Grand National |
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Grand National was NASCAR's premiere series from 1950 to 1971.
The name Grand National replaced Strictly Stock in 1950. It was determined that Strictly Stock sounded more like a rule or rules interpretation than a series name.
Grand National was then dropped in favor of corporate sponsor Winston's name in 1972. The Grand National then became the Winston Cup.
Grand National Champions
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Photographs |
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Diorama with the cars of Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett, and Fred Lorenzen Photo ©2009 Bill Crittenden Attack of the Plastic Model Car Contest July 5, 2009 View photo of NASCAR Grand National Model Cars Diorama - 968KB |
The 1950 season, the first with the new Grand National name, featured the inaugural Southern 500, a huge event on Labor Day weekend the new paved Darlington racetrack, the first 500-mile stock car race had a huge 75 car field and an at-the-time NASCAR record $25,000 purse. It would be the only paved track race of the 19 event schedule.
Schedule
Standings (Top 51)
| Rank | Driver | Points | Starts | Wins | Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bill Rexford | 1,959 | 17 | 1 | $5,750 |
| 2 | Fireball Roberts | 1,848.5 | 9 | 1 | $6,800 |
| 3 | Lee Petty | 1,590 | 17 | 1 | $7,120 |
| 4 | Lloyd Moore | 1,398 | 16 | 1 | $5,235 |
| 5 | Curtis Turner | 1,375.5 | 16 | 4 | $8,080 |
| 6 | Johnny Mantz | 1,282 | 3 | 1 | $10,810 |
| 7 | Chuck Mahoney | 1,217.5 | 11 | 0 | $2,250 |
| 8 | Dick Linder | 1,121 | 13 | 3 | $5,695 |
| 9 | Jimmy Florian | 801 | 10 | 1 | $2,730 |
| 10 | Bill Blair | 766 | 16 | 1 | $4,400 |
| 11 | Herb Thomas | 590.5 | 13 | 1 | $2,645 |
| 12 | Buck Baker | 531.5 | 9 | 0 | $2,145 |
| 13 | Cotton Owens | 500 | 3 | 0 | $1,100 |
| 14 | Fonty Flock | 458.5 | 7 | 1 | $2,195 |
| 15 | Weldon Adams | 440 | 4 | 0 | $1,205 |
| 16 | Tim Flock | 437.5 | 12 | 1 | $3,980 |
| 17 | Clyde Minter | 427 | 8 | 0 | $1,155 |
| 18 | Dick Burns | 341.5 | 8 | 0 | $780 |
| 19 | Art Laney | 320 | 4 | 0 | $655 |
| 20 | Bob Flock | 314 | 4 | 0 | $1,155 |
| 21 | George Hartley | 298 | 8 | 0 | $875 |
| 22 | Gayle Warren | 287 | 10 | 0 | $550 |
| 23 | Frank Mundy | 275.5 | 8 | 0 | $550 |
| 24 | Jim Paschal | 220.5 | 6 | 0 | $850 |
| 25 | Jack White | 211.5 | 7 | 0 | $525 |
| 26 | Pappy Hough | 207.5 | 5 | 0 | $325 |
| 27 | Ray Duhigg | 202.55 | 0 | >$450 | |
| 28 | Leon Sales | 200 | 2 | 0 | $1,000 |
| 29 | Jimmy Thompson | 200 | 4 | 0 | $525 |
| 30 | Harold Kite | 187 | 3 | 1 | $1,550 |
| 31 | Neil Cole | 183.5 | 2 | 0 | $300 |
| 32 | Jack Smith | 180 | 3 | 0 | $775 |
| 33 | Bucky Sager | 180 | 2 | 0 | $750 |
| 34 | Red Harvey | 180 | 1 | 0 | $750 |
| 35 | Ted Swaim | 180 | 1 | 0 | $750 |
| 36 | Buck Barr | 180 | 2 | 0 | $575 |
| 37 | Pepper Cunningham | 177.5 | 2 | 0 | $300 |
| 38 | Ewell Weddle | 173.5 | 3 | 0 | $600 |
| 39 | Donald Thomas | 164 | 2 | 0 | $300 |
| 40 | Bill Snowden | 163 | 4 | 0 | $325 |
| 41 | Jimmie Lewallen | 140 | 3 | 0 | $400 |
| 42 | Chuck James | 140 | 1 | 0 | $400 |
| 43 | Dick Clothier | 133.5 | 5 | 0 | $350 |
| 44 | Paul Parks | 124.5 | 6 | 0 | $375 |
| 45 | Al Gross | 124 | 3 | 0 | $550 |
| 46 | Jack Reynolds | 120 | 2 | 0 | $300 |
| 47 | Jim Delaney | 114 | 2 | 0 | $175 |
| 48 | Carl Renner | 108 | 2 | 0 | $250 |
| 49 | Jack Holloway | 107.5 | 2 | 0 | $225 |
| 50 | Bob Dickson | 105 | 6 | 0 | $275 |
| 51 | J.C. Van Landingham | 105 | 1 | 0 | $450 |
The 1951 season saw NASCAR branch out westward with 5 races in California and one in Arizona. The Great Lakes were also visited frequently, with five events in Ohio and two in Michigan.
One of those Michigan events was held in Detroit, Michigan. The race in the Big 3's proverbial backyard gave many in the automakers their first personal experience with NASCAR. The 250-mile race was also part of Detroit's 250th anniversary celebration.
The series continued its move to paved tracks, albeit slowly, as three paved tracks hosted a total of four Grand National races in 1951.
In the era when NASCAR competitors were not expected to race all events, even when racing for the championship, it was not uncommon to have more than one Grand National race on the same date. April 8, April 29, September 23, and November 11 all had two events scheduled, and three were held on October 14.
Schedule
Standings (Top 50)
| Rank | Driver | Points | Starts | Wins | Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herb Thomas | 4,208.45 | 35 | 7 | $20,850 |
| 2 | Fonty Flock | 4,062.25 | 34 | 8 | $15,200 |
| 3 | Tim Flock | 3,722.5 | 7 | $14,545 | |
| 4 | Lee Petty | 2,392.25 | 32 | 1 | $7,340 |
| 5 | Frank Mundy | 1,963.5 | 27 | 3 | $7,085 |
| 6 | Buddy Shuman | 1,368.75 | 7 | 0 | $2,830 |
| 7 | Jesse James Taylor | 1,214 | 10 | 0 | $3,750 |
| 8 | Dick Rathmann | 1,040 | 15 | 0 | $3,225 |
| 9 | Bill Snowden | 1,009.25 | 12 | 0 | $2,640 |
| 10 | Joe Eubanks | 1,005.5 | 12 | 0 | $3,415 |
| 11 | Lloyd Moore | 996.5 | 22 | 0 | $2,600 |
| 12 | Fireball Roberts | 930 | 9 | 0 | $1,190 |
| 13 | Jimmie Lewallen | 874.25 | 12 | 0 | $2,430 |
| 14 | Bob Flock | 869 | 17 | 1 | $3,680 |
| 15 | Jim Paschal | 858.5 | 16 | 0 | $2,450 |
| 16 | Bill Blair | 840 | 18 | 0 | $2,710 |
| 17 | Gober Sosebee | 784 | 10 | 0 | $2,710 |
| 18 | Erick Erickson | 723.5 | 12 | 0 | $2,435 |
| 19 | Tommy Thompson | 755 | 5 | 1 | $5,510 |
| 20 | Donald Thomas | 743.5 | 17 | 0 | $2,060 |
| 21 | Johnny Mantz | 725 | 6 | 0 | $2,025 |
| 22 | Lou Figaro | 684.2 | 13 | 1 | $2,135 |
| 23 | Buck Baker | 644.5 | 11 | 0 | $1,650 |
| 24 | Dick Meyer | 626.5 | 6 | 0 | $1,650 |
| 25 | Harold Kite | 625 | 2 | 0 | $800 |
| 26 | Billy Carden | 509.75 | 11 | 0 | $1,460 |
| 27 | Jimmy Florian | 462.5 | 9 | 0 | $1,100 |
| 28 | Jim Fiebelkorn | 455 | 17 | 0 | $1,355 |
| 29 | Ronnie Kohler | 432 | 5 | 0 | $1,100 |
| 30 | Danny Weinberg | 423.5 | 6 | 1 | $1,470 |
| 31 | Pappy Hugh | 423 | 9 | 1 | $760 |
| 32 | Woody Brown | 421 | 3 | 0 | $1,125 |
| 33 | Neil Cole | 382 | 5 | 1 | $2,050 |
| 34 | Paul Newkirk | 375 | 0 | $500 | |
| 35 | John McGinley | 372.5 | 6 | 0 | $1,300 |
| 36 | Marvin Panch | 371.5 | 3 | 0 | $1,075 |
| 37 | Oda Greene | 366.5 | 6 | 0 | $825 |
| 38 | Jack Goodwin | 362.5 | 3 | 0 | $725 |
| 39 | Jack Smith | 360.5 | 7 | 0 | $1,275 |
| 40 | Robert Caswell | 350 | 3 | 0 | $1,325 |
| 41 | Lloyd Dane | 323.5 | 7 | 0 | $975 |
| 42 | Cotton Owens | 312.5 | 5 | 0 | $225 |
| 43 | Fred Steinbroner | 306.5 | 6 | 0 | $700 |
| 44 | Ewell Weddle | 293.5 | 7 | 0 | $435 |
| 45 | George Seeger | 278 | 9 | 0 | $910 |
| 46 | Sam Hawks | 262.5 | 3 | 0 | $650 |
| 47 | Don Bailey | 239.5 | 10 | 0 | $625 |
| 48 | Bud Farrell | 227.5 | 5 | 0 | $700 |
| 49 | Harvey Riley | 8 | 0 | $475 | |
| 50 | Fred Lee | 224 | 6 | 0 | $450 |
In a reversal of 1951's schedule, NASCAR had scheduled conflicting events on only one date: June 1. Four races were held on pavement (two each at Daytona and Darlington), the rest on dirt.
