Fonty Flock

Fonty Flock
Fonty Flock
Born	Truman Fontell Flock; March 21, 1921; Fort Payne, Alabama, U.S.
Died	July 15, 1972 (aged 51); Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Achievements	1947 National Championship Stock Car Circuit Champion; 1949 NASCAR National Modified Champion; 1952 Southern 500 Winner
Awards	Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame Association (2004); Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame (2004) Motorsports Hall of Fame (historical) (2023)
NASCAR Cup Series career
	154 races run over 9 years
Best finish	2nd (1951)
First race	1949 Race No. 1 (Charlotte)
Last race	1957 Southern 500 (Darlington)
First win	1950 (Langhorne)
Last win	1956 (Charlotte)
NASCAR Convertible Division career
	3 races run over 1 year
Best finish	37th (1956)
First race	1956 Race #5 (Peach Bowl)
Last race	1956 Race #14 (Columbia)
First win	1956 Race #5 (Peach Bowl)

Truman Fontell "Fonty" Flock (March 21, 1921 – July 15, 1972) was an American stock car racer.

Flock family

He was the brother of NASCAR pioneers Tim Flock and Bob Flock, and the second female NASCAR driver Ethel Mobley. The four raced at the July 10, 1949, race at the Daytona Beach Road Course, which was the first event to feature a brother and a sister, and the only NASCAR event to feature four siblings. Ethel beat Fonty and Bob by finishing in eleventh.

Racing career

Moonshine

Like many early NASCAR drivers, Flock's career began by delivering illegal moonshine. He started delivering on his bicycle as a teenager. He used his car to deliver moonshine as he got older. "I used to deliberately seek out the sheriff and get him to chase me," he later recalled. "It was fun, and besides we could send to California to get special parts to modify our cars, and the sheriff couldn't afford to do that."^[1]

Early career

Flock won a 100-mile race at Lakewood Speedway Park in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1940. He raced on dirt tracks in Georgia.

He qualified in the pole position for the July 27, 1941, race at the Daytona Beach Road Course beside Roy Hall. Flock took the early lead before he and Hall got together in the south turn. Flock rolled and landed upside down in bushes. The seatbelt broke during the rolling, and Flock was tossed around. He was rushed by ambulance to the hospital, having suffered a crushed chest, broken pelvis, head and back injuries, and severe shock.

World War II

Flock was in the United States Army Air Corps for four years during World War II.^[2]

NASCAR career

His brother convinced car owner Ed Schenck to put Flock in his car at the first race at the North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 5, 1947. Flock won the pole and his heat race. He won the 30-lap feature after not racing in 4+1⁄2 years. He took over his brother Bob's ride later in the season after Bob broke his back. He won seven of 47 races that season, and beat Ed Samples and Red Byron to win the National Championship Stock Car Circuit championship.

He won eleven features and won the NASCAR National Modified championship in 1949. He raced in six of eight Strictly Stock (later Grand National Series) events and finished fifth in the points.

He raced his first full-time season in the Grand National series in 1951. He had eight wins, 22 Top-10s, and 13 poles to finish second in the points. He won the 100-mile Grand National Stock Car race at Bainbridge Speedway, Solon, Ohio, on July 9, 1951.^[3]

He had two wins, 17 Top-10s, and seven poles in 1952. He finished fourth in the points.

He was leading by more than a minute at the 1953 Daytona Beach Road Course race but ran out of gas taking the white flag at the start of the final lap. Flock's teammate pushed his car into the pits. Bill Blair passed to win the race in a 1953 Oldsmobile. Flock finished second by 26 seconds. He had four wins, 17 Top-10 finishes, and three poles to finish fourth in the final points.

He opened an insurance agency in 1954, racing part-time after that.

Flock raced 31 of 45 events in 1955. He had three wins, 14 Top-10s, and six poles. He finished eleventh in the points.

He had his final win in 1956 at the Charlotte Speedway.

In 1957, he raced at the Daytona Beach Road Course. Herb Thomas had been gravely injured in a 1956 race held at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Shelby, North Carolina, so he asked Flock to drive the car in the 1957 Southern 500. Flock accepted. He spun and was smashed by Bobby Myers and Paul Goldsmith on lap 27, injuring all, and killing Myers. From the hospital bed, Flock announced his retirement.^[4] He died on July 15, 1972, after a lengthy illness.^[5]

Awards

Flock was inducted in the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame in 2004.
He was inducted into the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame Association in 2004.

