Here’s one you might need to do a little research on… or … maybe not!!
1 - Who was the very first NASCAR Cup driver to crash into Daytona’s Lake Lloyd? What year was it, and at which event did it happen at? And just for kicks, what was the make of car and car number? :blink:
Elias Bowie became the first African-American to race in NASCAR’s top series, then known as Grand National, when he raced in the July 31, 1955 event at San Mateo, California at the Bay Meadow Speedway. Staring 31st, Bowie finished 28th in his only NASCAR race that was won by Tim Flock
A 2008 article on NASCAR.com states, “Charlie Scott will go down in history as the first African-American driver to make a NASCAR race. He competed on the Daytona Beach road course in 1956 in a Kiekhaefer Chrysler. When the checkered waved, Scott found himself in 19th place, earning $75 dollars for his efforts.”
That was Charlie Scott’s only race, and it occurred on February 26, 1956
I know what I said about slowing down answering the questions, but…sometimes, I can’t help myself, the challenge to find the answer is too much to resist, LOL
Joseph Reynolds “Joie” Ray Jr. (September 29, 1923 ? April 13, 2007) was an American open-wheel and stock-car racer. Ray was born in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1947, Ray was the first African American licensed by the American Automobile Association. Ray raced primarily in the Midwest and raced in AAA, USAC, CSRA and other organizations, but despite many sources to the contrary, was not the first African-American to race in NASCAR’s top series.
The Joie Ray who started 25th in the 1952 Daytona race in a Henry J was white, from Portland, Oregon and little is known about him. They were two different men.
The only pair that comes to mind are Jim Rathmann and Dick Rathman, who were brothers although their last names were spelled differently… The reason for that is that Jim and his older brother Dick actually swapped names while teenagers. As a 16-year old going by the name of “Dick Rathmann,” Jim wanted to start racing. In order to enter races, he borrowed his older brother’s I.D. and assumed the identity of “Jim Rathmann.” The name change stuck for life in public circles while Dick dropped the second “n” from his last name.
Dick ran in 129 NASCAR Cup races from 1951-55 and won 13 times…
Jim ran just 31 AAA/USAC Indy Car races during his career and won six of them including the 1960 Indy 500 after an epic battle with Rodger Ward…
Dick actually ran more Indy Car races than Jim did, starting 38 events, but never won an Indy Car race.
Jim ran in just three NASCAR Cup races with a best finish of 12th at Daytona in 1950…
Jim was much more interested in business and ran Jim Rathmann Chevrolet and other dealerships in the Cocoa-Melbourne area for many years… He was well known for “loaning” brand new Corvettes to the astronauts back in the '60s and '70s…
Photos:
Jim in 1951
Jim at Indy in 1952 - finished second
Dick at Daytona in 1952 driving Walt Chapman’s Hudson
Dick’s final NASCAR races were run in 1955 driving this Chrysler owned by John Ditz