Flock 1952 Hudson 88 $3,55024August 17, 1952 Weaverville Bob Flock 1951 Hudson 100 $3,63525September 1, 1952 Darlington Fonty Flock 1952 Oldsmobile 500 $23,85526September 7, 1952 Macon Lee Petty 1951 Plymouth 150 $4,86527September 14, 1952 Langhorne Lee Petty 1951 Plymouth 250 $8,22528September 21, 1952 Dayton Dick Rathmann 1951 Hudson 150 $5,55029September 28, 1952 Wilson Herb Thomas 1952 Hudson 100 $3,50030October 12, 1952 Hillsboro Fonty Flock 1952 Oldsmobile 150 $5,04531October 19, 1952 Martinsville Herb Thomas 1952 Hudson 100 $3,67532October 26, 1952 North Wilkesboro Herb Thomas 1952 Hudson 125 $3,62533November 16, 1952 Atlanta Donald Thomas 1952 Hudson 100 $3,82034November 30, 1952 W. Palm Beach Herb Thomas 1952 Hudson 100 $3,425
Individual races
West Palm Beach, FL.; Palm Beach Speedway
Race (1) Top 10 finishers 91, Tim Flock 42, Lee Petty 14, Fonty Flock 88, Frankie Schneider 17, Buddy Shuman 7, Frank Mundy 787, Jim Millard 86, Bill Davis 9, Ed Samples 36, Al Funderburk
Daytona Beach, FL; Daytona Beach Road Course
Race (2) Top 10 finishes 6, Marshall Teague 92, Herb Thomas 99, Pat Kirkwood 14, Fonty Flock 51, Gober Sosebee 2, Bill Blair 40, Tommy Thompson 57, Tommy Moon 42, Lee Petty 59, Lloyd Moore
Jacksonville, FL.; Speedway Park Race (3) Top 10 finishes
6, Marshall Teague 92, Herb Thomas 88, Frankie Schneider 91, Tim Flock 57, Tommy Moon 14, Fonty Flock 72, Donald Thomas 47, Jim Reed 1, Dick Eagan 78, Bob Moore
North Wilkesboro, NC; North Wilkesboro Speedway Race (4) Top 10 finishes; Wilkes County 200 92 Herb Thomas 14 Fonty Flock 2 Bill Blair 72 Donald Thomas 126 Dave Terrell Neil Cole 17 Buddy Shuman 60 Jim Paschal 42 Lee Petty Otis Martin
Martinsville, VA; Martinsville Speedway
Race (5) Top 10 finishes 120 Dick Rathmann 2 Bill Blair 22 Perk Brown 42 Lee Petty Bobby Courtwright Neil Cole 38 Clyde Minter 92 Herb Thomas 88 Frankie Schneider 60 Jim Paschal
Columbia NC.; Columbia Speedway Race (6) Top 10 finishes
89, Buck Baker 42, Lee Petty 120, Dick Rathmann 88, Frankie Schneider 82, Joe Eubanks 72, Donald Thomas 17, Buddy Shuman 60, Jim Paschal 77, Jack Smith 18, Jimmy Florian
Atlanta, GA.; Lakewood Speedway Race (7) Top 10 finishes
2, Bill Blair 9, Ed Samples 42, Lee Petty 89, Buck Baker 118, Ed Benedict 128, Charles Gattalia 4, Fonty Flock 92, Herb Thomas 51, Gober Sosebee 18, Jimmy Florian
Macon GA.; Central City Speedway Race (8) Top 10 finishes
92, Herb Thomas 14, Fonty Flock 9, Ed Samples 89, Buck Baker 51, Gober Sosebee 60, Jim Paschal 42, Lee Petty 72, Donald Thomas 91, Tim Flock 128, Charles Gattalia
Langhorne, PA; Langhorne Speedway Race (9) Top 10 finishes
120, Dick Rathmann 91, Tim Flock 42, Lee Petty 421, Jack Reynolds 14, Fonty Flock 89, Buck Baker Tom Dawson 126, Dave Terrell Bud Farrell 2, Bill Blair
Darlington, SC; Darlington Raceway Race (10) Top 10 finishes
120, Dick Rathmann 91, Tim Flock 14, Fonty Flock 2, Jimmie Lewallen 82, Joe Eubanks 72, Donald Thomas 42, Lee Petty 11, Fireball Roberts 41, Jim Paschal 7, Frank Mundy
Dayton, OH; Dayton Speedway Race (11) Top 10 finishes
120, Dick Rathmann 59, Lloyd Moore 91, Tim Flock 42, Lee Petty 72, Donald Thomas 82, Herb Thomas 41, Jim Paschal 128, Charles Gattalia 421, Jack Reynolds 22, Perk Brown
Canfield, OH; Canfield Speedway Race (12) Top 10 finishes; Poor Man's 500
92, Herb Thomas 2, Bill Blair 78, Bob Moore 91, Tim Flock 41, Curtis Turner 82, Joe Eubanks 44, Jimmie Lewallen Bill Rexford 93, Ted Chamberlain Ernie Boost
Augusta, GA; Hayloft Speedway Race (13) Top 10 finishes
51, Gober Sosebee 57, Tommy Moon David Ezell 17, June Cleveland Jerry Wimbish 16, Bill Snowden 77, Weldon Adams 126, Dave Terrell 72, Donald Thomas 9, Ed Samples
Toledo, OH.; Toledo Speedway Race (14) Top 10 finishes
91, Tim Flock 120, Dick Rathmann 42, Lee Petty 44, Ray Duhigg 14, Fonty Flock 22, Perk Brown 82, Joe Eubanks Bud Farrell 421, Jack Reynolds Ralph Liguori
Hillsboro, NC.; Occoneechee Speedway Race (15) Top 10 finishes
91, Tim Flock 14, Fonty Flock 120, Dick Rathmann 2, Bill Blair Jimmie Lewallen 42, Lee Petty 82, Joe Eubanks 44, Ray Duhigg Clyde Minter 72, Donald Thomas
Charlotte, NC; Charlotte Speedway Race (16) Top 10 finishes
92, Herb Thomas 91, Tim Flock 2, Bill Blair 42, Lee Petty 120, Dick Rathmann 66, Donald Thomas 82, Joe Eubanks 89, Buddy Shuman 17, June Cleveland 19, Fred Dove
Detroit, MI; Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway Race (17) Top 10 finishes Motor City 250
91, Tim Flock 89, Buddy Shuman 92, Herb Thomas 2, Bill Blair 99, Pat Kirkwood 77, Dick Passwater 3, Hershel McGriff 73, Stewart Joyce 4, Otis Martin 34, Ted Chamberlain
Stamford, Ontario, Canada; Stamford Park Seventeen cars competed in the event, only three were running at the end.
Race (18) Top 10 finishes
89, Buddy Shuman 92, Herb Thomas 44, Ray Duhigg 421, Jack Reynolds Perk Brown Neil Cole Fonty Flock 118, Bucky Sager 93, Ted Chamberlain Albert Lemieux
Owego, NY; Shangri-La Speedway Race (19) Top 10 finishes
91, Tim Flock 92, Herb Thomas 120, Dick Rathmann 118, Bucky Sager 42, Lee Petty 59, Lloyd Moore 44, Ray Duhigg 421, Jack Reynolds Neil Cole Walt Carver
Monroe, MI; Monroe Speedway Race (20) Top 10 finishes
91, Tim Flock 92, Herb Thomas 42, Lee Petty 14, Fonty Flock 44, Ray Duhigg 84, Red Duvall 93, Ted Chamberlain Iggy Katona 162, Fred Bethune Bob Moore