Today, our Minute brings us to Columbia Speedway, a half-mile dirt track that behaved as an asphalt track after getting "worked in" during practice. In 1955, twenty-one of the "boys" gathered at the site to run 100 miles/200 laps in the cool of a Columbia Fall evening.
Junior Johnson turned the track at 61.728 mph to grab to pole in his B&L Motors Oldsmobile. Tim Flock started a Chrysler second, Dink Widenhouse in a Ford third, Bill Widenhouse in a Chevrolet fourth and Buck Baker, who recently had signed on with Pete DePaolo's Ford teams started fifth.
Although Junior was expected to lead from the beginning, Tim Flock used his outside front row starting position to leap into the lead when the green flag waved. Tim's lead was short lived, however, as Buck Baker slammed his way to the front on lap 12. Baker held a steady lead, pulling away from Flock at times, but with 12 laps to go, the Baker Ford needed gasoline. Baker ducked into the pits for that "splash of gas" (please note I did NOT designate "Sunoco Racing Fuel) and he returned to the track to chase Flock for the remaining laps. But, alas, time ran out with Baker unable to catch Tim. To further complicate Baker's efforts to run down Flock Joe Weatherly, who was runniing third with 5 laps to go, broke an axle and his Ford flipped upside down. There was no green-white-checker rules in 1955.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
This was the 41st race of the 1955 season. Lee Petty, who had led the standings for almost the entire season, suffered another of the heartbreakers he had been experiencing for four months. On lap 35, he and Joe Eubanks came together in a crash that put both cars out of the action. Another huge disappointment for the ultra-competitor from Level Cross, North Carolina.
Finishing order:
1. Tim Flock, Mercury Outboards Chrysler, winning $1,100.00
2. Buck Baker, DePaolo Ford, winning $700.00
3. Herb Thomas, Motoramic Chevrolet, winning $475.00 (3 laps down)
4. Gwyn Staley, Westmoreland Chevrolet, winning $365.00 (6 laps down)
5. Jimmy Massey, Westmoreland Chevrolet, winning $310.00 (6 laps down)
6. Bob Welborn
7. Junior Johnson
8. Joe Weatherly
9. Jimmie Lewallen
10. Jim Roland
11. Jim Paschal
12.Ed Cole, Jr.
13.Bill Morton
14.Clarence DeZaila
15. Eddie Skinner
16.Bill Widenhouse
17. Dink Widenhouse
18. Jimmy Thompson
19. Lee Petty
20. Joe Eubanks
21. Bunk Moore
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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
