When NASCAR allowed thehardtops and convertibles to race together in the same event, such events were designated as "Sweepstakes" race. Such was the event that took place on this date in 1959 at the half-mile paved track known as The Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, TN. At least 16 convertibles were entered int he 150 mile event with at least one entry not designated as either a convertible or hardtop and that would be the Ford Thunderbird entry of Gerald Duke, who would end up in 17th place, some 51 laps behind the winner.
Rex White started on the pole in a Grand National (which designates the hardtops) and Joe Lee Johnson would start his convertible Chevy on the outside pole. Lee Petty started third in his GN Plymouth, Larry Frank fourth in a convertible Chevy and Bud Crothres fifth in a Chevy Convertible.
Rex White took the lead on the green and led more than half the race before a broken rear end gear relegated him to a 24th place finish. Because the leader was paid "lap money" for leading, Rex took home a total of $510.00 which was just slightly less than the fifth place finisher.Joe Lee Johnson would win the event in his convertible and he did, in fact, lead a sweep of the top three places by convertibles. This was the first major event win for Johnson. He would become the winner of the first World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1960 to secure his place in racing history.
A local driver from the Nashville area Bob Reuther, filled in for an absent Marvin Porter and finished ninth in a Ford. If you don't recognize the name, Bob was, at the time, holder of the all time qualifying record on the Daytona Beach sands at 150.250 mph set in 1957 driving a modified 1938 Plymouth.
Top five finishers were:
1. Joe Lee Johnson, Honest Charley Chevrolet Convertible, winning $2,912.00
2. Larry Frank, Carolina Plating Chevrolet Convertible, winning $1,453.00
3. Elmo Langley, Ratus Waters Buick Convertible, winning $1,125.00
4. Lee Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth GN, winning $900.00
5. Tommy Irwin, T-Bird Convertible, winning $750.00
Sixth through tenth place finishers were Cotton Owens, Joe Weatherly, Gene White, Bob Reuther, and Bud Crothers. Buck Baker would finish 11th, G.C. Spencer 12th, Herman Beam 15th, L.D. Austin 16th, and Bob Welborn 19th. Brownie King finished 25th, Tom Pistone 27th and Tiny Lund 29th.
Rookie drivers, Richard Petty and Buddy Baker, both second generation drivers, both driving convertibles, were credited with 29th and and 30th positons, respectively, as Baker parked his Chevy Convertible on lap 10 with engine problems and Petty followed on lap 12 when his Plymouth Convertible developed engine problems.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
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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.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
