Racing History Minute - July 9, 1955
Stock Car Racing History
Today we travel to a favorite track of mine, about 15 miles from where I now sit. Today it is known as "The Historic Columbia Speedway" but back when it was full of life every week during racing season, it was simply known as "Columbia Speedway". The track is full of history and in 2009, RacersReunion staged its first actual reunion at the track where some 35,000 folks showed up on a hot day to relive memorable times and to meet many of the drivers who had raced there over the years. But, today, we are going back to 1955 to cover a 200 lap/100 mile race on the half-mile dirt track. As anyone can tell you, after about 20 laps, the clay making up the track surface became almost as asphalt.
The race we cover today had no special name, no special sponsor as would, in later years, adorn the events at the track. This race was simply running the 100 miles for the trophy and the money. Jimmie Lewallen would start his Oldsmobile on the pole with Lee Petty starting second. Junior Johnson would start third, Billy Carden fourth and Jim Paschal fifth in the 16 car field. Lewallen's qualifying lap was 59.741 mph. Jim Paschal and Jimmie Lewallen were actually teammates for owner Col. Ernest Woods.
Points leader coming into the event, Lee Petty, blew an engine in his Chrysler on lap 142 and ended up credited with 13th finishing position. Junior Johnson and Gordon Smith had already departed the race due to crashes. With less than 10 laps to go, running in the top five, Banjo Matthews had an A-frame collapse in his Frank Christian owned Chevrolet and he ended up with sixth place. At the checkered flag, it was Jim Paschal winning by six car lengths over Jimmie Lewallen which gave Col Woods his first one-two finish in the sport. It was the second win of the season for High Point, NC's Paschal.
Top five finishers were:
1. Jim Paschal, Helzafire Oldsmobile, winning $1,000.00
2. Jimmie Lewallen, Col Woods Oldsmobile, winning $700.00
3. Tim Flock, Mercury Outboards Chrysler, winning $475.00
4. Billy Carden, Buick, winning $365.00
5. Buck Baker, Baker Chrysler, winning $310.00
Remaining rundown, in order, sixth through sixteenth,were Banjo Matthews, Eddie Skinner, Blackie Pitt, Gene Simpson, Bob Welborn, Ed Cole, Gordon Smith, Lee Petty, Junior Johnson, Fonty Flock, and Gwyn Staley.
I was at that race, although I have little recollection of it. My Uncle Bobby was always at the speedway when they were racing and he always took me along. I called him to ask about this race. He turned 80 on June 14th but his mind is still as clear as it can be. He remembers things that have long ago slipped my mind. When I mentioned the race, he said that was the one when Lee Petty (his favorite Grand National driver) blew up and that "damned Oldsmobile won". He amazes me. He didn't recall much more about the race, but he knew his favorite didn't win.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
updated by @tim-leeming: 08/31/18 10:04:06AM