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Racing History Minute - July 2, 1950

Stock Car Racing History

First up today, Happy Birthday to The King. At 76 still going strong. Also, on this date in 1964, the racing world lost Fireball Roberts who succumbed to his injuries from the World 600 in May. It was, indeed, a sad day when we lost The Fireball.

Our "Minute" today takes us back to the half-mile dirt track we have already visited once in this series. That's the Monroe County Fairground Speedway in Rochester, NY. On this day, in 1950, 25 cars showed up to compete for 100 miles/200 laps.

My source for information (Greg Fielden's "Forty Years of Stock Car Racing") does not include starting positions for this race other than to state that Curtis Turner put his Oldsmobile on the pole. When the green flag waved, Turner took advantage of his starting spot and stormed into the lead, never to be passed. He would, in fact, finish three laps ahead of runner up, Bill Blair, with Blair barely nosing out Lee Petty for the position.

Fielden's book also indicates there were three caution flags for a total of seven laps, but the only description of a caution was when Dick Burns left the track, crashing his Mercury head on into a light pole. Burns was badly shaken but suffered no other injuries.

After the race. at the post race inspection station, Lee Petty and Curtis Turner engaged in some fisticuffs for reasons not stated, which resulted in NASCAR fining both drivers $100.00. Stiff fine back in those days. Would really love to know what started that fight, but then again, that was a somewhat common happening on the short tracks. Still is on the local tracks so I hear. In fact, if Clint Bowyer could have caught Jeff Gordon last year, we may have seen an event to make the end of the 1979 Daytona 500 look like a kindergarden dodge-ball game.

This race in Rochester marked the first time a father-son team would compete in the same NASCAR Grand National event. Roscoe "Pappy" Hough and his son Lee raced together that day with "Pappy" finishing 25th and Lee finishing 18th.

Leaving the race, Curtis Turner had the points lead by two points over Lloyd Moore. Lee Petty was third, 24.5 points behind, but a week later Lee would compete in a non-NASCAR race and when NASCAR learned of this infraction, it stripped Lee of all the points (809) that he had earned in the 1950 season.

Top five finishers were:

1. Curtis Turner, Eanes Motor Company Oldsmobile, winning $1,000.00

2. Bill Blair, Sam Rice Mercury, winning $750.00

3. Lee Petty, Petty Plymouth, winning $600.00

4. Jimmy Florian, Euclid Motor Company Ford, winning $400.00

5. Bill Rexford, Julian Buesink Oldsmobile, winning $300.00

Sixth through tenth were Dick Clothier, Lloyd Moore, Lyle Scott, Dick Jerrett and Dick Lindler. Herb Thomas finished 21st.

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

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

July 2nd

Stock Car Racing History

Yes, Happy Birthday to The King. And, as Randy points out, this is also the day we lost Fireball Roberts. Hearing that news back in 1964 was rough. Fireball had been around from my beginning with the sport and losing him left a void for racing, and for me. Thanks for pointing that out Randy.

And Chase, what can I say about your appropriate posting? To have connected the 76 to both the Declaration of Independence AND the Union 76 brand show creative talent beyond belief. Way to go Chase Man!

Racing History Minute - July 1, 1952

Stock Car Racing History

Cody, I'm not sure. I have plenty of choices, as you say, but I may just take the day off that day!

Racing History Minute - July 1, 1952

Stock Car Racing History

I did not realize it when I did this "Minute", but July 1st is Canada Day, as reminded by my good friend in Canada, Ked Dieter.

Racing History Minute - July 1, 1952

Stock Car Racing History

After 47cars had raced at the one mile dirt track in Detroit on June 29, 1952, only 17 travelled north of the U.S. Border to race at Stamford Park Speedway located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada on July 1, 1952. This was the first time NASCAR Grand National drivers had ventured outside the boarders of the United States to race.

Herb Thomas qualified his Hudson on the pole with Tim Flock second, Jim Rathmann third, Lee Petty fourth and Bucky Sager fifth. The record reflects only three caution flags, but the race was designated as a "car killer" with only three cars able to run at race speed by the end of 200 laps on the half-mile dirt track. In fact, the fourth place driver, Jack Reynolds, lost a wheel on his Plymouth with 17 laps to go while running third and only lost the one position.