The 1952 Grand National schdule featured the first race outside the United States, held in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
The Fabulous Hudson Hornet dominated the season, with drivers Tim Flock, Marshall Teague, Dick Rathmann, Buck Baker, Buddy Shuman, Bob Flock, and Donald Thomas combining to win 27 of the 34 events in their Hornets.
1952 was also the beginning of contingency sponsorships by major automotive products companies; Champion Spark Plug and Pure Oil Co. (predecessor of Union 76/Unocal) were among the sponsors.
Schedule
| Track | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|
| West Palm Beach, Florida | Tim Flock | Hudson |
| Daytona Beach, Florida | Marshall Teague | Hudson |
| Jacksonville, Florida | Marshall Teague | Hudson |
| North Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| Martinsville, Virginia | Dick Rathmann | Hudson |
| Columbia, South Carolina | Buck Baker | Hudson |
| Atlanta, Georgia | Bill Blair | Oldsmobile |
| Macon, Georgia | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Dick Rathmann | Hudson |
| Darlington, South Carolina | Dick Rathmann | Hudson |
| Dayton, Ohio | Dick Rathmann | Hudson |
| Canfield, Ohio | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| Augusta, Georgia | Gober Sosebee | Chrysler |
| Toledo, Ohio | Tim Flock | Hudson |
| Hillsboro, North Carolina | Tim Flock | Hudson |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| Detroit, Michigan | Tim Flock | Hudson |
| Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada | Buddy Shuman | Hudson |
| Oswego, New York | Tim Flock | Hudson |
| Monroe, Michigan | Tim Flock | Hudson |
| Morristown, New Jersey | Lee Petty | Plymouth |
| South Bend, Indiana | Tim Flock | Hudson |
| Rochester, New York | Tim Flock | Hudson |
| Weaverville, North Carolina | Bob Flock | Hudson |
| Darlington, South Carolina | Fonty Flock | Oldsmobile |
| Macon, Georgia | Lee Petty | Plymouth |
| Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Lee Petty | Plymouth |
| Dayton, Ohio | Dick Rathmann | Hudson |
| Wilson, North Carolina | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| Hillsboro, North Carolina | Fonty Flock | Oldsmobile |
| Martinsville, Virginia | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| North Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| Atlanta, Georgia | Donald Thomas | Hudson |
| West Palm Beach, Florida | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
Standings (Top 50)
| Rank | Driver | Starts | Wins | Points | Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tim Flock | 33 | 8 | 6,858.5 | $22,890 |
| 2 | Herb Thomas | 32 | 8 | 6,752.5 | $18,965 |
| 3 | Lee Petty | 32 | 3 | 6,498.5 | $16,876 |
| 4 | Fonty Flock | 29 | 2 | 5,183.5 | $19,112 |
| 5 | Dick Rathmann | 27 | 5 | 3,952.5 | $11,248 |
| 6 | Bill Blair | 19 | 1 | 3,449 | $7,899 |
| 7 | Joe Eubanks | 19 | 0 | 3,090.5 | $3,630 |
| 8 | Ray Duhigg | 18 | 0 | 2,986.5 | $3,811 |
| 9 | Donald Thomas | 21 | 1 | 2,574 | $4,477 |
| 10 | Buddy Shuman | 15 | 1 | 2,483 | $4,587 |
| 11 | Ted Chamberlain | 18 | 0 | 2,208 | $1,277 |
| 12 | Buck Baker | 14 | 1 | 2,159 | $3,187 |
| 13 | Perk Brown | 19 | 0 | 2,151.5 | $2,187 |
| 14 | Jimmie Lewallen | 20 | 0 | 2,033 | $2,052 |
| 15 | Bub King | 10 | 0 | 1,993 | $2,737 |
| 16 | Herschel Buchanan | 0 | 1,868 | $2,468 | |
| 17 | Johnny Patterson | 5 | 0 | 1,708 | $3,618 |
| 18 | Jim Paschal | 15 | 0 | 1,694 | $1,483 |
| 19 | Neil Cole | 11 | 0 | 1,618 | $1,793 |
| 20 | Lloyd Moore | 8 | 0 | 1,513.5 | $2,193 |
| 21 | Gene Comstock | 8 | 0 | 1,339 | $785 |
| 22 | Banjo Matthews | 3 | 0 | 1,240 | $1,000 |
| 23 | Ralph Ligouri | 12 | 0 | 1,230 | $920 |
| 24 | Jack Reynolds | 10 | 0 | 1,177.5 | $1,450 |
| 25 | Dick Passwater | 6 | 0 | 1,148 | $945 |
| 26 | Bucky Sager | 10 | 0 | 1,119.5 | $710 |
| 27 | Frankie Schneider | 6 | 0 | 931 | $1,350 |
| 28 | Otis Martin | 5 | 0 | 873.5 | $275 |
| 29 | Coleman Lawrence | 8 | 0 | 846 | $375 |
| 30 | Ed Samples | 8 | 0 | 827 | $1,535 |
| 31 | Fred Dove | 0 | 780 | $390 | |
| 32 | Slick Smith | 5 | 0 | 746 | $725 |
| 33 | Iggy Katona | 5 | 0 | 742 | $525 |
| 34 | Jack Smith | 8 | 0 | 729 | $820 |
| 35 | Tommy Moon | 6 | 0 | 726 | $1,145 |
| 36 | Rollin Smith | 1 | 0 | 700 | $350 |
| 37 | Speedy Thompson | 2 | 0 | 656 | $305 |
| 38 | Jimmy Thompson | 0 | 650 | $300 | |
| 39 | Bud Farrell | 6 | 0 | 648 | $325 |
| 40 | Weldon Adams | 6 | 0 | 634 | $275 |
| 41 | Clyde Minter | 5 | 0 | 632 | $375 |
| 42 | Elton Hildreth | 6 | 0 | 614 | $375 |
| 43 | Dave Terrell | 5 | 0 | 612 | $475 |
| 44 | Tommy Thompson | 5 | 0 | 602.5 | $525 |
| 45 | Bob Moore | 5 | 0 | 579.5 | $575 |
| 46 | Jim Reed | 7 | 0 | 567 | $475 |
| 47 | E.C. Ramsey | 7 | 0 | 560 | $260 |
| 48 | Jimmy Florian | 6 | 0 | 551 | $175 |
| 49 | Ed Benedict | 5 | 0 | 526 | $360 |
| 50 | Curtis Turner | 7 | 0 | 505 | $265 |
It took until the 1953 season for a driver to run the full schedule, 37 races in the season. Conflicting race dates prevented any driver from doing so before. Herb Thomas ran the full schedule and won the championship.
In an early example of NASCAR attemtping to expand its market, the Grand National series visited such places as Nebraska, Louisiana, Iowa and South Dakota.
Hudson again delivered a dominant performance, winning 22 of the 37 races and Herb Thomas' championship.
NASCAR began requiring drivers to pre-register for races to earn points, in the process making themselves available for prerace publicity. Under the old rules points were awarded strictly on where the driver finished on race day, under the new rules drivers who did not pre-register did not earn points.
