February 22, 1958: Pop wins final ragtop race in the sand

Cars raced on the sands of Daytona Beach for who knows how long. When NASCAR was formed, Bill France & Co. promoted multiple modified, Grand National and even convertible races on the beach-and-road course. The final beach race of the short-lived convertible division race was run on February 22, 1958.

Some of the entrants included...

Defending race winner Tim Flock - Bill Rankin  pic

Two-time GRAND NATIONAL champion and now NASCAR HOFer, Buck Baker - Getty

Carl Burris - who made interesting use of his Champion Spark Plug decals - Getty

Shorty York - in Fred Harb's Mercury - Getty

Defending Convertible Division Champion, Bob Welborn and his team car driven by Possum Jones - Getty

And Roanoke VA's Curtis Turner - Getty

Two NASCAR HOFers started on the front row. 1954 beach winner Papa Lee Petty started from the pole position with Tim Flock lined up beside him. Flock was a GN beach winner in 1955 and 1956 and the convertible race winner the previous year in 1957. - John McMillion  pic

Wilburn Rakestraw in #999 started third with Baker to his outside. Starting 7th was another NASCAR HOFer, Glen Wood. - John McMillion  pic

Yet ANOTHER NASCAR HOFer, Little Joe Weatherly, started 14th in his #12 Holman Moody Ford. - John McMillion  pic

At the drop of the green, Flock was able get the jump on Petty. He motored ahead and led the first 2 laps. On lap 3, however, he ran off the course in the north turn. Flock regrouped, got back on course, but then realized his steering was all messed up. He retired from the race and finished 27th in the 29-car field. - DBMJ

With Flock out of the way, Curtis Turner took over and slipped and slid his way at the head of the field for the next 17 laps of the 39-lap race.

Behind Turner, a good battle was waged between Tiny Lund in another one of Bob Welborn's Chevrolets and Marvin Panch in his Ford. - John McMillion  pic

Panch, Lund, Bob Pronger and Bob Welborn - Getty Images

Panch also mixed it up with Turner even as car and pit issues dropped Marvin down through the running order. - Getty

Around half-way, Lee Petty took over the lead from Turner. His time at the front didn't last long though. Eight laps after going to the point, Pop motored back past the 42 to seize command of the race.

Curtis pretty well controlled the race the rest of the way. He led the remaining 12 laps to take the checkers in the final convertible beach race on the beach-and-road circuit. Second place, however, wasn't decided until the final corner as the two cars came through the north turn.

Joe Weatherly and Lee Petty barreled through the sand and slid through the North Turn a final time. As they did, Weatherly took a higher route and Lee went low. As the two cars pogo'd their way through the sand and got ready to head down Highway A1A, Lee caught Little Joe at about the right spot in the left rear quarter panel. - Getty

The nick was enough to spin Weatherly 180 degrees and slightly block Petty. But Petty then cleared Joe and motored home to claim second as Weatherly regrouped to finish third.

Many suggested Lee deliberately turned Weatherly because of his friendship with Turner - who Lee also nudged in the [ 1957 Southern 500 ]. But did Joe rush down to Lee's pit to pitch a fit? Nah, he was upset but shrugged it off, decided all was OK with he and Lee, and smirked with perhaps an ace (or tire iron) up his sleeve as he quipped "there's going to be another race tomorrow."

The fans on the other hand - many rushed from the stands towards the corner as the remaining cars rounded turn 4 to finish the race! And the crews of Petty and Weatherly didn't exactly see eye to eye either. But they raced another day.

Video recaps.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Race report from Daytona Beach Morning Journal

(Click article to open larger view in a new tab.)

Here is a pic my uncle took from the North stands on the pace lap. Photo by Billie Wright.

Awesome!

Great write up!!!!! Love the photos and the videos. What a wonderful post to add to the RR legacy.

Looks like Lee had to catch a little air in order to knock Joe out of the way. The fans standing a few feet off of A1A while these guys come by double file at 140+ remain among the bravest in history. Found this to be much more entertaining than the few minutes of same speed 'racing' I saw yesterday, thanks for the great report.

Love the body posture of the two drivers too at the moment they clanged together. Papa Lee looks to be sitting a little taller on his bench seat as he gauges what is about to happen.

Great piece Chase. The monolog at the end of video 3 turned out to be very prophetic.

PepsiCo - a France favored sponsor for over 50 years

Victory lane sure did look like Curtis hoisting the trophy at the '56 Southern 500, hardtop and all. But maybe the HM crew just put that zipper top back on really, really fast!

Got rid of that black Pure Oil jacket too! Ha.

Victory lane photo from Greg Fielden's book High Speed At Low Tide

Looks like the trophy shrunk, too. Think it was the salt air? But even with an opening of a '59 Ford blasting through the measured mile at '58 Speed Weeks it's still a great video, thanks a lot!

Bump

Wonderful post. Worth a re-read. Terrific photos.