Points leader going in, Tim Flock, was eliminated on lap 78 when he ran into the Oldsmobile of Eddie Lenz. The Lenz car was actually barrel rolling when Flock crashed into the roof of the car, crush the roof onto the driver's compartment. Everyone held their collective breath until Lenz exited the car unhurt. Flock would leave Canada with only a 42 point lead over Herb Thomas.

While this was NASCAR's first race outside the U.S., it was also the first victory for Buddy Shuman in his NASCAR career. Shuman would, somehow, survive the extremely rough track conditions and the competitors to bring home the win.

Top five finishers were:

1. Buddy Shuman, B. A. Pless Hudson Hornet, winning $1.000.00

2. Herb Thomas, FABULOUS Hudson Hornet, winning $700.00

3. Ray Duhigg. Julian Petty Plymouth, winning $450.00

4. Jack Reynolds, Wise Brothers Plymouth, winning $350.00

5. Perk Brown, Ford, winning $200.00

Sixth through tenth were Neil Cole, Fonty Flock,Buck Sager. Ted Chamberlain, and Albert Lemiurx. Remaining finishers, in order, were Charles Barry, Dick Rathmann, Tim Flock, Eddie Lenz, Hershel McGriff, Lee Petty and Jack Hauher. It is somewhat fascinating to me that three of the cars are listed as out of the race because they were "slow". Those were 5th. 7th, and 10th place finishers. Fifth place was 24 laps down at the end.

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

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

The Project of Our RR Member TMC Chase

General

Yes.TMC Chase deserves a huge round of applause for what he is doing. I commend him highly for undertaking such a project. Chase, you have added so much to the History Minutes that, as I told Dave earlier, what you two are doing is really making this a site of historic reference. That truly makes me very happy.

Racing History Minute - June 30, 1956

Stock Car Racing History

Today we are heading to Chicago and the famous half-mile paved track known as Soldier Field, while although not located in the Southeastern United States, is well known in stock car racing history. Fred Lorenzen and Tiger Tom Pistone are both products of that facilityand we are all familiar with the contributions of each of those gentlemen to the sport.

The event we are covering today is a 100 mile/200 lap CONVERTIBLE event. While the rainy weather in Kentucky last night would not have suited a convertible ride, the race in Chicago on this date in 1956 was suitable enough to draw 38,000 fans for the race. Just imagine that crowd at a half-mile track!

Records I have show only that Curtis Turner was on the pole in his DePaolo Ford. Turner would lead from lap one until lap 194 when Tiger Tom would slip by to lead a very hotly contested last six laps to win by three car lengths over Turner. Pistone had spun out on lap 165 while running second but he remained on the lead lap and a caution flag put him in position to contest the win with Turner. The only real "wreck" of the race happened on the first lap when Larry Frank and Dick Joslin contested for the same part of the track and wrecked, putting both cars out of the race. Joe Weatherly had been a contender until his brakes failed him on lap 110.

Tiger Tom was bouncing around with happiness after the win. He had so wanted to win one before his hometown fans and he had done it! A part of his celebration was winning such a close one of Curtis Turner. It was Tiger's first NASCAR win.

Top five finishers were:

1. Tiger Tom Pistone, Pistone Chevrolet, winning $650.00

2. Curtis Turner, DePaolo Engineering Ford, winning $525.00

3. Bill Lutz, Ford, winning $400.00

4. Larry Odo, Odo Chevrolet, winning $320.00

5. Jimmy Massey, Hubert Westmoreland Chevrolet, winning $290.00

Sixth through tenth were Allen Adkins, Glen Wood, Bill Cornwall, Jud Larson and Pete Peterson. Bob Welborn finished 11th to hold onto his points lead although losing points to competitor Odo in second place who used his fourth place finish to make slight headway.

