No, for once I did not make a typo. The November 8, 1959, race at the Charlotte Fairgrouds Speedway was the FIRST race of the 1960 NASCAR Grand National Season. I never was sure why NASCAR would switch seasons back in the day beginning with the first of November. Nevertheless, 28 cars and drivers (of course) would sign in to run 200 laps/100 miles on the half-mile dirt track.
Buck Baker put his 1959 Chevrolet on the pole with Marvin Panch in a Tom Vernon 1959 Ford on the outside of the front row. Jack Smith in a '59 Chevy qualified third, Tiger Tom Pistone in a '59 T-Bird was fourth and Junior Johnson in a Paul Spaulding 1959 Dodge slipped in a 5th.
Marvin Panch led the first 9 laps before Buck Baker took over for 7 laps. Panch would lead laps 18-30, then it was Baker again until lap 57. On lap 58, Bob Welborn, in the Ogden-Ridgeway '59 Chevy took over and would lead through lap 133. On lap 134, Jack Smith slipped his Bud Moore Garage Chevrolet into the lead where he would remain until the checkered flag dropped.
This was Jack Smith's 12th career win in the Grand National series. There were 6,000 fans on hand to see the lead change hands six times between the four drivers. However, those fans were treated to even more thrills as Buck Baker and Richard Petty tangled on lap 109 and Baker lost 4 laps in the pits repairing damage to his car. Petty fell out of the race on lap 174 when the axle broke in his '59 Plymouth. Marvin Panch, who had led early, crashed on lap 66 and his day was done. On lap 124, the T-Bird of California driver Scotty Cain, burst into flames going down the back straight and although it took the rescue squad more than 10 minutes to extinguish the flames, Cain suffered only minor burns.
Finishing Order:
1. Jack Smith, Bud Moore Garage Chevrolet, winning $800.00
2. Bob Welborn, Ogden-Ridgeway Chevrolet, winning $525.00 (1 lap down)
3. Buck Baker, Baker Chevrolet, winning $375.00 (2 laps down)
4. Roy Tyner, Tyner Chevrolet, winning $275.00 (4 laps down)
5. Speedy Thompson, Bruce Thompson Chevrolet, winning $250.00 (7 laps down)
6. Brownie King
7. Lee Petty
8. Buck Brigance
9. Tiny Lund
10. Tiger Tom Pistone
11. G. C. Spencer
12. Richard Petty
13.Joe Lee Johnson
14.Rex White
15. Richard Riley
16. Shep Langdon
17. Bobby Waddell
18. Scotty Cain
19. Jim Paschal
20. Barney Shore
21. Tommy Irwin
22. Marvin Panch
23. Bunk Moore
24. Bud Parnell
25. Fred Harb
26. Ned Jarrett
27. Buddy Baker
28. Junior Johnson
So, on this date in 1959, the forty-four race 1960 season got underway. Almost a year later, October 30, 1960, the season would end on the new constructed 1.5 mile track in Hampton, GA, known as Atlanta International Raceway. It would be an interesting season with some really great racing.
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
