The 1953 Wilkes 160 was a NASCAR

NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...

 Grand National Series racing event that took place on October 11, 1953 at North Wilkesboro Speedway

North Wilkesboro Speedway

North Wilkesboro Speedway was a short track that held races in NASCAR's top three series from NASCAR's inception in 1949 until its closure in 1996...

 in the American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 community of North Wilkesboro

North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

North Wilkesboro is a town in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States. The population was approximately 4,116 at the 2000 census and is now 4,245 as of the 2010 census. North Wilkesboro is the birthplace and original home of Lowe's Home Improvement, which continues to have a major presence in...

, North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

.

Summary

It took one hour and twenty-four minutes to race 160 laps on a dirt oval track spanning 0.625 miles (1 km). Thirteen lead changes were given amongst four different drivers. Three cautions were given for 16 laps in front of 2000 loyal spectators.

The top ten finishers were: Speedy Thompson

Speedy Thompson

Alfred Bruce "Speedy" Thompson was a NASCAR pioneer and driver in the Grand National series from 1950 to 1971; capturing 20 wins along the way.-Racing career:...

 (defeating Flock by two laps), Fonty Flock

Fonty Flock

Truman Fontello "Fonty" Flock of Fort Payne, Alabama was an early NASCAR driver.-Flock family:He was the brother of NASCAR pioneers Tim Flock and Bob Flock, and the second female NASCAR driver Ethel Mobley...

, Ray Duhigg (finished in a car owned by Julian Petty), Bob Welborn

Bob Welborn

Robert "Bob" Joe Welborn of Denton, North Carolina, USA is a former NASCAR Grand National driver. He was named to NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers list in 1998...

, Lee Petty

Lee Petty

Lee Arnold Petty was an American stock car driver in the 1950s and 1960s. He was one of the pioneers of NASCAR, and one of its first superstars. He was born near Randleman, North Carolina.-Career:...

 (father of Richard Petty

Richard Petty

Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...

 who started his NASCAR career six years later), Buck Baker

Buck Baker

Elzie Wylie Baker Sr. , better known as Buck Baker, was an American race car driver.-Racing career:...

, Bill Blair

Bill Blair

Bill Blair may refer to:*Bill Blair , British barrister and brother of former Prime Minister, Tony Blair*Bill Blair , Major League Baseball player*Bill Blair , Negro league pitcher...

, Joe Eubanks

Joe Eubanks

Joe Eubanks was a NASCAR Grand National driver from Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA. Eubanks raced from 1950 to 1961 collecting one win, thirty-seven finishes in the top five, and eighty-one finishes in the top ten along the way. His total career earnings were $35,338 and he successfully...

, Jimmie Lewallen

Jimmie Lewallen

Jimmie Lewallen was an American racecar driver from High Point, North Carolina, USA. He competed in NASCAR's Strictly Stock/Grand National division from its first race at Charlotte Speedway in 1949 until 1960.-Racing career:Lewallen began his racing career in motorcycles in 1934...

, and Bub King. Ralph Dutton

Ralph Dutton

The Hon. Ralph Heneage Dutton , was a British Conservative politician.-Background:Dutton was a younger son of John Dutton, 2nd Baron Sherborne, and the Hon...

 was the last-place finisher of the race. Not all the driver numbers have been preserved through the years due to the habit of early NASCAR scorers to throw non-essential statistics into the garbage after each race. Any statistics that remain were kept because they were deemed to be "essential information". Arden Mounts

Arden Mounts

Enoch Arden Mounts was an American NASCAR Grand National Series driver from Gilbert, Mingo County, West Virginia. His primary vehicle was the #18 self-owned Pontiac machine; although he would occasionaly drive a Hudson vehicle on the race track.-Summary:He raced in the NASCAR Grand National Series...

 drove in this race (and later at the 1955 Southern 500

1955 Southern 500

The 1955 Southern 500 was a NASCAR Grand National racing event that took place on September 5, 1955 at the Darlington Raceway in the American community of Darlington, South Carolina. This race officially spanned on a paved oval track...

 and the 1956 Southern 500

1956 Southern 500

The 1956 Southern 500 was a NASCAR Grand National race that took place at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina on September 3, 1956...

). Pete Stewart

Pete Stewart (NASCAR)

Pete Stewart is a retired NASCAR Grand National Series driver who participated in 17 racing events from 1953 to 1965....

made his NASCAR Cup Series début here. Although the race had no bearing on the season ending points championship, the race was of extreme importance to Petty.

The average speed was 71.202 miles per hour (114.6 km/h) while Buck Baker qualified with a speed of 78.288 miles per hour (126 km/h).