Raymond Parks

Born: June 5, 1914
Hometown: Dawson County, Ga.
Competed: 1949-55
Starts: 18
Wins: 2
* Statistics as a team owner.

Career Highlights
Raymond Parks is one of stock-car racing's earliest -- and most successful -- team owners.

Funded by successful business and real estate ventures in Atlanta, Park began his career as a stock-car owner in 1938 with drivers Lloyd Seay and Roy Hall.

His pairing with another Atlantan, mechanic Red Vogt, produced equipment good enough to dominate the sport in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Red Byron won the first Cup Series title in 1949 in a Parks-owned car.

Though Parks' team competed for only four seasons -- 1949, 1950, 1954 and 1955 -- his place in NASCAR history is secure. Parks' team produced two wins, 11 top-five finishes and 12 top-10s in 18 events.

Drivers Red Byron, Bob Flock and Roy Hall drove his cars during the 1949 season. Byron drove for him again in 1950. Fonty Flock drove for Parks in '54 and Curtis Turner drove for him in '55.

Parks retired from racing in the mid-1950s. He announced in March 2009 that he will donate his trophies to the new NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C.