Schedule
| Track | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|
| West Palm Beach, Florida | Lee Petty | Dodge |
| Daytona Beach, Florida | Bill Blair | Oldsmobile |
| Spring Lake, North Carolina | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| North Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Dick Passwater | Oldsmobile |
| Richmond, Virginia | Lee Petty | Dodge |
| Macon, Georgia | Dick Rathmann | Hudson |
| Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Buck Baker | Oldsmobile |
| Columbia, South Carolina | Buck Baker | Oldsmobile |
| Hickory, North Carolina | Tim Flock | Hudson |
| Martinsville, Virginia | Lee Petty | Dodge |
| Columbus, Ohio | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| Raleigh, North Carolina | Fonty Flock | Hudson |
| Shreveport, Louisiana | Lee Petty | Dodge |
| Pensacola, Florida | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Dick Rathmann | Hudson |
| High Point, North Carolina | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| Wilson, North Carolina | Fonty Flock | Hudson |
| Rochester, New York | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| Spartanburg, South Carolina | Lee Petty | Dodge |
| Morrison, New Jersey | Dick Rathmann | Hudson |
| Atlanta, Georgia | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| Rapid City, South Dakota | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| N. Platte, Nebraska | Dick Rathmann | Hudson |
| Davenport, Iowa | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| Hillsboro, North Carolina | Curtis Turner | Oldsmobile |
| Weaverville, North Carolina | Fonty Flock | Hudson |
| Norfolk, Virginia | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| Hickory, North Carolina | Fonty Flock | Hudson |
| Darlington, South Carolina | Buck Baker | Oldsmobile |
| Macon, Georgia | Speedy Thompson | Oldsmobile |
| Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Dick Rathmann | Hudson |
| Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| Wilson, North Carolina | Herb Thomas | Hudson |
| North Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Speedy Thompson | Oldsmobile |
| Martinsville, Virginia | Jim Paschal | Dodge |
| Atlanta, Georgia | Buck Baker | Oldsmobile |
Standings (Top 50)
| Rank | Driver | Starts | Wins | Points | Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herb Thomas | 37 | 12 | 8,460 | $28,910 |
| 2 | Lee Petty | 36 | 5 | 7,814 | $18,447 |
| 3 | Dick Rathmann | 34 | 5 | 7,362 | $20,245 |
| 4 | Buck Baker | 33 | 4 | 6,713 | $18,167 |
| 5 | Fonty Flock | 33 | 4 | 6,174 | $17,756 |
| 6 | Tim Flock | 1 | 5,011 | $8,282 | |
| 7 | Jim Paschal | 24 | 1 | 4,211 | $5,571 |
| 8 | Joe Eubanks | 24 | 0 | 3,603 | $5,254 |
| 9 | Jimmie Lewallen | 22 | 0 | 3,508 | $4,222 |
| 10 | Curtis Turner | 19 | 1 | 3,373 | $4,347 |
| 11 | Speedy Thompson | 7 | 2 | 2,958 | $6,547 |
| 12 | Slick Smith | 23 | 0 | 2,670 | $2,302 |
| 13 | Elton Hildreth | 25 | 0 | 2,625 | $1,997 |
| 14 | Gober Sosebee | 17 | 0 | 2,525 | $2,722 |
| 15 | Bill Blair | 21 | 1 | 2,457 | $4,535 |
| 16 | Fred Dove | 0 | 1,997 | $1,240 | |
| 17 | Bub King | 14 | 0 | 1,624 | $1,036 |
| 18 | Gene Comstock | 13 | 0 | 1,519 | $990 |
| 19 | Donald Thomas | 17 | 0 | 1,408 | $1,765 |
| 20 | Ralph Ligouri | 12 | 0 | 1,336 | $1,098 |
| 21 | Pop Mcginnis | 13 | 0 | 1,113 | $975 |
| 22 | Otis Martin | 8 | 0 | 1,068 | $610 |
| 23 | Andy Winfree | 7 | 0 | 954 | $300 |
| 24 | Bob Welborn | 11 | 0 | 761 | $1,160 |
| 25 | Johnny Patterson | 11 | 0 | 753 | $645 |
| 26 | Ted Chamberlain | 9 | 0 | 738 | $500 |
| 27 | Neil Roberts | 2 | 0 | 738 | $400 |
| 28 | Buddy Shuman | 5 | 0 | 713 | $395 |
| 29 | Arden Mounts | 10 | 0 | 644 | $395 |
| 30 | Bobby Myers | 2 | 0 | 644 | $390 |
| 31 | Clyde Minter | 8 | 0 | 636 | $405 |
| 32 | George Osborne | 2 | 0 | 612 | $300 |
| 33 | Jim Reed | 3 | 0 | 590 | $635 |
| 34 | Gordon Bracken | 6 | 0 | 538 | $215 |
| 35 | Don Oldenberg | 4 | 0 | 527 | $375 |
| 36 | C.H. Dingler | 5 | 0 | 520 | $250 |
| 37 | Elbert Allen | 4 | 0 | 488 | $250 |
| 38 | Mike Magill | 3 | 0 | 486 | $235 |
| 39 | Lloyd Hulette | 1 | 0 | 486 | $250 |
| 40 | Bill Harrison | 3 | 0 | 480 | $450 |
| 41 | Tommy Thompson | 3 | 0 | 463 | $865 |
| 42 | Coleman Lawrence | 8 | 0 | 446 | $250 |
| 43 | Dub Livingston | 6 | 0 | 435 | $225 |
| 44 | Buck Smith | 5 | 0 | 400 | $175 |
| 45 | Jimmy Ayers | 4 | 0 | 384 | $150 |
| 46 | Bob Walden | 4 | 0 | 356 | $250 |
| 47 | Eddie Skinner | 4 | 0 | 352 | $200 |
| 48 | Bill Adams | 2 | 0 | 346 | $250 |
| 49 | Mel Krueger | 3 | 0 | 336 | $175 |
| 50 | Johnny Beauchamp | 3 | 0 | 328 | $150 |
1954 featured another Grand National first - a road course race. On June 13 the cars raced at the airport in Linden, New Jersey. Al Keller won in a Jaguar.
It was the last great season for Hudson, winning 17 of 37 events. Oldsmobile had a good year as well, winning 11 events. It was Chrysler, however, that would be the car of choice for champion Lee Petty.
Schedule
| Date | Track | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Palm Beach, Florida | Herb Thomas | Hudson | |
| Daytona Beach, Florida | Lee Petty | Chrysler | |
| Jacksonville, Florida | Herb Thomas | Hudson | |
| Atlanta, Georgia | Herb Thomas | Hudson | |
| Savannah, Georgia | Al Keller | Hudson | |
| Oakland, California | Dick Rathmann | Hudson | |
| North Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Dick Rathmann | Hudson | |
| Hillsboro, North Carolina | Herb Thomas | Hudson | |
| Macon, Georgia | Gober Sosebee | Oldsmobile | |
| Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Herb Thomas | Hudson | |
| Wilson, North Carolina | Buck Baker | Oldsmobile | |
| Martinsville, Virginia | Jim Paschal | Oldsmobile | |
| Sharon, Pennsylvania | Lee Petty | Chrysler | |
| Raleigh, North Carolina | Herb Thomas | Hudson | |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Buck Baker | Oldsmobile | |
| Gardena, California | John Soares | Dodge | |
| Columbia, South Carolina | Curtis Turner | Oldsmobile | |
| June 13 | Linden, New Jersey | Al Keller | Jaguar |
| Hickory, North Carolina | Herb Thomas | Hudson | |
| Rochester, New York | Lee Petty | Chrysler | |
| Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania | Herb Thomas | Hudson | |
| Spartanburg, South Carolina | Herb Thomas | Hudson | |
| Weaverville, North Carolina | Herb Thomas | Hudson | |
| Willow Springs, Illinois | Dick Rathmann | Hudson | |
| Grand Rapids, Michigan | Lee Petty | Chrysler | |
| Morristown, New Jersey | Buck Baker | Oldsmobile | |
| Oakland, California | Danny Letner | Hudson | |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Lee Petty | Chrysler | |
| San Mateo, California | Hershel McGriff | Oldsmobile | |
| Corbin, Kentucky | Lee Petty | Chrysler | |
| Darlington, South Carolina | Herb Thomas | Hudson | |
| Macon, Georgia | Hershel McGriff | Oldsmobile | |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Hershel McGriff | Oldsmobile | |
| Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Herb Thomas | Hudson | |
| LeHi, Arkansas | Buck Baker | Oldsmobile | |
| Martinsville, Virginia | Lee Petty | Chrysler | |
| North Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Hershel McGriff | Oldsmobile |
Standings (Top 50)
| Rank | Driver | Starts | Wins | Points | Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lee Petty | 34 | 7 | 8,649 | $21,127 |
| 2 | Herb Thomas | 34 | 12 | 8,366 | $30,975 |
| 3 | Buck Baker | 34 | 4 | 6,893 | $19,368 |
| 4 | Dick Rathmann | 32 | 3 | 6,760 | $16,264 |
| 5 | Joe Eubanks | 33 | 0 | 5,467 | $8,559 |
| 6 | Hershel McGriff | 24 | 4 | 5,137 | $13,250 |
