Atlanta Daily World

George Muckle Wins Main Stock Car Race At Lithonia Speedway

By Joel W. Smith

LITHONIA, Ga. George Muckle, winner of numerous laurels as a racer, set a blistering pace here Friday afternoon in breezing across the finish line first in the main event, of the big Fourth of July Stock Car Races on the Lithonia Speedway. The event was sponsored by the Stock Car "Big Five."

A banner holiday crowd saw the veteran speed king surge past ·Sam Bryant, who set the pace for three of the 25-laps, and take over the lead to win with remarkable ease.

BEAUTY CONTEST ENDS IN TIE
The annual Bathing Beauty Contest, to select "Miss Stock Car of 1952" ended in a tie, when the judges tallied equal votes for Miss Catherine Hart, sponsored by Club Zanzibar, and Miss Helen Sherman, sponsored by Hill Top Grill.

Both will receive the expense-paid trip to Paradise Park," Silver Springs, Florida, plus other prizes.

Miss Ann Jones, sponsored by Casa Loma Grill, was second and will also share in the large number of prizes. Some of the contestants failed to show up in time for the grand display of pulchritude.

DANIELS SECOND IN MAIN EVENT
George Muckle's chief opponent down the stretch in the main event was Joe Daniels, who finished second, Charles Scott, who was sidelined during the race and lost two laps. came back with a dazzling finish to take third place and Willie Armstrong was fourth.

The first heat started out as a two-way battle between J. D. Rogers and Leon Wyatt. Rogers was out in front on the first lap, then Wyatt moved ahead and looked like a sure winner for the next four laps.

Suddenly Wyatt lost a wheel on a turn and was forced to retire, and Rogers had little competition the rest of the way. Armstrong finished second, Robert Harvey, third and Roosevelt Johnson, fourth.

BEN MUCKLES WINS SECOND HEAT
Ben Muckle, -brother of the new champion and winner of the 1951 event, grabbed first place laurels in the second heat. He went right in front from the start. with Sam Bryant a close second. Then after the seventh lap, pulled away to win by a wide margin.

Bryant finished second, George Muckle third, and Charles Scott pulled up in fourth place.

James Lacy and Robert "Juckie" Lewis, two veteran drivers, were sidelined during the main event when their cars were not ready at the take off.

The stock car drivers will compete in heated races at Anniston, Alabama, Friday night, and at Calhoun, Ga., Sunday afternoon.