Racing History Minute - November 11, 1956
Stock Car Racing History
For those who didn't see this in 2015.
Forum Activity for @tmc-chase
Stock Car Racing History
Racing History Minute - November 11, 1956
Stock Car Racing History
November 11, 1956 was quite the busy day for NASCAR. Three sanctioned races for its national touring series were scheduled for the same late fall day:
- The inaugural Buddy Shuman 250 GN race at Hickory (postponed because of rain from its original date of October 6)
- A 150-mile GN race on the Willow Springs Speedway road course in Lancaster, CA
- A 200-lap, 100-mile convertible division race at the new Jacksonville Speedway in North Carolina.
Even with the boocoodle of tracks that dotted the Carolinas and Virginia in the 1950s, the east coast of North Carolina was seemingly underserved. After a track failed in Wilmington, a new one was built in Jacksonville and opened in July 1956. - Star News
In an odd scheduling twist, the end of the 1956 GN season and the beginning of the 1957 one OVERLAPPED. The Hickory race on its makeup date of November 11 was the next to last race of the 1956 season, and the season concluded with a race at Wilson Speedway on November 18th. But the 1957 season started with the roadie in Lancaster that was won by Marvin Panch - with two races still to go in the 1956 season!
The cut-off between the 1956 and 1957 seasons for the convertible division was much cleaner. After the 1956 season ended in Hillsboro NC in mid October, the 1957 season started about 3 weeks later.
One of the drivers scheduled to participate and promoted in the paper was Joe Weatherly. But if I didn't know better, I'd swear that was his running buddy Curtis Turner at the wheel of Little Joe's car in the promo photo.
Regardless of the promo pic, Little Joe came to the east coast race. He won the pole in his Pete DePaolo Ford. Teammate Turner plopped his Ford alongside the original Front Row Joe. Bun Emery, Glen Wood and Art Binkley rounded out the top 5 starters.
Records of the race's lap leaders were apparently not retained. However, the following race report notes Pops led the first 100 laps before surrendering the lead to Weatherly.
Also, I found this race recap through a translated (and TMC edited) version of the text at:
http://stockcar-world.com/SiteV5/Index.php?Page=Histoire.php&IdHistoire=10991
On Sunday, November 11, 1956, less than a month after the end of the 1956 season ... It is in Jacksonville, NC, on the eponymous speedway that hostilities will begin. It is half a mile into the earth that NASCAR visits for the first time.
The race will be weird in the sense that there will be several unusual race incidents. First was an incident on the 73rd lap when Mel Larson saw his gas tank detach from his Ford and hit the wooden fence surrounding the circuit. The fuel ignited the fence, and firefighters took several minutes to overcome the fire. When the race restarted, Weatherly took the lead over Turner as they raced head-to-tail. Turner then had a tire issue that eventually relegated him to a sixth place finish.
After refueling during a pit stop, Joe took the lead well ahead of Glen Wood, the last driver to still be on the lead lap. Wood close, but Weatherly held on to the lead. He crossed the finish line narrowly over Wood to claim his 5th career convertible division victory.
Race report from Star News .
The race turned out to be the one and only NASCAR convertible division race at Jacksonville. The track hosted two GN races and continued to operate until the mid 1960s. Today, the remnants of the ghost track are still a bit visible from above. The parcel of land that once sported a race track still sits near the corner of Weatherington Rd and Race Track Road.
| Fin | Driver | Car |
| 1 | Joe Weatherly | '56 Ford |
| 2 | Glen Wood | '56 Ford |
| 3 | Jimmy Massey | '56 Chevrolet |
| 4 | Gwyn Staley | '56 Chevrolet |
| 5 | Bun Emery | '56 Ford |
| 6 | Curtis Turner | '56 Ford |
| 7 | Bob Welborn | '56 Chevrolet |
| 8 | Bob Beck | '56 Chevrolet |
| 9 | Joe Eubanks | '56 Ford |
| 10 | Bill Poor | '56 Chevrolet |
| 11 | Jimmie Lewallen | '56 Chevrolet |
| 12 | Norman Schihl | '56 Ford |
| 13 | Tom Pistone | '56 Chevrolet |
| 14 | Cannonball Brown | '56 Chrysler |
| 15 | Bill Lutz | '56 Ford |
| 16 | Whitey Gerken | '56 Dodge |
| 17 | Art Binkley | '56 Plymouth |
| 18 | Mel Larson | '56 Ford |
| 19 | Tony Calvo | '56 Ford |
updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
Prayers Needed for a Hero
Stock Car Racing History
Good to hear the progress from Lennie's surgery - even if the progress is iterative.