| 7 | Jim Paschal | 27 | 1 | 3,903 | $5,451 |
| 8 | Jimmie Lewallen | 22 | 0 | 3,233 | $4,694 |
| 9 | Curtis Turner | 10 | 1 | 2,994 | $10,120 |
| 10 | Ralph Liguari | 23 | 0 | 2,905 | $3,495 |
| 11 | Blackie Pitt | 27 | 0 | 2,661 | $1,925 |
| 12 | Dave Terrell | 30 | 0 | 2,645 | $2,225 |
| 13 | Bill Blair | 19 | 0 | 2,362 | $2,650 |
| 14 | Laird Bruner | 24 | 0 | 2,243 | $2,080 |
| 15 | Gober Sosebee | 18 | 1 | 2,114 | $3,150 |
| 16 | John Soares | 9 | 1 | 2,072 | $3,262 |
| 17 | Marvin Panch | 10 | 0 | 1,925 | $4,747 |
| 18 | Eddie Skinner | 15 | 0 | 1,794 | $1,017 |
| 19 | Joel Million | 9 | 0 | 1,779 | $1,092 |
| 20 | Elton Hildreth | 14 | 0 | 1,710 | $1,152 |
| 21 | Arden Mounts | 12 | 0 | 1,705 | $875 |
| 22 | Fireball Roberts | 5 | 0 | 1,648 | $1,080 |
| 23 | Speedy Thompson | 7 | 0 | 1,480 | $1,165 |
| 24 | Johnny Patterson | 4 | 0 | 1,417 | $1,240 |
| 25 | Erick Erickson | 6 | 0 | 1,337 | $1,365 |
| 26 | Ray Duhigg | 12 | 0 | 1,245 | $1,375 |
| 27 | Slick Smith | 6 | 0 | 1,122 | $950 |
| 28 | Clyde Minter | 12 | 0 | 1,116 | $900 |
| 29 | Gwyn Staley | 2 | 0 | 1,088 | $670 |
| 30 | Lloyd Dane | 4 | 0 | 984 | $1,600 |
| 31 | Donald Thomas | 9 | 0 | 980 | $1,675 |
| 32 | Ted Chamberlain | 10 | 0 | 920 | $475 |
| 33 | Danny Letner | 4 | 1 | 915 | $1,975 |
| 34 | Elmo Langley | 2 | 0 | 864 | $450 |
| 35 | Tim Flock | 5 | 0 | 860 | $1,050 |
| 36 | Fred Dove | 0 | 832 | $525 | |
| 37 | Bill Widenhouse | 6 | 0 | 805 | $425 |
| 38 | Gene Comstock | 1 | 0 | 780 | $400 |
| 39 | Walt Flinchum | 8 | 0 | 756 | $425 |
| 40 | Charlie Cregar | 5 | 0 | 716 | $405 |
| 41 | Bill Amick | 6 | 0 | 700 | $250 |
| 42 | Harvey Eakin | 7 | 0 | 698 | $425 |
| 43 | Lou Figaro | 3 | 0 | 690 | $425 |
| 44 | Ken Fisher | 5 | 0 | 668 | $400 |
| 45 | Jim Reed | 9 | 0 | 631 | $965 |
| 46 | Russ Hepler | 6 | 0 | 624 | $525 |
| 47 | Allen Adkins | 2 | 0 | 624 | $1,150 |
| 48 | Van Van Wey | 3 | 0 | 602 | $495 |
| 49 | Tony Nelson | 3 | 0 | 568 | $325 |
| 50 | John Dodd, Jr. | 1 | 0 | 552 | $150 |
Factory backing of race teams began, as General Motors and Ford took steps to begin the backing of teams. Chrysler did nothing to back drivers of their cars, yet their cars won 27 of the 45 events (60%). Hudson won its last Grand National race in the spring.
Schedule
| Date | Track | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Point, North Carolina | Lee Petty | Chrysler | |
| West Palm Beach, Florida | Herb Thomas | Hudson | |
| Jacksonville, Florida | Lee Petty | Chrysler | |
| Daytona Beach, Florida | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| Savannah, Georgia | Lee Petty | Chrysler | |
| Columbia, South Carolina | Fonty Flock | Chevrolet | |
| Hillsboro, North Carolina | Jim Paschal | Oldsmobile | |
| North Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Buck Baker | Oldsmobile | |
| Montgomery, Alabama | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Buck Baker | Buick | |
| Hickory, North Carolina | Junior Johnson | Oldsmobile | |
| Phoenix, Arizona | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| Tucson, Arizona | Danny Letner | Oldsmobile | |
| Martinsville, Virginia | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| Richmond, Virginia | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| Raleigh, North Carolina | Junior Johnson | Oldsmobile | |
| Winston Salem, North Carolina | Lee Petty | Chrysler | |
| New Oxford, Pennsylvania | Junior Johnson | Oldsmobile | |
| Rochester, New York | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| Fonda, New York | Junior Johnson | Oldsmobile | |
| Plattsburg, New York | Lee Petty | Chrysler | |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| Spartanburg, South Carolina | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| Columbia, South Carolina | Jim Paschal | Oldsmobile | |
| Weaverville, North Carolina | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| Morristown, New Jersey | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| Altamont, New York | Junior Johnson | Oldsmobile | |
| Syracuse, New York | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| San Mateo, California | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Jim Paschal | Oldsmobile | |
| Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Lee Petty | Dodge | |
| LeHi, Arkansas | Fonty Flock | Chrysler | |
| Raleigh, North Carolina | Herb Thomas | Buick | |
| Darlington, South Carolina | Herb Thomas | Chevrolet | |
| Montgomery, Alabama | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| Raleigh, North Carolina | Fonty Flock | Chrysler | |
| Greenville, South Carolina | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| LeHi, Arkansas | Speedy Thompson | Ford | |
| Columbia, South Carolina | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| Martinsville, Virginia | Speedy Thompson | Chrysler | |
| Las Vegas, Nevada | Norm Nelson | Chrysler | |
| North Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Buck Baker | Ford | |
| Hillsboro, North Carolina | Tim Flock | Chrysler |
Standings (Top 50)
| Rank | Driver | Starts | Wins | Points | Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tim Flock | 18 | 5 | 9,596 | $37,780 |
| 2 | Buck Baker | 32 | 3 | 8,088 | $19,771 |
| 3 | Lee Petty | 42 | 6 | 7,194 | $18,920 |
| 4 | Bob Welborn | 32 | 0 | 5,460 | $10,147 |
| 5 | Herb Thomas | 23 | 3 | 5,186 | $18,024 |
| 6 | Junior Johnson | 36 | 5 | 4,810 | $13,803 |
| 7 | Eddie Skinner | 38 | 0 | 4,652 | $4,737 |
| 8 | Jim Paschal | 36 | 5 | 4,572 | $10,586 |
| 9 | Jimmie Lewallen | 33 | 0 | 4,526 | $6,440 |
| 10 | Gwyn Staley | 24 | 0 | 4,360 | $6,547 |
| 11 | Fonty Flock | 31 | 3 | 4,266 | $13,100 |
| 12 | Dave Terrell | 25 | 0 | 3,170 | $3,655 |
| 13 | Jimmy Massey | 11 | 0 | 2,924 | $3,510 |
| 14 | Marvin Panch | 10 | 0 | 2,812 | $4,385 |
| 15 | Speedy Thompson | 15 | 2 | 2,452 | $7,090 |
| 16 | Jim Reed | 14 | 0 | 2,416 | $2,703 |
| 17 | Gene Simpson | 22 | 0 | 2,388 | $2,158 |
| 18 | Dick Rathmann | 20 | 0 | 2,298 | $4,368 |
| 19 | Ralph Ligouri | 12 | 0 | 2,124 | $1,973 |
| 20 | Joe Eubanks | 14 | 0 | 2,028 | $2,008 |
| 21 | Blackie Pitt | 20 | 0 | 1,992 | $1,785 |
| 22 | Harvey Henderson | 17 | 0 | 1,930 | $1,810 |
| 23 | Banks Simpson | 7 | 0 | 1,852 | $870 |
| 24 | Dink Widenhouse | 0 | 1,752 | $1,660 | |
| 25 | John Dodd, Jr. | 13 | 0 | 1,496 | $1,695 |
| 26 | Bill Widenhouse | 5 | 0 | 1,444 | $1,065 |
| 27 | Lou Spears | 3 | 0 | 1,272 | $810 |
| 28 | Larry Flynn | 1 | 0 | 1,260 | $1,175 |
| 29 | Cotton Owens | 2 | 0 | 1,248 | $900 |
| 30 | Gordon Smith | 15 | 0 | 1,212 | $975 |
| 31 | Billy Carden | 13 | 0 | 1,172 | $1,340 |
| 32 | Arden Mounts | 12 | 0 | 1,170 | $1,025 |
| 33 | Joel Milton | 8 | 0 | 1,136 | $1,685 |
| 34 | Curtis Turner | 9 | 0 | 1,120 | $2,605 |
| 35 | John Lindsay | 6 | 0 | 1,052 | $575 |
| 36 | Nace Mattingly | 3 | 0 | 992 | $700 |
| 37 | Bill Blair | 12 | 0 | 974 | $440 |
| 38 | Donald Thomas | 10 | 0 | 932 | $1,240 |
| 39 | Ed Cole, Jr. | 13 | 0 | 924 | $645 |
| 40 | Mack Hanbury | 8 | 0 | 900 | $575 |
| 41 | Danny Letter | 4 | 0 | 892 | $1,780 |
| 42 | George Parrish | 12 | 0 | 880 | $750 |
| 43 | Banjo Matthews | 3 | 0 | 860 | $745 |
| 44 | Carl Krueger | 7 | 0 | 748 | $585 |
| 45 | Ted Cannady | 9 | 0 | 744 | $450 |
| 46 | Allen Adkins | 4 | 0 | 740 | $1,160 |
| 47 | Joe Weatherly | 6 | 0 | 724 | $2,575 |
| 48 | John McVitty | 7 | 0 | 684 | $550 |
| 49 | Lloyd Dane | 5 | 0 | 674 | $780 |
| 50 | Fred Dove | 0 | 668 | $750 |
Buck Baker completed his ascent to the Grand National championship that began with a 4th place finish in 1953, followed by a 3rd place in 1954, then 2nd in 1955.
