Glenn Dunnaway

Infobox NASCAR driver
Name = Glenn Dunnaway flagicon|USA
Birthdate = 1915
Died = death date|1964|3|15|mf=y
Birthplace =Gastonia, North Carolina flagicon|North Carolina
Cause of Death =train accident
Best_Cup_Pos = 9th - 1949 (Strictly Stock)
Cup_Top_Tens = 8
First_Cup_Race = 1949 Charlotte Speedway (NASCAR's first race)
Last_Cup_Race = 1951 Lakewood Speedway (Atlanta)
Years_In_Cup = 3
Total_Cup_Races = 18|

Henry Glenn Dunnaway (1915 – March 15 1964) was an American auto racer noted for initially winning, and then being disqualified from, what is today recognized as NASCAR's first-ever race. He lived in Gastonia, North Carolina.

NASCAR career

1949

Dunnaway competed in NASCAR first Strictly Stock (now Sprint Cup) race on June 19 1949. He won the race by three laps over Jim Roper after all 33 cars in the race were overheating. Chief NASCAR inspector Al Crisler disqualified Dunnaway’s car because car owner Hubert Westmoreland had shored up the chassis by spreading the rear springs, a favorite bootlegger trick to improve traction and handling [http://www.dailypress.com/sports/motorracing/dp-68984sy0mar17,0,4238057.story?coll=dp-auto-utility] . When asked about the illegal modifications, Dunnaway responded: “Just one of them deals” [http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/021598/spo_bianchi.shtml] . Westmoreland sued NASCAR for US$10,000 [http://www.tricklefan.com/racing/cheatin.html] but Greensboro, North Carolina Judge John J. Hayes threw the case out of court, setting a legal precedent that recognized NASCAR's power to oversee its own races. Dunnaway received no money, and was credited with finishing last in the 33 car field. Roper was credited with the win in NASCAR's first Strictly Stock race.

Dunnaway used his own car to compete in five more events in 1949. He finished last at the next event at the Daytona Beach Road Course. He rebounded and finished third at Occoneechee Speedway, ninth at Hamburg Speedway, and seventh at Martinsville Speedway (then a half-mile dirt track). He finished ninth in the final 1949 points standings.

1950

He competed in seven events in 1950, and had his career high second place finish at Canfield Speedway. He had 3 Top-10 finishes.

1951

He competed in five events in 1951, with 2 Top-10 finishes. He finished 89th in the final points.

Death

Dunnaway died at a train crossing in Gastonia on March 15 1964.

External links

* [http://www.racing-reference.info/driver?id=dunnagl01 Driver’s statistics at racing-reference.info]
* [http://www.dailypress.com/sports/motorracing/dp-68984sy0mar17,0,4238057.story?coll=dp-auto-utility Story of NASCAR's first race]