Racing History Minute - May 14, 1960

Fifty-five years ago as I type this, many of NASCAR's Grand National greats took off their tops for the Rebel 300 at Darlington. Though NASCAR's convertible division ended after 1959, Darlington continued to host the roofless wonders for its spring race in 1960 and 1961. [ Click here ] for Tim Leeming's post about the 1961 Rebel 300.

The race was originally scheduled a week earlier on May 7th. - Motor Racing Programme Covers

Qualifying got underway on May 6th. Curtis Turner and the Petty Engineering Plymouths were there of course. Richard's car was labeled Thumper I, and Lee's was tagged as Thumper II. - Getty Images

Backing up his quick practice times, Fireball Roberts nabbed the pole in his #22 Pontiac. Joe Weatherly qualified 2nd in his Holman Moody Ford, and Rex White nabbed the third spot. - Sunday Independent

As noted in the above article, Jim Reed wrecked his Pontiac during qualifying. At the time, it was expected the car couldn't be repaired or replaced. But the Bud Moore team thrashed all night and made sure the car was ready for another attempt the next day. Reed took over for Jack Smith. After Smith's wild ride out of Darlington in 1958...

... he wasn't too keen on the idea of racing the track without a roof. - Spartanburg Herald

But when Reed went out for another effort on May 6th, he got the same result - another wreck. Despite not logging an official qualifying lap, Reed was still allowed to make the show as NASCAR did not have enough entrants to fill the expected 36-car field. - Spartanburg Herald

I get the allure of the 3-wide start at the Indy 500. And I realize its influence on the promoters at Darlington to replicate that excitement. But I have to believe bulky, full-throated stock cars 3-wide on Darlington's narrow straightaway may well have been more breathtaking than Indy's much smaller roadsters of yesteryear or even today's sleek, high-pitched, low-slung champ cars. - Getty Images

The cars reading for the start. Viewed through the lens of today, the multiple safety risks in this photo are also too numerous to count. - Jim Wilmore

As we've already seen a few times this year in the Cup series, Mother Nature decided to groove a fast ball by Fireball and the other drivers. The field took the green and Fireball sprinted to the lead.

The drivers diced for 58 laps when rain arrived. The yellow was displayed, and the field then paced under caution for another 16 laps before NASCAR displayed the red flag - about 35 laps shy of half-way and an official race.

An interesting call by NASCAR - but actually a good one in my opinion - was to have the race restart at lap 58 when the rain caution originally was displayed rather than at lap 74 following many wasted laps. - Spartanburg Herald

Either race officials changed their mind immediately after the article went to press - or the writer misunderstood the plan. But rather than start the race at lap 58, NASCAR decided it would indeed recognize the 16 laps as legit & resume the race at lap 74. What WASN'T immediately decided was whether to immediately go green and begin clicking laps at #75 - or to run 5 scored laps under caution before a re-start. The decision was particularly important for 2 drivers. Weatherly and Lee Petty both hit road during the "rain" caution to re-load on fuel. No others did. Their heads-up decisions put them in a position to have an advantage when the race resumed. But with the thought of first running a few caution laps, others would be able to to make the same call - albeit a week later. . - Spartanburg Herald

Weatherly was fit to be tied - a driver normally thought of as good natured. Papa Lee's comments couldn't be found, and I'm guessing they were a bit more salty than Little Joe's. Not surprisingly, Cotton Owens and Rex White had a different perspective.

Bill France Sr. said he'd consider the multiple restart options and make a firm decision right away. But then another variable appeared. NASCAR icon Cannonball Baker suffered a heart attack in Indianapolis and passed away in the days following rainout. Because of France's need to attend Baker's funeral, the decision for Darlington remained unresolved. - Spartanburg Herald

By the time the re-scheduled race day arrived, France decided to run 5 scored yellow laps - which obviously didn't sit well at the time with Weatherly. Adding to what was already a Jayski-type week, Bob Welborn announced his retirement as a driver. Though he started the Rebel 300 on the 7th, he would seek a relief driver to race the remainder on the 14th. As it turned out, his retirement was short-lived. He returned five races later, and he drove almost 40 more races over the next 4 seasons. - Spartanburg Herald

The race resumed on the 14th. And as expected, five laps were burned off under caution. The field except for Weatherly and Lee Petty hit pit road. Weatherly said he'd run the race with good sportsmanship but "under protest" for France's decision.

Jim Paschal took over Welborn's #49 Chevy. Another driver rumored to be in the running to drive it was Jim Reed. Despite being granted a starting spot in the field, Bud Moore's team must not have been able to repair the Pontiac for the second time in two days. Reed is not shown in the finishing order as having even started the race.

As if the rain - and the confusing restart process - and Cannonball's death - and Welborn's "retirement" were enough, Johnny Allen had a wreck during the race for the ages.

Well before the race and the rain, he was calm, cool and collected. A clean car - and a cig in hand. - Getty

After he'd completed 148 laps, however, Allen woke anyone who might be napping within a 7 county range. He sailed off into the corner, lost the car, sailed over the wall and took out a corner of the scorers' stand!

Bill Rankin's pic  of the accident scene.Fortunately, Allen nor any of the scorers were seriously injured.

After an hour or so delay, the race resumed ... again.

When the long eight-day period ended with the display of the checkered flag, the driver at the center of THE story all week claimed the trophy. Little Joe breezed by the flag stand, took the checkers, the check, the trophy and the kisses.

The future King, Richard Petty, had one of his better Darlington days - and early in his career. Richard finished second. Lee earned the team "double chicken money" by bringing home Thumper II in 4th place.

Race report from the Spartanburg Herald .

As for Weatherly and his threat to sue and "racing under protest", well that pretty much went away. Funny how winning cures all.

Refreshing that I did not once read of the "Premier" Grand National division or of the Convertibles being a "Lesser" division even though it really did not exist in 1960.

Great report and loved all the pictures. I don't ever recall the King being referred to as Dick Petty.

I've heard Jim McKay on ABC's Wide World of Sports back in the day do it several times - call Richard "Dick." From what I've read about the pompous McKay, no anount of educating by Chris Economaki would have cured McKay from describing Dick Petty and Dave Pearson. Chase, this is quite an excellent piece of research. Thanks.

Carolyn Melton, the beauty queen with Little Joe in victory lane, was actually Miss Southern 500. Although described as being from Cheraw, SC, I just wonder if she might have been kin to Darlington P.A. announcer, Ray Melton.

The 28th place Chevy #90 driven by Fredericksburg's Runt Harris was owned and prepared by Richmond car owner Junie Donlavey. Harris co-drove with Bob Apperson a '49 Olds owned and prepared by Donlavey in the initial 1950 Southern 500 at Darlington. Though long known as a Ford man, Donlavey, later Ford's "Man of the Year" had fielded numerous GM entries, including convertibles for Emanuel Zervakis at Darlington. Harris went out of the 1960 Rebel 300 after 9 laps with a steering issue. Darlington was never very forgiving to cars with no steering.

Take a gander at this footage, Bill to hear racing "expert" Jim Mckay call The King by Dick.

Carolyn Melton, 1959 Miss Southern 500, on the cover of the 1960 pageant program.

From September 6, 1959 Spartanburg Herald