From notes in the Richmond Time-Dispatch:
A look back: Flipping over 1953 race
Asked to recall an important moment in Richmond racing, Joe Kelly racing historian and host with his wife, Ruth, of "Let's Talk Racing" on WARV-FM recalled the 1953 race on the half-mile dirt track on the site where RIR sits now. The 200-lap event was the first Richmond race in what would become NASCAR's Sprint Cup series.
"Lee Petty won the race," Kelly said. "Dick Rathman finished second, and he and Lee were beating and banging on each other like crazy.
Kelly said Richmond car owner Junie Donlavey fielded a 1952 Hudson with Californian Ollie Olson at the wheel. "Olson would tell you that he was the world's greatest race driver, and he convinced Junie to let him drive that race. He flipped the car three times. Not three flips in one crash. He flipped three separate times!"
Olson finished 24th of the 27 drivers. Buck Baker's pole qualifying speed was 48.465 mph. Petty's average speed for the race was about 45 mph and the winner's share of the purse was $1,000. The finishers from 12th on back won $25 apiece.
--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
