Days till 2014 Daytona 500
Stock Car Racing History
I totally agree with your logic Dave. Paul is one exceptionally fine man!
Forum Activity for @tim-leeming
Stock Car Racing History
Days till 2014 Daytona 500
Stock Car Racing History
Definitely one of the best threads we've ever had run here on the site. Great, great photos AND memories.
Days till 2014 Daytona 500
Stock Car Racing History
Yes sir, H.B. was a great guy. We once had the sheet metal from the entire front of one of his cars after a wreck at Darlington. Loaded it on top of the motorhome, tied it down and took it home with his permission. He asked us at the next race what we did with it and we told him it was in my back yard, which it was. What memories.
Days till 2014 Daytona 500
Stock Car Racing History
It is already very obvious that when this thread reaches the day of the race, we are going to have some excellent pictorial history of the sport. Good going Jerry!!!!
Days till 2014 Daytona 500
Stock Car Racing History
I wish it still inspired the excitement and anticipation for me it once did. That is quite a picture of Buck and that 1958 Chevrolet. Great memories.
Racing History Minute - November 26, 1959
Stock Car Racing History
That could be the reason Chase. I can't imagine us going to a race in 1959 on Thanksgiving Day. Must have been a very special deal with Uncle Bobby, but then he did go to Columbia Speedway anytime they opened the gate and always took me.
Racing History Minute - November 26, 1959
Stock Car Racing History
November 26, 1959, twenty-two of NASCAR's Grand National drivers signed in at The Columbia Speedway in Cayce, SC, for a 100 mile race on the half mile dirt track. The Columbia Speedway was well known for its competitive racing on a surface that became like asphalt after only a few laps of competition. This event would actually be counted as the second race of the 1960 season, with race number one having been settled on November 8th at the half mile dirt track in Charlotte.
Junior Johnson would win the pole in his Dodge at a speed of 65.217 mph, giving Dodge its first pole since the 1956 season. Johnson, unfortunately, only lasted 87 laps before the carburator in the Dodge decided to derail Johnson's run. Joe Lee Johnson in the Honest Charley Chevrolet would start second, Ned Jarrett, driving his own 1957 Ford would start third, G.C. Spencer in a Chevy fourth and Lee Petty fifth.
On lap one, Bob Welborn driving the Ogden-Ridgeway Chevrolet crashed and was out of the race. Crashes would follow involving Tommy Irwin, Roy Tyner and rookie driver Hubert Johnson taking all of those out of the event.
Joe Lee Johnson, who had been the 1959 Convertible Champion for the last season of that division in NASCAR ran a good race and posted a top five finish. NASCAR alluded to the desire to attract more drivers to the Grand National circuit as one reason for the demise of the convertible circuit.
My source for information does not reflect lap leaders or attendance figures for the race. It does,however, advise that winner, Ned Jarrett, averaged 55.071 mph for the 100 mile distance.
Finishing order:
1. Ned Jarrett, Jarrett Ford, winning $800.00
2.Jack Smith, Bud Moore Garage Chevrolet, winning $525.00
3. Joe Lee Johnson, Honest Charley Chevrolet, winning $375.00
4.Lee Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $275.00
5.Bobby Johns, Shorty Johns Chevrolet, winning $250.00 (5 laps down)
6. Richard Petty
7. Shep Langdon
8.L. D. Austin
9. Pappy Crane
10. Richard Riley
11. Herman Beam
12. Roy Tyner
13. Bill Parnell
14. Bunk Moore
15. G. C. Spencer
16. Buck Brigance
17. Tommy Irwin
18. Hubert Johnson
19. Junior Johnson
20. Tiger Tom Pistone
21. Tiny Lund
22. Bob Welborn
The 1960 season would prove to be a competitive 44 race season that would end in October with one very fine gentleman winning the national championship.
PERSONAL NOTES: I have very little recollection of this race and, unfortunately, Uncle Bobby is not around to ask. I do seem to recall the first lap wreck which I think happend coming out of turn two when Welborn got bumped. Also recall Tiny Lund in that Chevy and how he was charging through the pack until he fell out.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
November 25, 1979 - Cup Drivers Rule The West
Stock Car Racing History
Good story Chase. I remember reading about this race AFTER the fact. There was no publicity about the race here in South Carolina before the race and I only discovered the outcome long after the event when I read about it somewhere. Great to have more information here. Thanks.
Christmas gift for me about a month early
Stock Car Racing History
You must be living right Chase! Or did you borrow Jimmie Johnson's "golden horseshoe"?