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Jack Walker

Darlington M-S Results, Apr.30,1955

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Darlington Raceway held a 200-mile Modified-Sportsman race on April 30th, 1955. The slim, and incomplete information about this race has been reported in a few publications as being run on July 4th, 1954. Darlington did run Modified-Sportsman races on July 4th in 1952, and 1953, but not 1954.
Twenty-eight cars qualified by time trials on April 28th, and 29th, with the balance of the 60-car field being set by a draw. Bill Widenhouse started on the pole with a speed of 113.897 mph. Fireball Roberts driving the Fish Carburetor #M-3 Modified took the lead at the green flag, and held it for the first 4 laps. Roberts again took over the lead on lap 92, and held it until the checkered flag. Lap leaders were Fireball Roberts, Speedy Thompson, Curtis Turner, and Ralph Moody. Roberts won $1,880 for the victory before a crowd of 9,000 fans. If anyone has addition information please let me know, so I can do an update. jack98@sc.rr.com
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TMC Chase
@tmc-chase   8 years ago
From April 3 Daily Independent of Kannapolis
From April 10 Daily Independent of Kannapolis
From April 14 Daily Independent of Kannapolis
From April 24 Florence Morning News
From April 26 Gastonia Gazette
TMC Chase
@tmc-chase   8 years ago
Articles and pics related to qualifying From April 28 Gastonia Gazette From April 29 Florence Morning News From April 30 Florence Morning News
TMC Chase
@tmc-chase   8 years ago
Race results and other notes - scary situation for Buck Baker and his wife. From May 1 Florence Morning News From May 2 The Robesonian Post-race inspection from Getty Images Victory lane smiles - with Ray Fox holding the hood - from Getty Images
TMC Chase
@tmc-chase   8 years ago
Though not a great quality image, you'll get the idea of how Fireball celebrated in Victory Lane with Miss Southern 500 from 1954. I learned a bit more about Miss Southern 500, Margaret Bryan. She was the second ever Miss Southern 500 after the pageant was introduced in 1953. She later married a man named Dan Coker. Sadly, I also learned she apparently passed away just a couple of weeks ago. http://www.bpafuneralhome.com/obituaries/Margaret-Coker-2/#!/Obituary Funeral services for Mrs. Margaret Bryan Coker, 77, will be held at 4 o'clock on Sunday, April 24, 2016 in St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church. The Rev. Bill Oldland and The Rev. John Foster, III will officiate with burial to follow in Magnolia Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m on Sunday, April 24, 2016 at the Baxley Residence, 812 Prestwood Drive, Hartsville, SC. Margaret Bryan Coker went home to be with the Lord on April 20, 2016, after an extended illness. Born on July 30, 1938, she lived in Hartsville her entire life. She graduated from Hartsville High School in 1956 and, in the same year, married Daniel Hollis Coker, also of Hartsville. They were married for 47 years until Dans death in 2003. Margaret was raised in the Episcopal Church where her grandfather, Rev. Homer Leach Hoover, served as Rector of St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church. She devoted her life to serving the Lord through her church and her family. Margaret was a member of the Daughters of the King, a service ministry within the Episcopal Church. She worked alongside her husband in the family owned business, Fifth Street Cleaners, for 38 years. She exemplified the Proverbs 31 wife and mother while her selfless, kind, and compassionate spirit was felt by everyone she met. After her husbands death from early onset Alzheimers Disease in 2003, she added another lifelong mission to her life. Margaret became a very active advocate for caregivers across the state, serving on the SC Alzheimers Association Board and hosting a charity golf tournament in her husbands memory for 11 years. The funds that were raised supported further research in finding a cure as well as respite care for families and their caregivers. Margaret also facilitated a support group for Alzheimer patients caregivers for many years in Hartsville and Darlington. She spent much of her time visiting homes and offering advice and a listening ear to the families. Margaret is survived by her brother, Hugh Blair Bryan of Hartsville, and her extended family of brothers and sister in-laws who always made her feel a part of their family. She has 4 children, Kathy Baxley of Hartsville, Dan H. Coker, Jr., (Becky) of Weaverville,NC, Dick B. Coker (Jackie) of Hartsville, and David H. Coker (Tena) of Hartsville. She was blessed with 8 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren with her next great-grandchild and her namesake due to join the family in August.
TMC Chase
@tmc-chase   8 years ago
And though they aren't labeled as such, I'm guessing these 2 pics from Mrs. Coker's on-line tribute are from her time as Miss Southern 500 1954.
Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton   8 years ago
Awesome pieces of research Chase. Well done!
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