Our Minute for today is another of those "season starters" at the end of another season. We are going to the 3/4 mile dirt track known as Charlotte Speedway which would host the second race of the 1956 season. The first race of the 1956 season was run at Hickory, NC on November 12, 1956, and was won by Tim Flock in one of those Kiekhaefer Chryslers.
At the Charlotte track, Fonty Flock would win the pole at a speed of 70.498mph. He was driving one of those white Kiekhaefer Chrysler. Brother, Tim Flock, in another Kiekhaefer car qualified second, Lee Petty in his Petty Engineering Dodge was third, Bunk Moore in a Buick fourth and Dink Widenhouse in a Ford was fifth.
The race was 134 laps around the track and Fonty would lead all 134 of those laps, although badgered at every turn by brother Tim. There were two caution flags to slow the average speed to 61.835 mph. One caution flag was caused on lap 24 when the gas tank from Don Oldenburg's Buick became detacted and fell onto the track right in front of hard charging Bob Welborn. Welborn hit the tank, which did not explode or catch fire, but the contact with the wayward gas tank caused Welborn to slam into the dirt embankment and flip his Chevrolet which put him out of the race.
To read that Fonty led the entire race would lead you to believe he pulled away and went on to an easy win. Thanks to his brother Tim, that was not the case. In fact, the 10,800 fans at this Bruton Smith promoted event were on their feet the last few laps as Tim made move after move to take the lead. Coming to the checkers, Tim pulled along side and when they crossed the line, Fonty had a half a car length win over Tim. Of course, now, remember, those 1956 Chryslers were pretty long cars. Nevertheless, that was, up to that point, one of the closest finishes in the Grand National Series of NASCAR.
Finishing order:
1. Fonty Flock, Kiekhaefer Chrysler, winning $1,100.00
2. Tim Flock, Kiekhaefer Chrysler, winning $700.00
3. Lee Petty, Petty Engineering Dodge, winning $475.00
4. Joe Weatherly, Schwam Ford, winning $365.00 (1 lap down)
5. Buck Baker, Satcher Motors Ford, winning $310.00 (1 lap down)
6. Dink Widenhouse
7. Curtis Turner
8. Dave Terrell
9. Gwyn Staley
10. Cotton Owens
11. Herb Thomas
12. Ned Jarrett
13. Ed Cole, Jr.
14.Ted Cannady
15.BlackiePitts
16.Jimmie Lewallen
17. Speedy Thompson
18. Bill Blair
19. Jimmy Massey
20. Bob Welborn
21. Don Oldenburg
22. Bunk Moore
23. Jim Paschal
24. John Dodd, Jr.
25. Fred Harb
26. Reds Kagle
27.Eddie Skinner
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
--
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
