NASCAR came to Lakewood for the first time in 1951. With the disbanding of the National Stock Car Racing Association (NSCRA) at the end of its '51 season, the drivers picked themselves up and integrated with NASCAR.
While other local racing was going on during the year at Cedartown, Macon and Thomaston, France's first Grand National strictly stock car race (now Winston Cup) happened at Lakewood on Sunday, November 11, 1951. Tim Flock won the race which paid a total purse of $4,000. Included in the field were the stars of the circuit: Jesse James Taylor of Macon, all three Flock brothers, Lee Petty, Marshall Teague, Frank Mundy, Fireball Roberts, Bill Blair, Jimmy Lewallen, Gober Sosebee, Glenn Dunaway, Buck Baker, Jack Smith, Billy Carden, Ed Samples and many others. The honorary starter the wrestler Gorgeous George.
As the case with many races, Tim Flock's victory was overshadowed by tragedy. Taylor was thrown from his car and run over by another driver. After a stint at Crawford Long Hospital he returned to racing and later won the GASCAR (Georgia Association of Stock Car Auto Racing). I spoke with Taylor the other day, and he said, "Something gave way on the car. I guess the spindle since it was stock. Anyway, the corner of the car dug in the track and it started flipping. I didn't think it would ever quit."
NASCAR returned to Lakewood on April 20, 1952 with Bill Blair the victor followed by Ed Samples, Lee Petty, and Buck Baker. Defending national champion Herb Thomas continued his bad luck at the track. Leading with less than 20 laps to go, Thomas blew a tire.
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Herb Thomas after the November 1952 victory
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