Racing History Minute - March 8, 1959

Tim Leeming
@tim-leeming
10 years ago
3,119 posts

Today we go back to 1959 and a 100 mile/200 lap race on the half-mile dirt track in Concord, NC. Most fans know that the track now known as Charlotte Motor Speedway now that a major Hardware chain pulled out with naming rights, is located near Concord and is located in Cabarrus County. This race we feature today had a crowd of 11,500 show up on the sunny, 57 degree day, which was a record crowd for any sporting event held in Cabarrus County at that time.

Buck Baker powered his '59 Chevrolet to the pole with a speed of 66.420 mph. Tiger Tom Pistone in a T-Bird would start second, Cotton Owens in a Pontiac third, Curtis Turner in a T-Bird fourth and Bob Welborn in his Chevrolet fifth.

The green flag waved in the air and Buck Baker moved away from the outside starter and began to pull away, if only slightly. However, on lap 15, a huge cloud of smoke erupted from the number 88 Chevrolet as it dropped a valve and Baker headed to the pits to become a spectator. Tiger Tom took over when Buck departed but his lead was short-lived as Curtis Turner was charging hard. On lap 16, the Delta Auto Sales T-Bird sailed by Pistone and it was all Curtis Turner to the end. Curtis pulled away steadily and won the event by 1 lap and 4 seconds over Cotton Owens. Pistone was eliminated in a crash on lap 62. Pistone had a wheel bearing break which caused his T-Bird to flip over in turn two. Pistone was not hurt. Lee Petty would finish third and left the track holding a 328 point lead over Cotton Owens in the standings.

Finishing order:

1. Curtis Turner, Delta Auto Sales T-Bird, $800.00

2. Cotton Owens, W. H. Watson Pontiac, $525.00 (1 lap, 4 seconds down)

3. Lee Petty, Petty Engineering Oldsmobile, $350.00 (2 laps down)

4. Junior Johnson, Paul Spaulding Ford, $250.00 (4 laps down)

5. Speedy Thompson, Steve Pierce Chevrolet, $225.00 (4 laps down)

6. Tommy Irwin

7.Chester Barron

8. Elmo Langley

9. Herman Beam

10. L. D. Austin

11. Bobby Keck

12. Neil Castles

13. Johnny Allen

14. Rex White

15. Harvey Hege

16. Tom Pistone

17. Bob Welborn

18. Buck Baker

19. Bunk Moore

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
TMC Chase
@tmc-chase
10 years ago
4,073 posts

Race report from The Dispatch . While Curtis and the GN crowd raced at Concord, Joe Lee Johnson was winning the convertible race about 3 hours away in Fayetteville.

Finishing order of convertible race. I didn't realize Roy Tyner had driven for Julian Petty. Found out he also drove one of "Uncle Julie's" Chevrolets the previous October in the only GN race ever held at Salisbury.

Fin Driver Sponsor / Owner Car
1 Joe Lee Johnson Joe Lee Johnson '57 Chevrolet
2 Gene White Gene White '57 Chevrolet
3 Roy Tyner J.H. Petty '57 Chevrolet
4 Richard Petty Petty Engineering '57 Oldsmobile
5 Glen Wood Wood Brothers '58 Ford
6 Wilbur Rakestraw B.J. Jones Ford
7 Joe Halton '57 Chevrolet
8 Dick Dixon '57 Ford
9 Brownie King Jess Potter '58 Chevrolet
10 Jimmy Thompson Bruce Thompson '57 Chevrolet
11 Gober Sosebee '57 Chevrolet
12 Max Berrier '57 Plymouth
13 Ken Rush J.H. Petty '57 Chevrolet
14 Fred Harb Fred Harb '57 Mercury
15 Marvin Panch Tom Vernon '58 Ford
16 George Green Jess Potter '57 Chevrolet
17 Jimmy Massey Wood Brothers '57 Ford
18 George Dunn Manley Britt '57 Mercury
19 Jimmy Pardue Jimmy Pardue '57 Plymouth
20 Larry Frank Larry Frank '57 Chevrolet



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

updated by @tmc-chase: 03/07/17 12:55:49PM
TMC Chase
@tmc-chase
10 years ago
4,073 posts

Ad for the Fayetteville convertible race




--
Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
TMC Chase
@tmc-chase
7 years ago
4,073 posts

Bump




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