"I don't remember anybody back then racing cars like he did. He did everything first class. The cars had showroom finishes every race. There was never a fender bent that wasn't replaced." (Cotton Owens)
Raymond Parks holds a unique place in NASCAR history as the only car owner to win the inaugural championship in two different series.
Parks won the first-ever championship in NASCAR history by taking the Modified Series championship with cars prepared by Red Vogt and driven by Red Byron in 1948.
In 1949, Parks once again was the championship car owner of NASCAR’s top series: the newly formed Strictly Stock (now Cup) Series, once again with Vogt and Byron.
Raymond Parks was born in Dawsonville, Ga., in 1914. Parks’ first brush with the law was when he was 14 years old and was caught by the local sheriff transporting corn liquor in the family 1926 Ford Model T. This incident resulted in Parks spending three months in jail.
After his time in jail, Parks returned to the Dawson County liquor business, saving money for the future. Two years later, Parks’ future began when he went to Atlanta to help work at an uncle’s service station.
After a few more years of work at the station which also included a part-time liquor business, and saving his money, Raymond bought the Hemphill Service Station from his uncle. Parks’ business skills were beginning to appear.
Parks’ business skill in areas on both sides of the law continued as Parks expanded his interests. Parks' businesses eventually included real estate investments, a number of liquor stores, and an amusement machine company.
Parks continued involvement in the liquor business, numbers, and other extra-legal activities that the amusement machine business provided such as slot machines.
Parks was never caught in any acts of moonshining or racketeering, but the Atlanta police arrested several of his carriers and runners. Parks, along with one of his workers, pleaded guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence.
Parks spent a year in federal penitentiary in Chillicothe, Ohio (the same penitentiary where Junior Johnson would serve his time). Parks and his worker were released in 1937.
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