January 17, 1959 - 2nd Vote Breaks Tie for 1958 Most Popular NASCAR GN Driver

Barely a month before the inaugural Daytona 500, NASCAR on January 17, 1959 announced the winner of the Most Popular Driver vote in the Grand National ranks. Jack Smith edged Junior Johnson by a healthy margin in a runnoff between the two chargers.

Daytona Beach Morning Journal

Bill France, Sr. also announced on January 17, 1959 that driver physicals would be required for drivers entered in the 500, including a driver from Lima, Peru in South America.

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

The following day, it was revealed in the Spartanburg, SC paper that Smith had taken a Chevy to Spartanburg for Bud Moore to prepare for him to drive in the 500, citing Moore as the "best racing mechanic in the business."

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"