Baker's championship run was as a part of Carl Kiekhaefer's powerful team. Buck Baker joined the team for the 1956 season, driving with teammates Tim Flock and Speedy Thompson. However, Tim Flock quit the Kiekhaefer team in April to drive a Mercury for Bill Stroppe. Herb Thomas was his replacement, but he then quit the team in July to drive for himself. In whichever form it was in, this team dominanted, combining to win 21 of the first 25 races, including a stretch of 16 straight wins, and a total of 30 races on the 56 race schedule.
Late in the season, former Kiekhaefer driver Herb Thomas was leading the championship points by 246 with four races to go. The Grand National series headed into the race in Shelby, North Carolina, a date that was on the schedule because Carl Kiekhaefer convinced NASCAR to add it. During the race, Herb Thomas was injured in an incident with Kiekhaefer driver Speedy Thompson, ending Thomas' season. He finished third in points, and Buck Baker won the championship. Speedy Thompson, finished second.
Carl Kiekhaefer and his team were criticized because to some the incident looked intentionally created to give Buck Baker a better chance at the championship. The controvery led Carl Kiekhaefer to leave NASCAR.
The Kiekhaefer team's domanance, in addition to 2 wins by Lee Petty and 1 by Royce Haggerty gave the Chrysler/Dodge combination a total of 33 wins on the 56 race schedule (58%).
Schedule
| Date | Track | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, North Carolina | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Fonty Flock | Chrysler | |
| Lancaster, California | Chuck Stevenson | Ford | |
| West Palm Beach, Florida | Herb Thomas | Chevrolet | |
| Phoenix, Arizona | Buck Baker | Chrysler | |
| Daytona Beach, Florida | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| West Palm Beach, Florida | Billy Myers | Mercury | |
| Wilson, North Carolina | Herb Thomas | Chevrolet | |
| Atlanta, Georgia | Buck Baker | Chrysler | |
| North Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Tim Flock | Chrysler | |
| Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Buck Baker | Chrysler | |
| Richmond, Virginia | Buck Baker | Dodge | |
| Columbia, South Carolina | Speedy Thompson | Dodge | |
| Concord, North Carolina | Speedy Thompson | Chrysler | |
| Greenville, South Carolina | Buck Baker | Dodge | |
| Hickory, North Carolina | Speedy Thompson | Chrysler | |
| Hillsboro, North Carolina | Buck Baker | Chrysler | |
| Martinsville, Virginia | Buck Baker | Dodge | |
| Abbottstown, Pennsylvania | Buck Baker | Dodge | |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Speedy Thompson | Chrysler | |
| Portland, Oregon | Herb Thomas | Chrysler | |
| Eureka, California | Herb Thomas | Chrysler | |
| Syracuse, New York | Buck Baker | Chrysler | |
| Merced, California | Herb Thomas | Chrysler | |
| LeHi, Arkansas | Ralph Moody | Ford | |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Speedy Thompson | Chrysler | |
| Rochester, New York | Speedy Thompson | Chrysler | |
| Portland, Oregon | John Kieper | Oldsmobile | |
| Weaverville, North Carolina | Lee Petty | Dodge | |
| Raleigh, North Carolina | Fireball Roberts | Ford | |
| Spartanburg, South Carolina | Lee Petty | Dodge | |
| Sacramento, California | Lloyd Dane | Mercury | |
| Chicago, Illinois | Fireball Roberts | Ford | |
| Shelby, North Carolina | Speedy Thompson | Dodge | |
| Montgomery, Alabama | Marvin Panch | Ford | |
| Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Jim Paschal | Mercury | |
| Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin | Tim Flock | Mercury | |
| Old Bridge, New Jersey | Ralph Moody | Ford | |
| San Mateo, California | Eddie Pagan | Ford | |
| Norfolk, Virginia | Billy Myers | Mercury | |
| Spartanburg, South Carolina | Ralph Moody | Ford | |
| Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | Fireball Roberts | Ford | |
| Portland, Oregon | Royce Haggerty | Dodge | |
| Darlington, South Carolina | Curtis Turner | Ford | |
| Montgomery, Alabama | Buck Baker | Chrysler | |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Ralph Moody | Ford | |
| Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Paul Goldsmith | Chevrolet | |
| Portland, Oregon | Lloyd Dane | Ford | |
| Columbia, South Carolina | Buck Baker | Dodge | |
| Hillsboro, North Carolina | Fireball Roberts | Ford | |
| Newport, Tennessee | Fireball Roberts | Ford | |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Buck Baker | Chrysler | |
| Shelby, North Carolina | Buck Baker | Chrysler | |
| Martinsville, Virginia | Jack Smith | Dodge | |
| Hickory, North Carolina | Speedy Thompson | Chrysler | |
| Wilson, North Carolina | Buck Baker | Chrysler |
Standings (Top 50)
| Rank | Driver | Starts | Wins | Points | Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buck Baker | 48 | 14 | 9,252 | $34,077 |
| 2 | Speedy Thompson | 42 | 8 | 8,788 | $27,169 |
| 3 | Herb Thomas | 48 | 5 | 8,710 | $19,352 |
| 4 | Lee Petty | 47 | 2 | 8,324 | $15,338 |
| 5 | Jim Paschal | 42 | 1 | 7,878 | $17,204 |
| 6 | Billy Myers | 42 | 2 | 6,976 | $15,830 |
| 7 | Fireball Roberts | 33 | 5 | 5,794 | $14,742 |
| 8 | Ralph Moody | 35 | 4 | 5,528 | $15,493 |
| 9 | Tim Flock | 4 | 1 | 5,062 | $15,769 |
| 10 | Marvin Panch | 20 | 1 | 4,680 | $11,520 |
| 11 | Rex White | 24 | 0 | 4,642 | $5,334 |
| 12 | Johnny Allen | 32 | 0 | 4,024 | $4,559 |
| 13 | Paul Goldsmith | 9 | 1 | 3,788 | $8,569 |
| 14 | Gwyn Staley | 22 | 0 | 3,550 | $5,159 |
| 15 | Joe Eubanks | 26 | 0 | 3,284 | $5,584 |
| 16 | Joe Weatherly | 17 | 0 | 3,084 | $5,251 |
| 17 | Bill Amick | 13 | 0 | 3,048 | $5,381 |
| 18 | Jim Reed | 11 | 0 | 2,890 | $5,077 |
| 19 | Tiny Lund | 0 | 2,754 | $2,811 | |
| 20 | Curtis Turner | 13 | 1 | 2,580 | $14,541 |
| 21 | Jack Smith | 15 | 1 | 2,320 | $3,825 |
| 22 | Billy Carden | 23 | 0 | 2,108 | $2,175 |
| 23 | Lloyd Dane | 10 | 2 | 2,106 | $4,370 |
| 24 | Frank Mundy | 9 | 0 | 1,836 | $3,585 |
| 25 | Bobby Johns | 9 | 0 | 1,832 | $1,450 |
| 26 | Blackie Pitt | 27 | 0 | 1,760 | $1,545 |
| 27 | Harold Hardesty | 9 | 0 | 1,724 | $2,380 |
| 28 | Al Watkins | 14 | 0 | 1,710 | $1,185 |
| 29 | Chuck Meekins | 7 | 0 | 1,656 | $2,815 |
| 30 | Harvey Henderson | 18 | 0 | 1,634 | $1,310 |
| 31 | Bill Champion | 14 | 0 | 1,632 | $1,570 |
| 32 | Eddie Pagan | 8 | 1 | 1,598 | $4,095 |
| 33 | Pat Kirkwood | 3 | 0 | 1,540 | $2,025 |
| 34 | Clyde Palmer | 11 | 0 | 1,516 | $2,755 |
| 35 | John Kieper | 8 | 1 | 1,506 | $3,250 |
| 36 | Johnny Dodson | 11 | 0 | 1,488 | $1,450 |
| 37 | Bill Blair | 9 | 0 | 1,284 | $1,005 |
| 38 | Junior Johnson | 13 | 0 | 1,272 | $1,350 |
| 39 | Ed Cole | 12 | 0 | 1,200 | $950 |
| 40 | Brownie King | 15 | 0 | 1,140 | $925 |
| 41 | Scotty Cain | 4 | 0 | 1,124 | $1,235 |
| 42 | Allen Adkins | 6 | 0 | 1,104 | $1,465 |
| 43 | Bobby Keck | 15 | 0 | 1,076 | $950 |
| 44 | Gordon Haines | 7 | 0 | 1,066 | $1,500 |
| 45 | Bob Keefe | 7 | 0 | 1,066 | $1,040 |
| 46 | Dick Beaty | 15 | 0 | 1,036 | $910 |
| 47 | Jim Blomgren | 6 | 0 | 992 | $475 |
| 48 | Ed Negre | 5 | 0 | 952 | $1,255 |
| 49 | Jimmy Massey | 7 | 0 | 950 | $1,545 |
| 50 | Fonty Flock | 7 | 1 | 946 | $1,780 |
Buck Baker won the championship for the second consecutive year, this time without the controversy of Shelby, North Carolina. He drove his own Chevrolets.
