Thursday, June 19, marks the 65th anniversary of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ first race, held in 1949. In what was then called the Strictly Stock division, the race was held at Charlotte Speedway, a .75-mile dirt track, and won by #34-Jim Roper.
It featured a 33-car field that included NASCAR Hall of Famers Tim Flock(5th), Buck Baker(11th), Lee Petty(17th) and Herb Thomas(29th).(NASCAR), see race results at racing-reference.info.
Eventual 1949 Champion, Red Byron, finished 3rd in a Raymond Parks owned car.
