As work continues on the ever-evolving NASCAR Hall of Fame, teams are diligently collecting artifacts and pieces for the Hall, while crews put the final touches on the building's construction. This weekend at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, NASCAR legend and Founding Father Raymond Parks, along with wife Vi, donated some of the most historic of NASCAR trophies to be put on display for all visitors to see.

One of the most prominent, influential and successful car owners of NASCAR's earliest days, Parks laid the groundwork for the many that followed in his footsteps. The first multi-car owner in the sport, Parks' cars won ten of the thirteen races held on the beach course in Daytona from March 10, 1940 to February 15, 1948.

The original "Cat in the Hat" employed some of NASCAR's best drivers, including Red Byron, Lloyd Seay, Roy Hall, Bob and Fonty Flock and even a young driver named Bill France.

Parks has the honor of being the owner of the car that won the first NASCAR race held February 15, 1948, the 1948 Stock Car championship and the first NASCAR Strictly Stock Division (now the Sprint Cup Series) championship in 1949.

"I'm proud of my involvement in NASCAR over the years and with the opportunity to partner with the NASCAR Hall of Fame," Parks explained. "Vi and I are thrilled that my artifacts will be housed in Hall of Fame for future generations of fans to enjoy."

The pieces donated by the Parks family include:
        1941 Daytona Beach race - Roy Hall, driver
        1946 Thomaston Speedway - Bob Flock, driver
        1947 Stock Car championship -Fonty Flock, driver
        1948 NASCAR championship - Red Byron, driver

"This is one of the most amazing and valued collections we could have envisioned," Winston Kelley, Executive Director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame added. "Raymond Parks is truly iconic'a genuine legend of this sport. We are honored that Mr. and Mrs. Parks have expressed their interest in donating their family's collection to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. It is both an honor and humbling to be entrusted with a collection such as Mr. Parks and be able to share it with the millions of NASCAR fans. We pledge to treat and preserve it with the respect and care that it deserves."

"Clearly, we believe this generous gift is priceless," commented Buz McKim, Historian of the Hall. "Obtaining the first championship trophy is akin to having the trophy from Major League Baseball's first World Series championship in 1903. We are honored and thrilled." A prominent figure in the early days of racing, Parks was a member of  the small group that met at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, Fla. in 1947 to set the ground rules for what would become the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. Now 94 years old, Parks is truly a living legend in the NASCAR community and his influence and presence is still felt today.

"He was the class of the field, his cars were, his drivers were, he gave us a really good start," Richard Petty said of Mr. Parks. "From the standpoint that he kind of set the standard, because when racing first started it was pretty rough. Rough characters, pretty rough cars, rough situations, Mr. Parks brought class. I think a lot of people seen, "Okay, if he can do it, we can do it. We can clean the sport up, we can clean ourselves up."  I think he was a leader not only in the race cars or the people that he had, but in his self. He brought some standards into racing."

"Our sport is very fortunate and quite unique in having living members of our Founding Fathers," NASCAR President Mike Helton pointed out. "Obtaining and displaying collections such as Mr. Parks is among the objectives NASCAR and the France family had when we decided to build a NASCAR Hall of Fame. This further validates the importance and credibility of the NASCAR Hall of Fame."

The contributions Parks has made to the sport of NASCAR are still being felt in its 61st year. A successful car owner even before the days of NASCAR, the 94-year-old is a living legend and a name every Hardcore Race Fan should know. By donating his collection to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Parks and his wife Vi have ensured his accomplishments and his amazing story will be around for generations or Hardcore Race Fans to come.