NASCAR's conversion from dirt track racing to paved track racing continued, with 14 paved races on the schedule in 1957. Many of those new paved-track races were not due to new venues, but to older venues paving their dirt tracks. Martinsville, North Wilkesboro and Weaverville paved their tracks. Other paved tracks on the schedule, however, included road courses at Willow Springs and Titusville, and Grand National's first trip to the road course at Watkins Glen, New York. Also on the schedule was a 1-mile oval at Ralegh, North Carolina.
On whatever surface they were racing on, chances are it was in the Carolinas. North and South Carolina combined to host 28 of the 53 races (52%).
Safety became an issue for NASCAR in 1957. At the fall race in North Wilkesboro, a wheel was thrown from Tiny Lund's car, killing a spectator. This was after a car left the track and landed in the stands at Martinsville, injuring five persons (one a small boy).
The Martinsville incident, in combination with an early 1957 decision by the Automobile Manufacturers Association that member manufacturers should distance themselves from motorsports, are credited with General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler ending their support of NASCAR teams.
Ford dominated the early part of the season, winning 17 of the first 23 events, totaling 26 wins in the season's 53 events. General Motors finished the season strong, winning just 4 of the first 16 races but 17 of the last 22 for a total of 27 of the season's 53 races.
After Chrysler's 1956 dominance (winning 58% of the races), in 1957 Chrysler brands did not win a single Grand National event. Top Grand National drivers, some of them former Carl Kiekhaefer team drivers, switched from Chryslers and Dodges to other makes. 1956 Chrysler/Dodge winners Buck Baker, Jack Smith, and Speedy Thompson drove Chevrolets in 1957, and Lee Petty switched to Oldsmobile.
Schedule
| Date | Track | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Marvin Panch | Ford | |
| Concord, North Carolina | Marvin Panch | Ford | |
| Titusville, Florida | Fireball Roberts | Ford | |
| Daytona Beach, Florida | Cotton Owens | Pontiac | |
| Concord, North Carolina | Jack Smith | Chevrolet | |
| Wilson, North Carolina | Ralph Moody | Ford | |
| Hillsboro, North Carolina | Buck Baker | Chevrolet | |
| Weaverville, North Carolina | Buck Baker | Chevrolet | |
| North Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Fireball Roberts | Ford | |
| Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Fireball Roberts | Ford | |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Fireball Roberts | Ford | |
| Spartanburg, South Carolina | Marvin Panch | Ford | |
| Greensboro, North Carolina | Paul Goldsmith | Ford | |
| Portland, Oregon | Art Watts | Ford | |
| Shelby, North Carolina | Fireball Roberts | Ford | |
| Richmond, Virginia | Paul Goldsmith | Ford | |
| Martinsville, Virginia | Buck Baker | Chevrolet | |
| Portland, Oregon | Eddie Pagan | Ford | |
| Eureka, California | Lloyd Dane | Ford | |
| New Oxford, Pennsylvania | Buck Baker | Chevrolet | |
| Lancaster, South Carolina | Paul Goldsmith | Ford | |
| Los Angeles, California | Eddie Pagan | Ford | |
| Newport, Tennessee | Fireball Roberts | Ford | |
| Columbia, South Carolina | Jack Smith | Chevrolet | |
| Sacramento, California | Bill Amick | Ford | |
| Spartanburg, South Carolina | Lee Petty | Oldsmobile | |
| Jacksonville, North Carolina | Buck Baker | Chevrolet | |
| Raleigh, North Carolina | Paul Goldsmith | Ford | |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Marvin Panch | Ford | |
| LeHi, Arkansas | Marvin Panch | Pontiac | |
| Portland, Oregon | Eddie Pagan | Ford | |
| Hickory, North Carolina | Jack Smith | Chevrolet | |
| Norfolk, Virginia | Buck Baker | Chevrolet | |
| Lancaster, South Carolina | Speedy Thompson | Chevrolet | |
| Watkins Glen, New York | Buck Baker | Chevrolet | |
| Bremerton, Washington | Parnelli Jones | Ford | |
| New Oxford, Pennsylvania | Marvin Panch | Ford | |
| Old Bridge, New Jersey | Lee Petty | Oldsmobile | |
| Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | Gwyn Staley | Chevrolet | |
| Darlington, South Carolina | Speedy Thompson | Chevrolet | |
| Syracuse, New York | Gwyn Staley | Chevrolet | |
| Weaverville, North Carolina | Lee Petty | Oldsmobile | |
| Sacramento, California | Danny Graves | Chevrolet | |
| San Jose, California | Marvin Porter | Ford | |
| Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Gwyn Staley | Chevrolet | |
| Columbia, South Carolina | Buck Baker | Chevrolet | |
| Shelby, North Carolina | Buck Baker | Chevrolet | |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Lee Petty | Oldsmobile | |
| Martinsville, Virginia | Bob Welborn | Chevrolet | |
| Newberry, South Carolina | Fireball Roberts | Ford | |
| Concord, North Carolina | Fireball Roberts | Ford | |
| North Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Jack Smith | Chevrolet | |
| Greensboro, North Carolina | Buck Baker | Chevrolet |
Standings (Top 50)
| Rank | Driver | Starts | Wins | Points | Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buck Baker | 40 | 10 | 10,716 | $30,764 |
| 2 | Marvin Panch | 42 | 6 | 9,956 | $24,307 |
| 3 | Speedy Thompson | 38 | 2 | 8,560 | $26,841 |
| 4 | Lee Petty | 41 | 4 | 8,528 | $18,326 |
| 5 | Jack Smith | 39 | 4 | 8,464 | $14,562 |
| 6 | Fireball Roberts | 42 | 8 | 8,268 | $19,829 |
| 7 | Johnny Allen | 42 | 0 | 7,068 | $9,815 |
| 8 | L.D. Austin | 40 | 0 | 6,532 | $6,485 |
| 9 | Brownie King | 36 | 0 | 5,740 | $5,589 |
| 10 | Jim Paschal | 35 | 0 | 5,124 | $7,079 |
| 11 | Tiny Lund | 32 | 0 | 4,848 | $6,424 |
| 12 | Billy Myers | 28 | 0 | 4,640 | $6,566 |
| 13 | Paul Goldsmith | 25 | 4 | 4,188 | $12,734 |
| 14 | Cotton Owens | 17 | 1 | 4,032 | $12,784 |
| 15 | Eddie Pagan | 15 | 3 | 3,612 | $7,274 |
| 16 | Bill Amick | 21 | 1 | 3,512 | $8,073 |
| 17 | Dick Beaty | 20 | 0 | 3,220 | $3,648 |
| 18 | Jim Reed | 6 | 0 | 2,836 | $3,408 |
| 19 | Clarence DeZalia | 25 | 0 | 2,828 | $3,308 |
| 20 | Frankie Schneider | 10 | 0 | 2,516 | $4,588 |
| 21 | Rex White | 9 | 0 | 2,508 | $3,870 |
| 22 | Curtis Turner | 10 | 0 | 2,356 | $4,830 |
| 23 | George Green | 17 | 0 | 2,216 | $2,240 |
| 24 | Whitey Norman | 13 | 0 | 1,920 | $3,390 |
| 25 | Lloyd Dane | 10 | 1 | 1,852 | $4,985 |
| 26 | Jimmie Lewallen | 7 | 0 | 1,796 | $1,030 |
| 27 | Johnny Mackinson | 5 | 0 | 1,764 | $1,330 |
| 28 | Bobby Keck | 16 | 0 | 1,740 | $1,525 |
| 29 | Billy Carden | 3 | 0 | 1,600 | $1,675 |
| 30 | Bill Benson | 11 | 0 | 1,592 | $1,090 |
| 31 | Dick Getty | 10 | 0 | 1,504 | $1,890 |
| 32 | Scotty Cain | 11 | 0 | 1,492 | $1,165 |
| 33 | Roy Tyner | 10 | 0 | 1,468 | $1,020 |
| 34 | T.A. Toomes | 11 | 0 | 1,404 | $1,450 |
| 35 | Possum Jones | 6 | 0 | 1,360 | $2,375 |
| 36 | Huck Spaulding | 8 | 0 | 1,240 | $1,120 |
| 37 | Ralph Earnhardt | 9 | 0 | 1,180 | $1,150 |
| 38 | George Seeger | 6 | 0 | 1,108 | $2,740 |
| 39 | Ken Rush | 16 | 0 | 1,104 | $2,045 |
| 40 | Peck Peckham | 10 | 0 | 1,064 | $950 |
| 41 | Bill Champion | 10 | 0 | 956 | $1,125 |
| 42 | Chuck Hansen | 7 | 0 | 900 | $510 |
| 43 | Danny Graves | 7 | 1 | 880 | $1,895 |
| 44 | Marvin Porter | 6 | 1 | 872 | $1,770 |
| 45 | Eddie Skinner | 4 | 0 | 848 | $605 |
| 46 | Jimmy Thompson | 2 | 0 | 816 | $325 |
| 47 | Parnelli Jones | 10 | 1 | 812 | $1,625 |
| 48 | Bobby Johns | 1 | 0 | 800 | $225 |
| 49 | Don Porter | 6 | 0 | 784 | $810 |
| 50 | Joe Weatherly | 14 | 0 | 776 | $5,240 |
1958 was a big year for the Petty family. Not only did Lee Petty win the championship, but his son, Richard, made his Grand National debut at Exposition Speedway in Toronto. His finish of 17th of 19 cars, after a crash, likely left few in attendance predicting that the 21-year old would win 200 races, 7 championships and retire with the most wins in NASCAR's highest series, regardless of its name.