Also good to see RR member Randy Hallman still covering the racing beat for the Times-Dispatch.
Racing History Minute - November 4, 1956
Stock Car Racing History
The speedway at the scenic Paramount Ranch near Malibu, California was the site of a 250-mile USAC stock car race on Sunday, November 4, 1956. Veteran west coast car owner and race promoter J.C. Agajanian promoted the race.
A legend from NASCAR's early years, Marshall Teague, walked away from Bill France's organization and joined forces with USAC. His stock car accomplishments from his time in NASCAR provided a bit of a marketing spark for USAC and its race. - Valley News of Van Nuys CA.
The headline of the race preview article might lead one to believe it was about the 1982 NASCAR WInston Cup season ender at Riverside featuring Benny Parsons in Bud Moore's Ford and Joe Ruttman in J.D. Stacy's Buick. - Independent Press Telegram of Long Beach, CA.
Indy veteran Sam Hanks won the pole. The rest of the starting line-up may be lost to history though it's possible someone like Russ Thompson may have more info than I could find.
Troy Ruttman's crew had a pretty nifty pit set-up. From what I understand, air guns were not all that common in the mid 50s. - Getty
The drivers had some wonderful views as they slalomed the course for 125 laps. Here Hanks is shown leading another car. - Getty
Jerry Unser finished second in the race in a Ford. About 18 months later, Unser made his only Indy 500 start. A year after that he died in a practice crash as he prepared for the 1959 Indy 500. He left behind two younger brothers - Bobby and Al - who ended having a lot of success at the track. - Getty
In the end, Hanks in Brill Stroppe's Mercury prevailed on the road course to take the win. - Getty
About six months later, he ran - and won - his final Indy car race: the 1957 Indianapolis 500. Having survived his years at the Brickyard, he walked away after finally winning it. He ran a handful of additional USAC stock car races in 1957 before calling it a career. - San Bernandino County Sun
Johnny Mantz - NASCAR's winner of the inaugural Southern 500 in 1950 - returned to USAC after a handful of GN starts. He finished last in the Paramount Range race, drove relief for Johnny Unser, accumulated a few extra points for that role, and secured the 1956 USAC stock car championship title. - Long Beach Independent
Following a fatality at the track about a year later in December 1957, no additional competitive races were held on the course.
Several movies have been shot on location at the track over the years; however, the land on which the track has reclaimed much on what was once the speedway. The lands are now a national recreation area.
Top Ten Finishers
| Fin | Driver | Car |
| 1 | Sam Hanks | Mercury |
| 2 | Jerry Unser/Johnny Mantz | Ford |
| 3 | Marshall Teague | Mercury |
| 4 | Les Snow | Chevrolet |
| 5 | Johnnie Parsons | Ford |
| 6 | Dempsey Wilson | Chevrolet |
| 7 | Bob Christie | Mercury |
| 8 | Don Freeland | Ford |
| 9 | Jimmy Davies | Ford |
| 10 | Jim Keith | Chevrolet |
updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
Racing History Minute - October 29, 1961
Stock Car Racing History
Two years ago, Tim Leeming posted about the October 28, 1961 GN race at Greenville-Pickens. ( Tim's RHM )
The winner, Junior Johnson, didn't have much time to celebrate. And the rest of the field didn't have time to lick their wounds. The whole gaggle of 'em had to hump it to Hillsboro, NC overnight to race on Sunday at Orange Speedway - the 52nd and final race of the 1961 season.
Even after 51 events and getting ready for back-to-back races to end the year, folks were excited to see the battle of the Pontiacs. Joe Weatherly with Bud Moore, Fireball Roberts and the Greenville-Pickens winner Johnson were the Big Three running the Indian Head. A fourth Pontiac driver was entered - Bob Welborn - in Julian Petty's car.
