Flock vows to be at Daytona

Flock vows to be in Daytona

Shawn A. Akers, NASCAR Online

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Jan. 30, 1998) Two-time NASCAR champion Tim Flock, on the verge of celebrating NASCAR's 50th Anniversary season and reaping some of the recognition that was lacking in the formative years of the sport, may not survive the year, but has vowed to be in Daytona Beach, Fla., for Speedweeks 1998 activities, which begin next week.

Flock, the ebullient and optimistic former racer who's maintained close ties to the sport, had his latest prognosis made by Dr. Marcus Troxell, a specialist in Oncology and Hematology at University Hospital here.

Flock's son Don Flock said that Dr. Troxell made the prognosis on his father's condition after conducting an additional examination on Thursday. Tim Flock, who won NASCAR Winston Cup Series championships in 1952 and '55, was initially diagnosed with terminal cancer of the lungs and the liver Tuesday after checking into University Hospital last Sunday when he complained of chest pains.

After he was given the news Thursday evening, Flock was released from the hospital and was sent home on Friday morning. He was to return on Friday afternoon, however, for his first radiation treatment.

Don Flock said his father would receive radiation treatment each day from Monday through Wednesday of next week, and would then board a plane bound for Daytona to participate in activities during Speedweeks at and around Daytona International Speedway. The younger Flock mentioned several souvenir shows and a "lithograph" auction that his father had planned to attend in Volusia County. In addition, Flock typically participated in Speedweeks activities by several "legendary drivers'" groups.

Upon completion of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 15, Flock plans to return home to begin chemotherapy treatment.

"Dad didn't want to start the chemo right away because the doctors told him if he did, he would get ill from the treatment," Don Flock said. "He didn't want to be sick while he was in Daytona, and there was hardly anything that was going to keep him from going to Daytona. He's excited about getting there and being able to be around that atmosphere. Wild horses couldn't keep him away from that place if he had his way."

Because he has no medical insurance to offset the costs of the medical treatment (Don Flock said the first bill his father received was more than $38,000), the family has been forced to sell some of Tim Flock's memorabilia gathered during his racing career.

The most treasured pieces he plans to sell are his two NASCAR Grand National Division (Winston Cup) trophies. Don Flock said the family hopes to get at least $100,000 apiece for the trophies.

Don Flock said any potential buyers can contact him at (704) 593-0690 in Charlotte.

"Those trophies are something that a collector would never really have the opportunity to buy," Don Flock said. "And you know that Dad wouldn't ever want to part with them if he didn't think it was necessary. But what the family gets for them will go toward the doctor bills and the chemotherapy. There's a lot of memories in those trophies, and he hates the fact that he has to part with them."

Don Flock said his father "would never accept donations of any kind personally," but that if anyone would like to make a donation "in his honor," they may do so by contacting the Charlotte chapter of the Hospice Foundation at (704) 375-0100.