The 1958 championship showed the importance of running as much of the schedule as possible. Lee Petty ran 50 races, while runner up Buck Baker ran just 44. Over his 50 starts, Petty averaged 244.64 points per race, while Baker averaged over 263. Had Buck Baker held that average over 50 races, he would have won the championship with 13,168 points to Lee Petty's 12,232. Other drivers with higher points per race average include Fireball Roberts (442 ppr 10 races), Parnelli Jones (380 ppr in 3 races), Herb Estes (368 ppr in 11 races), Marvin Panch (311 ppr in 11 races), Rex White (297 ppr ni 22 races), and Jim Reed (280 ppr in 17 races).
Schedule
| Date | Track | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, North Carolina | Rex White | Chevrolet | |
| Daytona Beach, Florida | Paul Goldsmith | Pontiac | |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Lee Petty | Oldsmobile | |
| Fayetteville, North Carolina | Curtis Turner | Ford | |
| Wilson, North Carolina | Lee Petty | Oldsmobile | |
| Hillsborough, North Carolina | Buck Baker | Chevrolet | |
| Fayetteville, North Carolina | Bob Welborn | Chevrolet | |
| Columbia, South Carolina | Speedy Thompson | Chevrolet | |
| Spartanburg, South Carolina | Speedy Thompson | Chevrolet | |
| Atlanta, Georgia | Curtis Turner | Ford | |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Curtis Turner | Ford | |
| Martinsville, Virginia | Bob Welborn | Chevrolet | |
| Manassas, Virginia | Frankie Schneider | Chevrolet | |
| Old Bridge, New Jersey | Jim Reed | Ford | |
| Greenville, South Carolina | Jack Smith | Chevrolet | |
| Greensboro, North Carolina | Bob Welborn | Chevrolet | |
| Roanoke, Virginia | Jim Reed | Ford | |
| North Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Junior Johnson | Ford | |
| Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Bob Welborn | Chevrolet | |
| Trenton, New Jersey | Fireball Roberts | Chevrolet | |
| Riverside, California | Eddie Gray | Ford | |
| Columbia, South Carolina | Junior Johnson | Ford | |
| Bradford, Pennsylvania | Junior Johnson | Ford | |
| Reading, Pennsylvania | Junior Johnson | Ford | |
| New Oxford, Pennsylvania | Lee Petty | Oldsmobile | |
| Hickory, North Carolina | Lee Petty | Oldsmobile | |
| Weaverville, North Carolina | Rex White | Chevrolet | |
| Raleigh, North Carolina | Fireball Roberts | Chevrolet | |
| Asheville, North Carolina | Jim Paschal | Chevrolet | |
| Busti, New York | Shorty Rollins | Ford | |
| Exposition Speedway | Lee Petty | Oldsmobile | |
| Buffalo, New York | Jim Reed | Ford | |
| Rochester, New York | Cotton Owens | Pontiac | |
| Belmar, New Jersey | Jim Reed | Chevrolet | |
| Bridgehampton, New York | Jack Smith | Chevrolet | |
| Columbia, South Carolina | Speedy Thompson | Chevrolet | |
| Nashville, Tennessee | Joe Weatherly | Ford | |
| Weaverville, North Carolina | Fireball Roberts | Chevrolet | |
| Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Lee Petty | Oldsmobile | |
| Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | Bob Welborn | Chevrolet | |
| Darlington, South Carolina | Fireball Roberts | Chevrolet | |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Buck Baker | Chevrolet | |
| Birmingham, Alabama | Fireball Roberts | Chevrolet | |
| Sacramento, California | Parnelli Jones | Ford | |
| Gastonia, North Carolina | Buck Baker | Chevrolet | |
| Richmond, Virginia | Speedy Thompson | Chevrolet | |
| Hillsborough, North Carolina | Joe Eubanks | Pontiac | |
| Salisbury, North Carolina | Lee Petty | Oldsmobile | |
| Martinsville, Virginia | Fireball Roberts | Chevrolet | |
| North Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Junior Johnson | Ford | |
| Atlanta, Georgia | Junior Johnson | Ford |
Standings (Top 50)
| Rank | Driver | Starts | Wins | Points | Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lee Petty | 50 | 7 | 12,232 | $26,585 |
| 2 | Buck Baker | 44 | 3 | 11,588 | $25,841 |
| 3 | Speedy Thompson | 37 | 4 | 8,792 | $17,295 |
| 4 | Shorty Rollins | 29 | 1 | 8,124 | $13,399 |
| 5 | Jack Smith | 39 | 2 | 7,666 | $12,634 |
| 6 | L.D. Austin | 46 | 0 | 6,972 | $6,246 |
| 7 | Rex White | 22 | 2 | 6,552 | $12,233 |
| 8 | Junior Johnson | 27 | 6 | 6,380 | $13,809 |
| 9 | Eddie Pagan | 27 | 0 | 4,910 | $7,472 |
| 10 | Jim Reed | 17 | 4 | 4,762 | $9,644 |
| 11 | Fireball Roberts | 10 | 6 | 4,420 | $32,219 |
| 12 | Bobby Keck | 30 | 0 | 4,240 | $3,459 |
| 13 | Herman Beam | 20 | 0 | 4,224 | $2,599 |
| 14 | Herb Estes | 11 | 0 | 4,048 | $2,509 |
| 15 | Clarence DeZalia | 27 | 0 | 3,948 | $3,004 |
| 16 | Doug Cox | 14 | 0 | 3,736 | $3,404 |
| 17 | Cotton Owens | 29 | 1 | 3,716 | $6,579 |
| 18 | Marvin Panch | 11 | 0 | 3,424 | $4,114 |
| 19 | Billy Rafter | 19 | 0 | 2,916 | $2,799 |
| 20 | Curtis Turner | 17 | 3 | 2,856 | $10,029 |
| 21 | Lloyd Dane | 5 | 0 | 2,844 | $2,490 |
| 22 | Bob Duell | 7 | 0 | 2,740 | $2,415 |
| 23 | Jimmy Thompson | 8 | 0 | 2,540 | $3,275 |
| 24 | Fred Harb | 25 | 0 | 2,484 | $3,320 |
| 25 | Tiny Lund | 22 | 0 | 2,436 | $3,155 |
| 26 | Bill Poor | 24 | 0 | 2,292 | $3,115 |
| 27 | Gene White | 9 | 0 | 2,040 | $1,400 |
| 28 | Joe Weatherly | 15 | 1 | 2,032 | $6,330 |
| 29 | Johnny Mackison | 11 | 0 | 1,680 | $1,255 |
| 30 | Jim Parsley | 10 | 0 | 1,488 | $1,135 |
| 31 | Al White | 9 | 0 | 1,464 | $920 |
| 32 | Jimmy Massey | 9 | 0 | 1,300 | $1,625 |
| 33 | Parnelli Jones | 3 | 1 | 1,140 | $1,010 |
| 34 | Joe Eubanks | 7 | 1 | 1,120 | $2,070 |
| 35 | Brownie King | 24 | 0 | 1,116 | $3,045 |
| 36 | G.C. Spencer | 1 | 0 | 1,040 | $315 |
| 37 | Richard Petty | 9 | 0 | 1,016 | $760 |
| 38 | Bill Carden | 13 | 0 | 1,012 | $815 |
| 39 | Elmo Langley | 9 | 0 | 980 | $1,090 |
| 40 | Buzz Woodward | 9 | 0 | 964 | $1,195 |
| 41 | Possum Jones | 11 | 0 | 960 | $1,790 |
| 42 | Jim Paschal | 6 | 1 | 928 | $1,670 |
| 43 | Chuck Hansen | 7 | 0 | 916 | $580 |
| 44 | Eddie Gray | 3 | 1 | 910 | $3,375 |
| 45 | Peck Peckham | 11 | 0 | 868 | $835 |
| 46 | Lennie Page | 8 | 0 | 836 | $760 |
| 47 | Bob Keefe | 2 | 0 | 782 | $925 |
| 48 | R.L. Combs | 9 | 0 | 760 | $805 |
| 49 | Volney Schultze | 7 | 0 | 680 | $490 |
| 50 | Dean Layfield | 7 | 0 | 664 | $370 |
The big story of 1959 was the opening of the Daytona International Speedway and along with the track the inaugural running of its (and NASCAR's) most famous race: the Daytona 500.
