Racing History Minute - March 18, 1956

March 18th was my mother's birthday. She would have been 92 today. She became a race fan in 1963 and once that happened she and my Daddy were huge fans of the Petty teams. The King actually called her "Mama" and that would always thrill her. So, please allow me to say "Happy Birthday Mama".

Today's History Minute takes us to Wilson, North Carolina to a half-mile dirt track known as Wilson Speedway. The day was dark with heavy clouds and rain was threatening even as qualifying was underway. Herb Thomas in the Smokey Yunick Chevrolet would qualify at 57.197 mph to win the pole. Speedy Thompson in a Kiekhaefer Dodge would start second, Bill Myers in the Guy Wilson Mercury third, Buck Baker in a Kiekhaefer Dodge fourth and Jimmy Lewallen in a Chevy fifth.

Even with the threatening weather, 5,000 fans filled the stands to watch the event unfold. Ted Cannady, on lap 50, drove his Chevrolet into the fence for the only crash in the race. The red flag was waved on lap 106, just six laps past the half way mark and the race was declared "official". Although it wasn't reported as the reason for Cannady's crash, some fans stated it was raining, although only slightly, from lap 38 on but NASCAR was trying to reach the half way mark for an "official race".

Herb Thomas, who already had two National Championships over only 7 Grand National seasons, won for the 45th time in his career and left the track in second place in the standings after 7 races of the 1956 season. He was 176 points behind Tim Flock. Fast forward to season's end, Herb would finish second to Buck Baker in the standings after a very controversial race in an October 23rd race in Shelby, NC, that was scheduled at the last minute at the request of Carl Kiekhaefer to insure his team a championship.

Finishing order:

1. Herb Thomas, Smokey Yunick Chevrolet, $1,100.00

2.Buck Baker, Kiekhaefer Dodge, $700.00

3. Tim Flock, Kiekhaefer Chrsyler, $475.00

4. Jim Paschal, C U Later Alligator Mercury, $365.00 (1 lap down)

5. Bill Widenhouse, Ford, $310.00 (1 lap down)

6. Ralph Liquori

7. Bobby Myers

8. Rex White

9. Donald Thomas

10. Speedy Thompson

11. Tiny Lund

12. Ken Wagner

13. Lee Petty

14.Jack Smith

15.Johnny Allen

16. Pete Yow

17. Bobby Keck

18. Darvin Randahl

19.John McVitty

20. Johnny Roberts

21. Charles Cregar

22. Harvey Henderson

23. Pee Wee Jones

24. Junior Johnson

25. John Dodd, Jr.

26. Bill Myers

27. Johnny Zeke

28. Ted Cannady

29. Joe Eubanks

30. Gwyn Staley

31. George Mantooth

32. Jimmy Lewallen

Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future

Succinct race report

Herb and Smokey in victory lane.

Also on March 16, 1956, Curtis Turner won the 100-mile convertible race at the old 3/4 mile Charlotte Speedway.

Front row of Paul Goldsmith and Turner. As crew chief, Smokey won the GN race at Wilson. As owner, he won the pole at Charlotte.

Larry Frank

Race action with L to R: Darel Dieringer, Larry Odo, Bill Brown, Jimmy Thompson and Tiger Tom Pistone.

There were arguably more big names in the convertible race than in the GN event at Wilson.

That is Smokey Yunick there with Herb? Man, I've never seen him look like that but I'll take your word for it.

Thanks Tim and Chase. Good picture of Herb and Smokey. And still sounds like more people than there were at the Bristol race.

Great addition with the convertible race Chase. I have sort of been overlooking that volume of the "40 Years". Thanks.