95. Funeral service set for NASCAR's Raymond Parks

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By MARK WILLIAMS For NSBNEWS.net

DAYTONA BEACH -- Funeral services for Raymond Parks, NASCAR’s first championship winning owner who passed away Sunday morning, June 20, in Atlanta will be held Wednesday in Atlanta.

A viewing will be held starting at 6 6p.m. Tuesday at the HM Patterson Funeral Parlor at 1020 Spring Street, NW in Atlanta.

The funeral will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Peachtree Christian Church at Peachtree & Spring Street in Atlanta.

Parks was 96 at the time of his passing and and a true forefather of the sport. He owned the championship winning car in both NASCAR’s first Modified season of 1948 and “Strictly Stock” season of 1949.

Both championship-winning cars were driven by Red Byron. Parks’ car won two of the eight races in the inaugural 1949 season of what is now known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series – at historic Martinsville Speedway and the Daytona Beach & Road Course.

Born on June 5, 1914, Parks’ immense influence on the sport began well before his championship winning campaigns.

The last living member of the groundbreaking 1947 meeting to form NASCAR at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, Parks helped shape the future of the sport and its eventual incorporation in 1948.

Parks’ career as a car owner in NASCAR’s premier series was a short, but illustrious, one. In 18 premier series races, his cars totaled two wins, 11 top fives and 12 top 10s. His roster of drivers includes some of the sport’s all-time greats: Byron, Curtis Turner and Bob and Fonty Flock. Together with legendary mechanic and fellow Atlanta-native Red Vogt, Parks produced equipment capable of dominating the sport in those early days – and becoming NASCAR’s first super team.

Parks retired from racing in the mid-1950s, but continued his involvement up until his passing. Last year, Parks donated his championship-winning trophies to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He attended the Hall’s induction ceremony this past May.

Check out more regional news items from multi-media journalist Mark Williams at halifaxareanewswatch.com