Georgia
National
Guard
Soldier
Wins at
Daytona
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 2nd lieutenant January 23 the following year.
Assigned to the 1st 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 1st lieutenant Oct. 7, 1944.1 Discharged as a
captain in 1946, Kite joined the Ga. National Guard in May 1947
Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company. He took command of
the 201st and was promoted to captain in November 1948.2
Kite began racing on Atlanta tracks near the armory of the
raced held on the beach in Daytona.3
Kite entered the 1950 Daytona stock car race with a 1949
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
2 | February 2020 | Real Hero Report
Captain Harold Kite poses with his 1949 Lincoln and victory trophy from
the 1950 Daytona stock car race. (Photo courtesy of Georgia National
Guard archives)
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
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
time of 2 hours 26 minutes and 30 seconds for an average speed
of Byron who captured second place. Incredibly, Byron’s brakes
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
National Guard Bureau, Washington D.C, 602
2
georgiaracinghof.com/inductees/individuals/harold-kite.html
4
Ibid.