June 18, 1959 - Lee Conquers Columbia

Tim Leeming's  Racing Minute for today focused on a race in Fonda, NY in 1955. Four years later, the Grand National circuit was back down south racing at the legendary Columbia Speedway in South Carolina.

Lee Petty took home the trophy. And yes, yet again, some controversy arose about his victory. But what else is new, right?

And according to the writer covering the race for the local paper, Junior Johnson escaped a flaming death ! (Cue dramatic soap opera organ music and cut to commercial.)

Read on for more.

http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2013/06/june-18-1959-lee-petty-conquers-columbia.html

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Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
updated by @tmc-chase: 06/18/18 09:25:33AM

And lap #43 was decisive in deciding the outcome at Columbia in favor of Petty Engineering. A foreshadowing of things to come?

... cue soap music & commercial !...Wonder if young DW was watching & dreaming of future sponsor? (note clip & commercial precede Chase's race by 3 years)

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

I was at this race but I do NOT remember a fiery crash but I do remember Johnson, Joe Weatherly and Richard Petty were all involved in a bad wreck which caused Joe to give his car to a relief driver. Perhaps the writer was being overly dramatic. All of my attempts to over-dramatize the History Minutes are quickly corrected by those with great memories, for which I am very happy. It was about a month after this race that the Convertibles came back to Columbia and some guy named Richard, driving a 1959 Plymouth convertible, would win his first ever race.

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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.