Though the race was expected to be competitive, the battle for the championship was not. Ned Jarrett already had his first title secured before arriving in Hillsboro. He took a route followed by Benny Parsons in 1973 and Matt Kenseth in 2003 by winning only 1 race.
The weekend got off to a sad start before the GN drivers rolled into town. University of North Carolina grad student and rising actor Kenton Kyle was killed at the speedway on Friday night. From what I can tell, he and some buds were joy riding around the track when the car in which he was riding wrecked.
Years earlier, Hillsboro promoted an amateur, 10-lap race for college-students . I can't find anything to indicate such a race was still going on by 1961. But it makes me wonder if the tradition from the 1950s had continued to draw the young'uns to Hillsboro near race weekend.
Weatherly won the pole and pretty much had his way with the field. He led the first 100 laps, gave it up for one lap as Junior Johnson got credit for leading once, and then got it back for the remaining 64 laps.
Welborn - the 4th Pontiac rep - had a forgettable race. Julian's car lost a rear end early, and Welborn was done after only 6 laps. Finish: 20th, dead stinkin' last.
The Chief - Maurice Petty - carried the torch for the Petty clan. He earned a 4th place finish in his #42 Plymouth. His brother and future King finished 10th after starting 5th.
Rex White had to be a bit frustrated. He started second and ended the race in the same spot - and didn't lead a lap. He likely just followed Bud Moore's #8 all race long.
Victory photo shared by Dennis Andrews
In today's Cup racing, it seems many shrug a collective ehhhh about the multiple 1.5 mile tracks on the schedule. Many yearn for a return of the shorties such as Wilkesboro, the old 1/2 Richmond, Nashville - and even further back with memories of Columbia, Wilson, Rambi, etc.
I found this writer's perspective interesting. He too wanted to retain the legacy of the short tracks - in 1961! He recognized the future of racing was headed towards asphalt and big tracks, but that doesn't mean he had to like it.
Today, a romanticized view is held about the history of Orange Speedway / Occoneechee. But at the time, this writer was down on the track and believed the better racing was on the bull rings.
| Fin | Driver | Car |
| 1 | Joe Weatherly | '61 Pontiac |
| 2 | Rex White | '61 Chevrolet |
| 3 | Ned Jarrett | '61 Chevrolet |
| 4 | Maurice Petty | '61 Plymouth |
| 5 | Fireball Roberts | '61 Pontiac |
| 6 | Fred Harb | '61 Ford |
| 7 | Herman Beam | '60 Ford |
| 8 | L.D. Austin | '61 Chevrolet |
| 9 | Harry Leake | '60 Chevrolet |
| 10 | Richard Petty | '61 Plymouth |
| 11 | Curtis Crider | '61 Mercury |
| 12 | Junior Johnson | '60 Pontiac |
| 13 | Ed Livingston | '61 Ford |
| 14 | Tommy Irwin | '61 Chevrolet |
| 15 | Wendell Scott | '60 Chevrolet |
| 16 | Joe Jones | '60 Ford |
| 17 | Buck Baker | '61 Chrysler |
| 18 | Lee Reitzel | '60 Ford |
| 19 | Doug Yates | '60 Plymouth |
| 20 | Jim Paschal | '61 Pontiac |
updated by @tmc-chase: 10/29/17 10:21:39AM
Racing History Minute - October 26, 1980
Stock Car Racing History
Thirty-five years ago today as I post this, NASCAR took two of its touring series back to Martinsville Speedway for the fall classic, The Cardinal 500.
Woody Delbridge has shared a boat load of photos from that day's dual set of races. And a big thanks to Chris Hussey for providing me several other pics to include in this post.
The modifieds ran first with their 250-lap opener. Maynard Troyer was the top qualifier. He was followed by Greg Sacks and perennial winner, Richie Evans.
Evans found the front as he frequently did. Here he is pulling the field through turn 4.
But his afternoon wasn't drama free. A spinner right in front of the butterscotch 61 could well have ended his day.
The Cup drivers didn't race at Martinsville that weekend. But the unmistakable Petty Blue and day-glo STP red painted Dodge van was present. Perhaps Dick May was in town doing a bit of palm shaking for STP.
Ron Bouchard - Photo by Bryan Holeman
Evans continued on and took the win over Bouchard. Geoff Bodine finished 3rd. After Evans' win, it was time for the 250-lap late model sportsman portion of the day.
