Georgia National Guard Soldier Wins at Daytona

By Maj. William Carraway

Historian, Georgia Army National Guard

 

Captain Harold Kite poses with his 1949 Lincoln and victory trophy from the 1950 Daytona stock car race. Georgia National Guard archives.

The Daytona 500, held annually in Daytona Beach, Fla., heralds the start of the NASCAR Cup Series. In 1950, nearly a decade before the construction of the Daytona International Speedway, the Daytona race course consisted of a 4.2 mile loop of road and beach. The combination of road and sandy terrain was challenging to even the most experienced drivers. Nevertheless, Capt. Harold Kite of the Georgia Army National Guard not only won the race in 1950, he set a speed record in the process.

Kite was born in East Point, Ga. Nov. 21, 1921. After graduating from Atlanta’s Commercial High School in 1939 he went to work as a clerk for the U.S. Army at Fort McPherson. Kite enlisted in the U.S. Army June 10, 1942 and was commissioned a 2^nd lieutenant January 23 the following year. Assigned to the 1^st Armored Division, he was wounded in action during the beach landings near Anzio, Italy in January 1944. Returning to duty, he continued to serve in the Italian campaign. He was promoted to 1^st lieutenant Oct. 7, 1944.[1] Discharged as a captain in 1946, Kite joined the Ga. National Guard in May 1947 as a 1^st lieutenant and executive officer of the newly formed 201^st Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company. He took command of the 201^st and was promoted to captain in November 1948.[2]

Kite began racing on Atlanta tracks near the armory of the 201^st. In 1948 and 1949 he competed in the modified division raced held on the beach in Daytona.[3]

Kite entered the 1950 Daytona stock car race with a 1949 Lincoln. The field included more than 40 cars from 14 different states driven by racing legends such as the Flock Brothers, Ed “Fireball” Roberts and Bob “Red” Byron who won the Daytona race the previous year.[4] Nearly 10,000 spectators lined the roads and sand dunes to watch the race unfold over 48 laps and 200 miles. Kite took an early lead roaring to the head of the pack with Byron close behind. Hitting a patch of soft sand 14 laps into the race, Kite’s Lincoln skidded briefly but it was enough for Byron to take advantage and capture the lead. Byron led the race for ten laps before pitting due to transmission trouble.[5]

Byron’s engine misfortune allowed Kite to retake and hold the lead for the rest of the race. He took the checkered flag in a record time of 2 hours 26 minutes and 30 seconds for an average speed of 81.75 miles per hour. Kite finished nearly one minute ahead of Byron who captured second place. Incredibly, Byron’s brakes failed early in the running and he finished 175 miles of the race using only the emergency brakes to slow his car in the turns.

Zack Mosley, creator of the cartoon strip Smilin’ Jack, presented Kite with the victory trophy. For his efforts, Kite also received $1,500 in prize money.

Kite remained in the Georgia National Guard for a decade after his win at Daytona. In 1965, after a nine-year hiatus from Cup racing, Kite entered the National 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Oct. 17, 1965. On the second lap, Kite was seriously injured in a multi-car wreck. Medical personnel rushed to his aid, but he died of his injuries. He was 43 years old.

In 2011, Kite was inducted into the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame.

---

[1] Secretary of the U.S. Army. Official National Guard Register, Army. January 1, 1953. National Guard Bureau, Washington D.C, 602

[2] The Georgia Guardsman Magazine. Capt. Harold Kite Sets Speed Record. Feb. 1950, 6.

[3] Georgia Racing Hall of Fame “Harold Kite” Retrieved January 31, 2020 from http://www.georgiaracinghof.com/inductees/individuals/harold-kite.html

[4] Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Former Tank Driver Wins 200 Mile Race at 81.75 mph. Feb. 6, 1950.

[5] Ibid.