In early summer 1955, the Grand National drivers drove a bit past Memphis, TN through West Memphis, AK to Lehi, AK for the 2nd GN race at Memphis-Arkansas Speedway. The Mid-South 250 was slated for Sunday, June 5th.
But ... rain got in the way. The teams shrugged their shoulders, headed back east, and had to return later that month for a second try.
After racing at Charlotte's Southern States Fairgrounds on Friday, June 24th, the drivers and mechanics humped it to Lehi for another shot at the race at Memphis-Arkansas on Sunday, June 26th..
The drive to/fro and the result, however, were the same as in early June - a wasted drive and rain. The race was moved to a THIRD date: August 14th. FINALLY, disproving the axiom that bad things come in threes, the race was held in mid-August.
The Flock brothers - Fonty and Tim - nabbed the front row in a pair of Carl Kiekaefer Chryslers. Buck Baker and Billy Carden comprised the second row in a pair of 1955 Buicks. Jim Paschal rounded out the top 5 in an Oldsmobile.
Fonty got the early jump and paced the race for the first 17 laps of the 167-lap race around the 1.5 mile dirt track. Tim Flock then took the lead from his brother and led the next 80 laps - or just about that many.
Brother Fonty decided he might just as well head back to where the view was best. He took the lead back on lap 97 and led the remaining 71 laps to grab the 17th of his 19-win GN career.
Fonty didn't make it easy on himself. With about 20 to go, Tim pushed his fuel load too far and ran out of gas. Fonty slowed, pushed is brother towards the pits and then resumed his speed without losing the lead. He then blew a tire with a lap or two to go and ran the final lap on one of his rims.
Speedy Thompson finished second to Fonty - the only other car on the lead lap. Tim faded back to third after his late-race pit stop, two laps down to the top two finishers.
In an odd twist of fate, the same scenario fell upon Memphis-Arkansas. Qualifying and the race were rained out not just once - but TWICE - just as happened in 1955. [ Tim Leeming's RHM ]
The twice delayed GN race impacted a local one in Rock Hill, SC. Promoter Bruton Smith had to cancel the race because of a low car count. Three expected cars and drivers he was expecting made the trip to LeHi for the GN event.
| Fin | Driver | Car |
| 1 | Fonty Flock | '55 Chrysler |
| 2 | Speedy Thompson | '54 Oldsmobile |
| 3 | Tim Flock | '55 Chrysler |
| 4 | Jim Paschal | '55 Oldsmobile |
| 5 | Buck Baker | '55 Buick |
| 6 | Bob Welborn | '55 Chevrolet |
| 7 | Junior Johnson | '55 Oldsmobile |
| 8 | Slick Smith | '55 Chevrolet |
| 9 | Jimmy Ayers | '55 Ford |
| 10 | Ken Johns | '55 Chevrolet |
| 11 | Dave Terrell | '55 Oldsmobile |
| 12 | Eddie Skinner | '53 Oldsmobile |
| 13 | Joe Guide | '53 Hudson |
| 14 | Herb Thomas | '55 Chevrolet |
| 15 | Ted Cannady | '53 Ford |
| 16 | Banks Simpson | '55 Buick |
| 17 | Gene Simpson | '55 Buick |
| 18 | Al Watkins | '54 Dodge |
| 19 | Lee Petty | '55 Dodge |
| 20 | Rosco Rann | '54 Chrysler |
| 21 | Jimmie Lewallen | '55 Oldsmobile |
| 22 | Jim McLain | '55 Oldsmobile |
| 23 | Hooker Hood | '54 Oldsmobile |
| 24 | Jack Hubbard | '55 Ford |
| 25 | Harold Kite | '55 Oldsmobile |
| 26 | Woodie Wilson | '53 Hudson |
| 27 | Billy Carden | '55 Buick |
| 28 | Gordon Smith | '55 Chevrolet |
| 29 | Gwyn Staley | '55 Cadillac |
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Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
updated by @tmc-chase: 08/14/17 10:53:51AM