Before the LMS race could begin, a unique event unfolded before the witness of fans. Morgan Shepherd and his fiance Debbie were married at the track, and his crew had a good time decorating the 'honeymoon' car.
Geoff Bodine won the pole for the LMS race, and Sam Ard lined up alongside him on the front row.
Bob Pressley and The Ironman Jack Ingram made up row 2.
Rick Mast's crew was working on a little sumpn-sumpn as the car sat on the grid. An eagle-eyed NASCAR inspector hovered nearby. Whatever needed to be tweaked before the race may not have been completed. Mast had a short day, suffered a failed oil pump, fell out after only 39 laps, and finished 36th with a DNF.
The day was a short one for the pole winner. After nabbing a third place finish in the modified race, Bodine lost an oil pump and finished 37th after falling out of the race after only 29 laps.
The biggest incident of the day happened at lap 43. Caught up in the accident were Tommy Houston, Michael Barry, Roy Hendrick, and Eddie Falk.
Sam Ard out in front of the newlywed as they tear through 3 and 4. The two spent the latter laps running 1-2 just like this. When the checkers fell, it was 00 finishing P1. Shepherd capped off his memorable day with a 2nd place finish. Though Shepherd didn't win the race on his wedding day, his runner-up finish was enough to clinch the 1980 NASCAR LMS title.
Sam poses with crew chief Jesse Coke - who was sporting a hat whose bill was shaped just the way Richard Petty liked his.
The two winners celebrating together.
Coincidentally, the two second place finishers had memorable years in Cup in 1981. About six months after the Cardinal 500, Morgan Shepherd won his first Cup race - the Virginia 500 back at Martinsville - with car owner Cliff Stewart. Bouchard went the opposite extreme. He too found himself in victory lane at the Cup level for the first time. But his 1st Cup win was on a superspeedway after a remarkable, three-wide win in the 1981 Talladega 500.
updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
Racing History Minute - October 26, 1958 - part 2
Stock Car Racing History
In 2013, Tim Leeming posted about the October 26, 1958 GN race at Lakewood Speedway near Atlanta.
http://racersreunion.com/community/forum/stock-car-racing-history/28233/racing-history-minute-october-26-1958
Tim also posted about the October 25, 1959 GN race at Concord Speedway - the Lee Kirby Memorial.
http://racersreunion.com/community/forum/stock-car-racing-history/28187/racing-history-minute-october-25-1959-lee-kirby-memorial
On the same day as the 1958 Lakewood GN race, the modifieds raced the sixth annual Lee Kirby Memorial at Concord - one year before the event became a GN race.
The 1957 winner, Banjo Matthews, returned to Concord and again showed the field the fast way around the half-mile. He won the pole in the first of two daily qualifying sessions. Dink Widenhouse qualified second.
On race day, Banjo apparently toyed with the rest of the field a bit. He took the lead 4 different times, but his dominance of the race really wasn't in question. Whether Matthews opted to have some fun with the competition - or the race really was that challenging - or if promoter Bruton Smith asked Banjo to create a good show is unknown. Either way, the Asheville NC driver led 98 of the race's 200 laps and flashed across the finish line first.
But just because he crossed the line first didn't necessarily make him the winner - at least in the eyes of second place finisher Mutt Simpson. A protest was filed alleging Banjo took on fuel during a pit stop - something apparently prohibited by the rules.
As often seems to be the case with NASCAR racing - then and even as recently as Sunday at Talladega - confusion surrounded the finish. Fans left Concord that day as they did at Talladega with uncertainty about the winner of the race.
I found this article noting Banjo's win was under review. But I haven't found anything yet noting if his win was upheld or if Simpson was awarded the win. Without additional info, I'm assuming Banjo kept his win.
I believe this is a pic from victory lane of the 1958 race. Miss Modified's sash says 1959, but I'm thinking she may have been selected to serve from late 1958 through 1959. The 1959 GN season started in November 1958 at Champion Speedway in Fayetteville. Other tracks may have followed suit with the start of the 1959 season before the calendar turned. Also, I blew up the photo, and the trophy clearly says Lee Kirby on it. - Getty
updated by @tmc-chase: 10/26/19 10:59:09AM