Along with the beginning of the Daytona 500, Richard Petty's career got rolling. He didn't win a race, but he did take Rookie of the Year honors. Buddy Baker's debut and Ned Jarrett's first win round out the year of new beginnings at the end of NASCAR's first decade of Grand National racing.
Schedule
| Track | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, North Carolina | Bob Welborn | Chevrolet |
| Daytona Beach, Florida | Bob Welborn | Chevrolet |
| Daytona Beach, Florida | Lee Petty | Oldsmobile |
| Hillsborough, North Carolina | Curtis Turner | Ford |
| Atlanta, Georgia | Johnny Beauchamp | Ford |
| Wilson, North Carolina | Junior Johnson | Ford |
| Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Jim Reed | Ford |
| Columbia, South Carolina | Jack Smith | Chevrolet |
| North Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Lee Petty | Oldsmobile |
| Reading, Pennsylvania | Junior Johnson | Ford |
| Hickory, North Carolina | Junior Johnson | Ford |
| Martinsville, Virginia | Lee Petty | Oldsmobile |
| Trenton, New Jersey | Tom Pistone | Ford |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Lee Petty | Oldsmobile |
| Nashville, Tennessee | Rex White | Chevrolet |
| Los Angeles, California | Parnelli Jones | Ford |
| Spartanburg, South Carolina | Jack Smith | Chevrolet |
| Greenville, South Carolina | Junior Johnson | Ford |
| Atlanta, Georgia | Lee Petty | Plymouth |
| Columbia, South Carolina | Lee Petty | Plymouth |
| Wilson, North Carolina | Junior Johnson | Ford |
| Richmond, Virginia | Tom Pistone | Ford |
| Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Rex White | Chevrolet |
| Weaverville, North Carolina | Rex White | Chevrolet |
| Daytona Beach, Florida | Fireball Roberts | Pontiac |
| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Jim Reed | Chevrolet |
| Charlotte | Jack Smith | Chevrolet |
| Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | Ned Jarrett | Ford |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Ned Jarrett | Ford |
| Nashville, Tennessee | Joe Lee Johnson | Chevrolet |
| Weaverville, North Carolina | Bob Welborn | Chevrolet |
| Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Rex White | Chevrolet |
| Greenville, South Carolina | Buck Baker | Chevrolet |
| Columbia, South Carolina | Lee Petty | Chevrolet |
| Darlington, South Carolina | Jim Reed | Chevrolet |
| Hickory, North Carolina | Lee Petty | Chevrolet |
| Richmond, Virginia | Cotton Owens | Ford |
| Sacramento, California | Eddie Gray | Ford |
| Hillsborough, North Carolina | Lee Petty | Plymouth |
| Martinsville, Virginia | Rex White | Chevrolet |
| Weaverville, North Carolina | Lee Petty | Plymouth |
| North Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Lee Petty | Plymouth |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Jack Smith | Chevrolet |
Standings (Top 50)
| Rank | Driver | Starts | Wins | Points | Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lee Petty | 42 | 11 | 11,792 | $49,220 |
| 2 | Cotton Owens | 37 | 1 | 9,962 | $14,640 |
| 3 | 29 | 0 | 7,684 | $6,816 | |
| 4 | Herman Beam | 30 | 0 | 7,396 | $6,380 |
| 5 | Buck Baker | 35 | 1 | 7,170 | $11,061 |
| 6 | Tom Pistone | 22 | 2 | 7,050 | $12,725 |
| 7 | L.D. Austin | 35 | 0 | 6,519 | $4,671 |
| 8 | Jack Smith | 21 | 4 | 6,150 | $13,290 |
| 9 | Jim Reed | 14 | 3 | 5,744 | $23,534 |
| 10 | Rex White | 23 | 5 | 5,526 | $12,360 |
| 11 | Junior Johnson | 28 | 5 | 4,864 | $9,675 |
| 12 | Shep Langdon | 21 | 0 | 4,768 | $3,526 |
| 13 | G.C. Spencer | 28 | 0 | 4,260 | $3,701 |
| 14 | Tommy Irwin | 25 | 0 | 3,876 | $9,190 |
| 15 | Richard Petty | 21 | 0 | 3,694 | $8,111 |
| 16 | Fireball Roberts | 8 | 1 | 3,676 | $10,661 |
| 17 | Bob Welborn | 29 | 3 | 3,588 | $6,491 |
| 18 | Joe Weatherly | 17 | 0 | 3,404 | $9,816 |
| 19 | Bobby Jones | 1 | 0 | 2,732 | $5,951 |
| 20 | Tiny Lund | 27 | 0 | 2,634 | $4,941 |
| 21 | Bob Burdick | 6 | 0 | 2,392 | $10,050 |
| 22 | Larry Frank | 15 | 0 | 2,256 | $5,993 |
| 23 | Bobby Keck | 18 | 0 | 2,186 | $1,270 |
| 24 | Curtis Turner | 10 | 2 | 2,088 | $3,845 |
| 25 | Jim Paschal | 6 | 0 | 1,792 | $2,980 |
| 26 | Buddy Baker | 12 | 0 | 1,692 | $1,705 |
| 27 | Shorty Rollins | 10 | 0 | 1,600 | $1,500 |
| 28 | Elmo Langley | 13 | 0 | 1,568 | $2,286 |
| 29 | Jimmy Thompson | 5 | 0 | 1,528 | $1,580 |
| 30 | Brownie King | 18 | 0 | 1,480 | $1,875 |
| 31 | Tim Flock | 2 | 0 | 1,464 | $850 |
| 32 | Joe Eubanks | 13 | 0 | 1,432 | $2,000 |
| 33 | Roy Tyner | 28 | 0 | 1,416 | $5,425 |
| 34 | Charlie Cregar | 3 | 0 | 1,408 | $550 |
| 35 | Dick Freeman | 3 | 0 | 1,352 | $475 |
| 36 | Raul Cilloniz | 2 | 0 | 1,272 | $550 |
| 37 | Ned Jarrett | 17 | 2 | 1,248 | $3,860 |
| 38 | Dave White | 5 | 0 | 1,228 | $660 |
| 39 | Dick Joslin | 4 | 0 | 1,224 | $485 |
| 40 | Tommy Thompson | 3 | 0 | 1,168 | $510 |
| 41 | Harvey Hege | 10 | 0 | 1,152 | $955 |
| 42 | Eduardo Dibos | 3 | 0 | 1,128 | $1,050 |
| 43 | Bill Champion | 1 | 0 | 1,120 | $500 |
| 44 | Joe Caspolich | 1 | 0 | 1,040 | $470 |
| 45 | Jim Austin | 5 | 0 | 1,016 | $440 |
| 46 | Marvin Porter | 7 | 0 | 984 | $1,940 |
| 47 | Jim McGuirk | 4 | 0 | 928 | $325 |
| 48 | Harlan Richardson | 10 | 0 | 924 | $1,120 |
| 49 | Al White | 5 | 0 | 872 | $575 |
| 50 | Richrd Riley | 10 | 0 | 760 | $910 |