Media

Appeared as a mystery challenger on the Apr 15, 1956, episode of What's My Line? on CBS television.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

Grand National Series

NASCAR Grand National Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50	51	52	53	54	55	56	NGNC	Pts	Ref
1949	Grady Cole	47	Hudson	CLT 2																																																								5th	554.5	^[6]
	Gene Horne		Hudson		DAB 19
	Ed Lawrence		Buick			HBO 4	LAN 45	HAM	MAR 12	HEI	NWS 3
1950	Ed Lawrence		Buick	DAB 10	CLT 21	LAN	MAR	CAN	VER	DSP	MCF	CLT	HBO	DSP	HAM																																													14th	458.5	^[7]
	Frank Christian		Olds													DAR 28	LAN 1*	NWS 18*	VER
		7																		MAR 4	WIN	HBO 20*
1951		14		DAB 3	CLT 20	NMO 2	GAR	HBO 1**	ASF 4	NWS 1**	MAR 5	CAN 3	CLS 25	CLB 12	DSP 4	GAR	GRS 3	BAI 1**	HEI 36	AWS 1	MCF 14*	ALS 1**	MSF 35	FMS 18*	MOR 30	ABS 4	DAR 8	CLB 10	CCS 4	LAN 3*	CLT	DSP 1**	WIL 1	HBO 15*	TPN	PGS	MAR	OAK 11		HMS 24	JSP 3	ATL	GAR 11	NMO 4																2nd	4062.25	^[8]
1951	Ted Chester	7	Olds																																				NWS 1*																					2nd	4062.25	^[8]
1952	Frank Christian	14	Olds	PBS 3	DAB 4	JSP 6	NWS 2	MAR 15	CLB		CCS 2	LAN 5	DAR 3	DSP 11	CAN 17	HAY	FMS 5	HBO 2	CLT 11	MSF 47			MON 4	MOR	PPS 15	MCF	AWS 12*	DAR 1*	CCS 24	LAN 26	DSP 16*	WIL 18	HBO 1*	MAR 2	NWS 2	ATL 19	PBS 2																							4th	5183.5	^[9]
	Frank Christian	4	Olds							ATL 7
		7	Kaiser																		NIF 7	OSW
1953	Frank Christian	14	Olds	PBS 11	DAB 2*	HAR 14	NWS 3	CLT 25	RCH	CCS 4*	LAN 3		HCY 26	MAR 29	PMS 15		LOU 11	FIF																CCS 14																										5th	6174	^[10]
1953			Hudson									CLB 14				RSP 1*			LAN 31	TCS 23	WIL 1	MCF	PIF 4	MOR	ATL 12	RVS 3	LCF 16	DAV 5	HBO 12	AWS 1	PAS 2	HCY 1*	DAR 2		LAN 35	BLF 15	WIL 3	NWS 2	MAR 3	ATL 2																				5th	6174	^[10]
1954			Hudson	PBS 12		JSP 2		OSP 11	OAK	NWS	HBO	CCS	LAN	WIL	MAR	SHA	RSP	CLT	GAR	CLB	LND	HCY	MCF	WGS	PIF	AWS	SFS	GRS	MOR	OAK	CLT	SAN	COR	DAR	CCS	CLT	LAN	MAS	MAR	NWS																				–	–	^[11]
	Raymond Parks	99	Buick		DAB 57
	Raymond Parks	99	Hudson				ATL 5
1955	Frank Christian	14	Olds	TCS	PBS	JSP	DAB 5	OSP																																																				11th	4266	^[12]
	Frank Christian	14	Chevy						CLB 1	HBO 5	NWS 20	MGY 3	LAN 22	CLT 23	HCY	ASF 28	TUS
	Carl Kiekhaefer	301	Chrysler															MAR 23	RCH 2	NCF 2	FOR 21	LIN 28	MCF 2	FON 11			PIF 2	CLB 15	AWS 2	MOR 26	ALS	NYF	SAN	CLT		MAS 1*	RSP 9*			LAN 3	RSP 1*		MAS 39	CLB	MAR 25	LVP	NWS 6	HBO
		15	Olds																						AIR 11	CLT
	Carl Kiekhaefer	300	Chrysler																																FOR 16
	Carl Kiekhaefer	36	Chrysler																																			DAR 51
	Thomas Racing	91	Chevy																																				MGY 23			GPS 25
1956	DePaolo Engineering	297	Ford	HCY 8																																																								50th	946	^[13]
	Carl Kiekhaefer	301	Chrysler		CLT 1**	WSS	PBS 19	ASF
	Carl Kiekhaefer	500B	Dodge						DAB 10	PBS	WIL
	A. L. Bumgarner	55	Pontiac									ATL 7	NWS
	Carl Kiekhaefer	34	Chrysler											LAN 39	RCH	CLB	CON	GPS	HCY	HBO	MAR	LIN	CLT	POR	EUR	NYF	MER	MAS	CLT	MCF	POR	AWS	RSP	PIF	CSF	CHI	CCF	MGY	OKL	ROA	OBS	SAN	NOR	PIF	MYB	POR
	Bill Stroppe	15	Mercury																																												DAR 58	CSH	CLT	LAN	POR	CLB	HBO	NWP	CLT	CCF	MAR	HCY	WIL
1957	Bill Stroppe	18	Mercury	WSS	CON	TIC	DAB 3	CON	WIL	HBO	AWS	NWS	LAN	CLT	PIF	GBF	POR	CCF	RCH	MAR	POR	EUR	LIN	LCS	ASP	NWP	CLB	CPS	PIF	JAC	RSP	CLT	MAS	POR	HCY	NOR	LCS	GLN	KPC	LIN	OBS	MYB																		61st	540	^[14]
1957	Thomas Racing	92	Pontiac																																								DAR 48	NYF	AWS	CSF	SCF	LAN	CLB	CCF	CLT	MAR	NBR	CON	NWS	GBF				61st	540	^[14]