Jimmie Lewallen finished 15th, Joe Weatherly 16th, and Possum Jones 18th. Gene Blair was 22nd, Larry Frank 23rd and in 24th and final position was Dick Joslin.

When I was preparing this "Minute" I was surprised by the relatively small payout to drivers when the crowd was 38,000 strong. Just did seem fair to me but I'm sure the win was worth a million to Tiger Tom.

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

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

1951 Charlotte Speedway GN Film - Curtis Turner Winner, Lee Petty 2nd, Earl Moss Last

Stock Car Racing History

That is quite a treat to see that! Now I'm headed to the YouTube. Thanks, Dave. I'll be up all night.

June 29, 1957 - Lee Petty Snookers Spartanburg

Stock Car Racing History

Good job, as usual, Chase.

Racing History Minute - June 29, 1952

Stock Car Racing History

Greg Biffle recently won the race at a beautiful Michigan 2 mile track where speeds reached over 200 miles per hour. In 1952, Tim Flock won the race at Michigan on this date, but the track was only one mile long and was dirt. No, not the same track at the same location as today's twice a year NASCAR race facility, but obviously an important part of the 1952 Grand National schedule. Forty-seven cars showed up to run 250 miles/250 laps. This was the 17th race on the 1952 calendar and was known as "The Motor City 250".

Dick Rathmann would start from the pole in his Hudson and Fonty Flock would put his Oldsmobile on the outside of the front row. Third place qualifier was Lloyd Moore in a Chrysler , Bob Pronger in an Nash, fourth and Ray Chase in a Lincoln was 5th place starter. The DeSoto of Fred Bethune started sixth and Charlie Hill in a Ford was 7th. Eighth place starter Ted Chamberlin drove a Plymouth. Ninthplace starter was Ed Westveer in a Mercury. Tenth was Norman Lynch in a Willis. Red Duvall put a Packard in 11th starting position. John Scarfo started a Kaiser in 12th.I went through 12th positions to show the diversity in manufacturers in this event. The first 12 qualifiers were all driving a different make in the "Motor City" race. Interestingly enough, my source for information (Greg Fielden's "Forty Years of Stock Car Racing") does NOT list a 13th place starter. Must have been folks around Detriot who believe the bad luck link to that number.

Dick Rathmann, the always second place finisher, would lead the first 44 laps before Lee Petty moved ahead in his Chrysler. Petty would lead until lap 87 and it was then Tim Flock's turn to be the rabbit. Buddy Shuman would lead lap 111 and then Tim Flock put his big Hudson back out front on lap 112, where he would stay until the checkered flag. It was Flock's 12th career Grand National win in the race that would take 4 hours, 10 minutes and 23 seconds to complete at an average speed of 59.908 mph.

In addition to the $5,050.00 purse Tim Flock took home, he also won a new Nash Ambassador. Relative to other events of the 50s, that was a well paying race. Having ridden in a Nash Ambassador "back in the day" I can vouch that it was a good riding car. I was too young to drive then! Ahh such thoughts to be too young to do anything is amazing to me at this point in my life.

Top five finishers were:

1. Tim Flock, OK Motors Hudson, winning $5,050.00 and a Nash Ambassador

2. Buddy Shuman, B. A. Pless Hudson, winning $2,225.00

3. Herb Thomas, FABULOUS Hudson Hornet, winning $1,000.00

4. Bill Blair, George Hutchens Oldsmobile, winning $600.00

5. Pat Kirkwood, San Juan Motors Chrysler, winning $500.00

Sixth through tenth were Dick Passwater, Hershel McGriff, Stuart Joyce, Otis Martin, and Ted Chamberlain. Frank Mundy would finish 11th, Billy Myers 14th, Jimmie Lewallen 20th, Joe Eubanks 25th, Lee Petty 32nd, Dick Rathmann 38th, with Fonty Flock credited with 47th (last position) by virtue of tie rod failure on the 10th lap.

What a race that must have been! 250 miles on a one mile dirt track with 47 cars fighting for positions and the win. Just look at the names given in this report! I hope someone (Chase, Dave) can come up with a video of some of this race. It is well worth the remembering.

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

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM