Title Chase Had Upside Down Ending In ’52


Fabulous Hudson Hornets

Dick Rathmann piloted his Hudson Hornet to three wins in a row.

Dick Rathmann piloted his Hudson Hornet to three wins in a row.

Hudson would go on a tear in the next few events, with Thomas winning at Macon, and Rathmann winning three in a row at Langhorne, Darlington and Dayton.  Thomas would win again at Canfield, Ohio.  Sosebee would win his first of the year at Augusta, GA, driving a Chrysler for Sam Knox.

When the tour hit Toledo, Ohio, Tim Flock was ready to get back into the points chase.  He took the lead on lap 31, and lead the rest of the way to record his second win of the year.  Petty continued to lead the points over Fonty Flock and Herb Thomas.  Now Tim was within shouting distance.

Tim would move to third in points one week later with his third win of the season, this time at the famed Oconeechee Speedway in Hillsboro, NC.  Tim held off brother Fonty to win at the one-mile dirt track and pull to within 186 points of Petty.

Thomas would record his fourth win of 1952 just a few days later, beating Tim Flock for the win at Charlotte while Petty ran fourth and Fonty finished 11th.

The points chase would make its first major turn as the tour raced for the second straight year at the Michigan Fairgrounds in Detroit, a big event for the tour as it was in the manufacturer’s back yard.  Tim Flock took the win, and the point lead in the event after point leaders Lee Petty and Fonty Flock suffered failures.  Thomas piloted his Hudson to a third place finish.

From then on, the points race would be between Tim Flock and Herb Thomas.

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