NASCAR's No. 14 history goes beyond Stewart, Foyt

Tony Stewart's decision to choose the No. 14 for the 2009 Sprint Cup season not only pays tribute to his hero, A.J. Foyt, but another famous NASCAR racing family whose last name also started with the letter "F."

Beginning with the 1951 rain-shortened 150-miler at Occoneechee Speedway in Hillsborough, N.C., Truman Fontell "Fonty" Flock won 14 races in the No. 14.

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The second of four racing siblings -- including brothers Bob and Tim, and sister Ethel Mobley, who made two starts during the 1949 season -- Fonty's racing career nearly came to a premature end because of two life-changing events. He suffered severe injuries in a rollover accident during a race at the Daytona beach course in July of 1941. And after the United States entered World War II, Flock enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

Fonty had been out of racing for several years when older brother Bob suggested that car owner Ed Schenck put him in the seat for the inaugural race at the new North Wilkesboro Speedway. Fonty won the pole, his heat race and the 30-lap feature. When Bob suffered a broken back later in the season, Fonty took over the ride and won the national championship.

He followed that with the 1949 NASCAR Modified crown -- and posted three top-10 finishes in three Strictly Stock events that year.

Starting with the 1951 season, in which he won eight times and was runner-up to champion Herb Thomas, Flock finished no worse than fifth in the standings over the next three years, even though by that time, he had found a steadier way to make a living -- as an insurance salesman.

In 1952, Fonty dominated the Southern 500 at Darlington, leading 341 laps -- including the final 215 -- in Frank Christian's Air Lift Special Oldsmobile.

Flock's last victory in the No. 14 came in 1955 at Columbia, S.C. His final NASCAR win came a year later at Charlotte Speedway. He retired from the sport in 1957 and died in 1972.

Other drivers who have won races in the No. 14 include Oregon's Hershel McGriff, who filled in for Flock during the 1954 season; Jim Paschal, who won seven times between 1961-67; and Bobby Allison, who posted the last victory for the No. 14 at the half-mile Montgomery Speedway in 1969.

Tennessee's Coo Coo Marlin -- father of Sterling -- ran the No. 14 for many years. Unfortunately, his short-track success never resulted in a victory in a NASCAR points-paying race. Starting in 2006, Sterling used the numeral for 57 races until released by Bobby Ginn's operation. His best finish was ninth at Richmond in 2006. (Continued)