As difficult as it is to believe, I had only two choices for today's History Minute that did not include a World 600. Both of those choices had Lee Petty as the winner so I'm sure Chase will be able to add more infomation to this particular event and will probably give us a report on the other Petty victory.
For my purposes this morning, we are going to a half-mile dirt track at the Forsythe County Fairgrounds in Winston-Salem, NC. Yes, indeed, they raced in Winston-Salem at a track other than Bowman Gray. On this date in 1955, twenty-three cars showed up to run 100 miles. Just a note before we begin today's report concerning new Hall of Fame Inductee Tim Flock. On May 1st, he was second ina 100 mile race in Charlotte. May 7th, second at Hickory, NC. May 8th he was 1st in a 100 mile race in PHOENIX, AZ. May 15th he wins Martinsville. May 22nd he wins Richmond, VA. May 28th, he finishes 25th at Raleigh, NC after his brakes fail on the 15th lap.
Ok, now back to our History Minute for today. When qualifying was over, Fonty Flock was on the pole in the Mercury Outboards Chrysler of Carl Kiekhaefer. Buck Baker put his Oldsmobile on the outside front row. Fonty took the lead on the start and led the first 41 circuits before losing the point to Buck Baker. Buck led until lap 168when he began to experience problems with his Olds which would retire him on lap 173 when the axle finally quit doing its job. That left Lee Petty in the lead in his Chrysler as he steadily rolled along to build up a half lap lead at the end. The race was slowed 8 times by the yellow flag, which took out, among others, the cars of Gene Simpson, Mack Hanbury and Donald Thomas in wrecks. The Chryslers of Tim and Fonty Flock both fell out with oil pressure problems on lap 82 for Fonty and lap 84 for Tim.
This was Lee Petty's fourth victory in the 18 race season, to date, and his 22nd overall Grand National (Cup) win.
Top five finishers were:
1. Lee Petty, Petty Engineering Chrysler, winning $1,000.00
2. Jim Pashcal, Helzafire Oldsmobile, winning $650.00
3. Fred Dove, Oldsmobile, winning $450.00
4. Dick Rathmann, John Ditz Chrysler, winning $350.00
5. John Dodd, Jr., Dodge, winning $300.00
Sixth through tenth were Gordon Smith in a Chevrolet, Bob Welborn in a Chevy, Perk Brown in a Mercury, Arden Mounts in a Hudson, and Eddie Skinner in a Dodge.
Buck Baker was 11th, Gwyn Staley 14th, Bill Blair 19th, Tim Flock 20th, Fonty Flock 21st and Junior Johnson 22nd.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
