Stock car racing at that time was suffering from unscrupulous promoters who, at best, did not award the money announced, and at worst, skipped out with the money before the races were over.
Although Vogt had a charter in Georgia for a new sanctioning body he called the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, he suggested that France adopt that name for his proposed new sanctioning body with Vogt giving up his Georgia charter.
Parks entered his car in this new sanctioning body, NASCAR. The car was sponsored by his Parks Novelty Machine Company, driven by the war veteran, Red Byron.
The success of Parks’ company, which included slot machines, jukeboxes, pool tables, and cigarette vending machines, allowed a level of funding that could not be matched by his fellow competitors.
Robert 'Red' Byron was severely injured in World War II and spent 27 months in military hospitals, with the doctors fearing that he would never walk again.
The famous photo of Red Byron after winning the first race held at the then-dirt Martinsville (VA) track on Sept. 7, 1947. Note the war surplus canteen in Byron's hand, still sitting in the Raymond Parks-owned, Red Vogt-built Modified Ford.
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