Convertible Division

NASCAR Convertible Division results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	NCC	Pts	Ref
1956	Hubert Westmoreland	33	Chevy	DAB	CLT	HBO	FAY	PCH 1	MGY	HCY	LCS	GBF	OBS	RSP																																					37th	528	^[15]
1956	Frank Christian	14	Chevy												LAN 15	STR	CLB 7	LKS	TUL	TFT	KSF	MOF	NOR	WIL	CHI	FRS	NYF	TOR	BUF	BEL	LIN	FWS	BGS	CLB	HCY	CLT	FRS	MCF	HEI	RSP	GPS	ATL	MCC	CHI	MAS	CCF	MAR	PIF	AWS	HBO	37th	528	^[15]

References

^ Hickok, Ralph (February 18, 2009). "Flock, "Fonty" (Truman Fontell)". hickoksports.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
^ Freedman, Lew (2013). Encyclopedia of Stock Car Racing. ABC-CLIO. p. 225. ISBN 9780313387104.
^ Motor Sports World, Vol.1, No.4, Los Angeles, California, July 13, 1951, Page 1.
^ "Fonty Flock quits racing after a brush with death". The News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. Associated Press. September 3, 1957.
^ "Fonty Flock dies in Atlanta". Reading Eagle. Associated Press. July 16, 1972.
^ "Fonty Flock – 1949 NASCAR Strictly Stock Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
^ "Fonty Flock – 1950 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
^ "Fonty Flock – 1951 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
^ "Fonty Flock – 1952 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
^ "Fonty Flock – 1953 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
^ "Fonty Flock – 1954 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
^ "Fonty Flock – 1955 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
^ "Fonty Flock – 1956 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
^ "Fonty Flock – 1957 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
^ "Fonty Flock – 1956 NASCAR Convertible Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2022.

External links

Fonty Flock driver statistics at Racing-Reference
Biography at Talladega Walk of Fame
Granddaughter's website includes photos
Biography at decadesofracing.net
Biography at hickoksports.com
Fonty Flock at The Crittenden Automotive Library includes career Strictly Stock/Grand National Statistics and complete Grand National win list.
Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame

Sporting positions
Preceded by Ed Samples	National Championship Stock Car Circuit Champion 1947	Succeeded by Red Byron (NASCAR)
Preceded by Red Byron	NASCAR Modified Division Champion 1949	Succeeded by Charles Dyer