Chase, you all have fun, be safe, and use sunscreen in Florida. I used to make that trip over night and back after the race and I don't think I had as far to drive as you do. Can't wait to hear your report when you get back.
Wilson, North Carolina, is the home of a half-mile dirt track where the Grand National cars would race on June 28, 1953. Even though Wilson was a "good piece up the road" as my Uncle Bobby would often say, I know he always wanted to see a race there. Folks would talk about that track as if it was something special so I guess it must have been. Whatever attraction Wilson had, it brought 22 drivers there for a 100 mile/200 lap event.
My resource for information, Greg Fielden's "Forty Years of Stock Car Racing" has very little information as to lap leaders or starting positions so I don't know who was on the pole or where other competitors started. Considering the starting field, I will not venture a guess as to who was on the pole, but one would think it would come down to a contest between Fonty Flock, Herb Thomas, Tim Flock, Lee Petty or Speedy Thompson. Perhaps, and I'm betting "probably so", either TMC Chase or Dave Fulton will have newspaper clippings posted by the end of the day to fill us in.
What the record does show is that Speedy Thompson was leading the race on lap 191 when a tire blew on his Oldsmobile giving the lead to Fonty Flock. Speedy was going for his first Grand National win but lost time in the pits when his crew couldn't get the blown tire off the car. In desparatioin, Speedy returned to the track with three tires and one rim to run the remaining laps and ended up in sixth position.
Pop McGinnis caused some excitement when he got his Hudson up on the wooden guard rain to slide along the track on its driver's side. The car stopped in that position and Pop scrambled out, unhurt.
Top five finishers were:
1. Fonty Flock, Frank Christain Hudson, winning $1,000.00
2. Dick Rathman, Walt Chapman Hudson, winning $700.00**
3. Herb Thomas, FABULOUS Hudson Hornet, winning $450.00
4. Joe Eubanks, Oates Motor Company Hudson, winning $350.00
5. Buck Baker, Griffin Motor Company Oldsmobile, winning $200.00
Sixth through tenth were Speedy Thompson, Tim Flock, Fred Dove, Lee Petty, and Jimmie Lewallen. Bill Blair finished 14th, Bob Welborn 16th out of the 22 starters.
** Please note that Dick Rathmann was in his customary second finishing position for the 8th time in 18 races in the 1953 season. Reviewing the records of Dick Rathmann, he seems to be the quintessential bridesmaid over and over. I know that complex well!
One other point of interest for this date in Stock Car Racing History, but this doesn't concern NASCAR. Ernie Derr won a stock car race sanctioned by the International Motor Contest Association. What makes this fact important is that, as far as it is known and able to be confirmed, that race was the FIRST stock car race televised to a nationwide audience. NBC Calvacade of Sports televised portions of the race on its July 3rd airing for the Calvacade. So, some sixty years ago, televison got its feet wet in the sport but the ratings must not have been stellar. I think it was sometime in the 60s before ABC Wide World of Sports started airing portions of races in their Saturday afternoon time slot.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
Oh, I know, Dave, but you are great with your contributions. I just told Ann, a few minutes ago, that your contributions, along with Chase, Andy and others, are making this site a real asset for the history of this sport. I like to think, that 50 years from now, folks will use all we have put here to honor the memory of some really great racers and really great races.
Ok, Chase, I'll go with "team building". I like being a part of this team and having you as a teammate.
Chase,you are really getting into this "Legend bashing" huh? Did I upset you with my Danica bashing,or was it the D.W. bashing?
Dave. you are really creative! No small wonder you were such a success in marketing.
Dave, I know I can always depend on you to provide whatever I need, so thanks.
Bill, downloads of the pic are $8.95, plus tax. Please send your check immediately.
Jack get NO commission. In fact, he must pay ME for use of my picture without permission.
Dave. for you the picture is free. A free one for your Grandson too. MOST other RR members will get a discount. However, it appears the picture has disappeared. I can't find it.
