The 1951 season was certainly the playground of the Hudson Hornets, or so it seemed most of the races. Herb Thomas was the rising star of the Hudson ranks, but it was Marshall Teague who was unilaterally recognized as Hudson's "main man".
When 22 starters arrived at Jacksonville Speedway in Florida on this date in 1951 for a 100 mile/200 laps race on the half-mile dirt track, it was a cloudy and blustery day, even for November in Florida. Herb Thomas, who was making a run for the 1951 Grand National championship was having problems with his Hudson Hornet, the FABULOUS Hudson Hornet and his prospects for a good run on the Florida sand were not looking good. Teague stepped up and provided a new Hudson from his fleet for Thomas to drive in race number 38 of the 1951 season.
Herb made good use of his "new" Hudson by winning the pole at a speed of 64.818 mph. Frank Mundy would start second in his Perry Smith Studebaker. Most of the remainder of the starting lineup has been lost to history as has so much of NASCAR's early days. Record keeping back in the early days was not a priority and how much we have missed because of that is not even measureable.
The records for this race, however, do reflect that Herb Thomas "streaked" to victory and padded his point lead with only 3 races remaining in the season. We do know that he averaged 53.412 mph for the 100 miles.
Finishing order, with the note from my source that "positions listed for 11th through 22nd are not necessarily in correct finish order". I use Greg Fielden's amazing and wonderful "Forty Years of Stock Car Racing" as my source. The effort Greg made to recognize the history of this sport should be applauded by every race fan everywhere. His books fascinate me with the information they contain. Greg is quite the expert.
Ok, finishing order;
1. Herb Thomas, FABULOUS Hudson Hornet, winning $1,000.00
2. Jack Smith, Hudson Hornet, winning $700.00
3. Fonty Flock, Red Devil Olds 88, winning $400.00
4. Bill Snowden, Snowden Ford, winning $300.00
5. Frank Mundy, Perry Smith Studebaker, winning $200.00
6. Tommy Moon
7. Lee Petty
8. Jimmy Lewallen
9. Buddy Shuman
10. Billy Carden
11. Eddie Anderson
12. Jesse James Taylor
13. Tim Flokc
14. Buck Baker
15. Leonard Trippett
16. Lloyd Moore
17. Billy Myers
18. Jim Paschal
19. Joe Eubanks
20. Bill Blair
21. Donald Thomas
22. Jimmy Florian
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
