September 11, 1959 - Lee Petty Wins at Hickory

Earlier today, Tim Leeming posted about the [ September 11, 1964 Buddy Shuman 250 ] at Hickory. I also blogged today about the Buddy Shuman 250 - the 1959 edition on the same date and won by Lee Petty.

I don't know much about this race beyond what I found in Greg Fielden's Forty Years book. The starting line-up was set by blind draw vs. qualifying. Lap leaders aren't known other than Lee took the checkers. I couldn't find any newspaper clippings or photos from the race, and I've heard no personal anecdotes from anyone who attended.

But the race did take place - and a Petty did win! THAT much I know.

So read on for more:

http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2013/09/september-11-1959-lee-petty-wins-at.html

Fin	Driver	Car
1	Lee Petty	'59 Plymouth
2	Buck Baker	'59 Chevrolet
3	Rex White	'59 Chevrolet
4	Junior Johnson	'58 Ford
5	Brownie King	'57 Chevrolet
6	Fred Harb	'57 Ford
7	Buck Brigance	'57 Chevrolet
8	Herman Beam	'57 Chevrolet
9	Fuzzy Clifton	'57 Chevrolet
10	L.D. Austin	'57 Chevrolet
11	R.L. Combs	'57 Ford
12	Marvin Porter	'58 Ford
13	Jack Smith	'59 Chevrolet
14	G.C. Spencer	'57 Chevrolet

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Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
updated by @tmc-chase: 09/11/17 10:15:15AM

I note that Dick Beaty's old motorcycle racing buddy, the late Buck Brigance of Charlotte made one of his 16 career GN starts in this Hickory race.

Eddie Boomhower published photos of the two motorcycle riding friends taken in the late 40s at Richmond's Strawberry Hill track on the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds in his publication The Racer's Book :

Brigance is on the far left standing in the top photo from Richmond and Beaty is shown on his cycle at Richmond just below:

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

From Statesville Record and Landmark

From The Index Journal of Greenwood SC

--
Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.