Frank Mundy
| Frank "Rebel" Mundy | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Official headshot of Frank Mundy (1950s) | |||||||
| Born | June 18, 1918 Atlanta, Georgia | ||||||
| Died | May 15, 2009 (aged 90) | ||||||
| Cause of death | Complications of a fall[1] | ||||||
| Achievements | 1955 AAA Stock Car national champion | ||||||
| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 52 races run over 5 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 5th - 1951 Grand National season | ||||||
| First race | 1949 Race No. 1 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| Last race | 1956 Old Dominion 400 (Martinsville Speedway) | ||||||
| First win | 1951 untitled race (Columbia Speedway) | ||||||
| Last win | 1951 untitled race (Lakeview Speedway) | ||||||
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Frank "Rebel" Mundy (born June 18, 1918 in Atlanta, Georgia as Francisco Eduardo Menendez – died May 15, 2009)[2] was an American stock car racer. He competed in the American Automobile Association (AAA) stock cars, winning the 1955 national championship, before the series changed to United States Auto Club (USAC) sanction.[3] He also raced in NASCAR's Grand National (now Sprint Cup Series) and won three races under that sanction.
Mundy attempted to qualify for the 1954 Indianapolis 500 but did not make the field.
Career
NASCAR
Mundy started at the pole position only to find himself finishing the race in 82nd place at the 1951 running of the Southern 500. His career average start would eventually become 11th while his career average finish would become 17th place.[2] Mundy would race 3,583 laps in his career - the equivalent of 3,184.6 miles (5,125.1 km).[2] Out of the 3583 laps that he completed in his career, Mundy would only lead 458 (12%) of them.[2] His career spanned from 1949 to 1956.[2]
One of his accomplishments was winning the 1955 running of the Southern Illinois 100.[3] Frequently seen in rides owned by Carl Kiekhaefer, Mundy's seven-year career would involve him racing in classic races like the 1956 Southern 500 where he finished in 38th place out of 70 competitors. He would also be seen racing at Lakeview Speedway in Mobile, Alabama. As a personal driver for General George S. Patton during World War II, Mundy would gain valuable driving experience for NASCAR.[3]
AAA/USAC Stock Cars
Mundy also competed in American Automobile Association (AAA) and USAC Stock Car races. He won the 1955 AAA national stock car championship.[4] Studebaker and Oldsmobile were Frank Mundy's preferred manufacturers for NASCAR rides.
His widow Mae Mundy would survive him after his death in 2009.[3]
Indy 500 results
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References
- ^ "Full Throttle Cranial Cavity - death_cause". Retrieved 26 March 2010.
- ^ a b c d e "Racing Reference". Retrieved 26 March 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Legends of NASCAR". Retrieved 26 March 2010.
- ^ Romano, Chris (December 24, 2009). "For Auld Lang Syne, 2009". Speed Style magazine. Retrieved 26 March 2010.