The NASCAR Strictly Stock Series inaugural race was the first stock car race sanctioned by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). Held on June 19, 1949 at the Charlotte Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina, the race comprised 200 laps on a dirt oval. Bob Flock won the pole position for the race with a top speed of . Glenn Dunaway initially claimed the victory in his 1947 Ford, but was later disqualified because his car had spread rear springs. The win was instead awarded to Jim Roper, driver of a 1949 Lincoln.
Race organization The race was run on the same day as competitor NSCRA, operated by NASCAR founder Bill France Sr.'s rival Bruton Smith, held a race in Atlanta. In an attempt to attract drivers from the opposing series, France offered prize money totaling $5,000, with $2,000 going to the race winner. Attendance for the race totaled approximately 13,000, with Houston Lawing, NASCAR's publicity director, stating that over 5,000 fans were not allowed into the stands because the grandstands could not accommodate them. As a result, spectators crossed the track into the infield to watch the race, and state police had to appear to control them.
Race Pole position was held by Bob Flock, who led for the first five laps before his engine malfunctioned, and Bill Blair took the lead, which he held for 145 laps until Jim Roper took the lead on lap 151. In the end, Glenn Dunaway won, but officials had expressed suspicion over Dunaway's car remaining steady while entering the rugged turns, and it was eventually discovered that car owner Hubert Westmoreland had spread the car's rear springs, a method commonly used by bootleggers to improve handling. Roper, who had finished three laps down, was given the victory, while Dunaway was scored as finishing last. Fonty Flock, Red Byron, Sam Rice and Tim Flock closed out the top five, while the top ten consisted of Archie Smith, Sterling Long, Slick Smith, Curtis Turner and Jimmy Thompson. Westmoreland then sued NASCAR for $10,000, but lost after judge Johnson Jay Hayes tossed it out of court.
Results Driver Owner Manufacturer Status 112 34 Jim Roper R. B. McIntosh Lincoln 197 Running 25 47 Fonty Flock Grady Cole / Bruce Griffin Hudson Running 33 22 Red Byron Raymond Parks Oldsmobile Running 414 2 Sam Rice Sam Rice Oldsmobile Running 52 90 Tim Flock Buddy Elliott Oldsmobile Running 6 37 Archie Smith Frank Smith Ford 7 31 Sterling Long Sterling Long Hudson 8 28 Slick Smith Slick Smith Oldsmobile 96 41 Curtis Turner Curtis Turner Buick 10 36 Jimmy Thompson Bruce Thompson Chrysler 11 87 Buck Baker Penny Mullis Kaiser 128 44 Bill Blair R. B. McIntosh Lincoln 150 Overheating 13 52 Jack Smith Bishop Brothers Ford Overheating 1413 71 Sara Christian Frank Christian Ford Overheating 15 John Barker Unknown Kaiser 16 0 Jimmie Lewallen Jimmie Lewallen Ford 179 38 Lee Petty Glimer Goode Buick 105 Crash 18 11 Skimp Hersey Skimp Hersey Ford 19 25 Bob Smith Unknown Oldsmobile 204 19 Otis Martin Pee Wee Martin Ford Overheating 21 37 Frank Smith Frank Smith Chrysler 22 16 Bill Snowden Bill Snowden Mercury Overheating 23 60 Jim Paschal Jim Paschal Ford Overheating 24 1 B. E. Renfro B. E. Renfro Hudson 25 10 Fred Johnson Fred Johnson Ford 26 88 George Mantooth George Mantooth Ford 27 5 Felix Wilkes Felix Wilkes Lincoln Overheating 2810 9 Pee Wee Martin Pee Wee Martin Oldsmobile 29 93 Herb Thomas Herb Thomas Ford Springs 30 4 Frank Mundy Sam Rice Cadillac Rear-front spindle 31 29 Clarence Benton Clarence Benton Ford 321 7 Bob Flock Davis Brothers Hudson 38 Engine DSQ7 25 Glenn Dunaway Hubert Westmoreland Ford 200 Disqualified
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