The 1955 Wilkes County 360 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 (now Sprint Cup Series) race that took place on April 3, 1955 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

One hundred and sixty laps were done on a dirt track spanning 0.625 miles (1 km). The total duration of the race was one hour, twenty-two minutes, and three seconds with no cautions. Buck Baker

Buck Baker

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

 defeated Dick Rathmann

Dick Rathmann

Dick Rathmann was an American racecar driver....

 by three feet. Ten thousand people came out to see this race. The pole speed that was accomplished by Dink Widenhouse was 77.72 mi/h while the average speed was 73.126 mi/h. Other notable drivers who participated included 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:...

, Herb Thomas

Herb Thomas

Herbert Watson Thomas was a NASCAR pioneer who was one of the series' most successful drivers in the 1950s.-Background:...

, Dink Widenhouse

Dink Widenhouse

David "Dink" Widenhouse is a retired NASCAR Grand National Series driver. From the age of 22 to the age of 24, Widenhouse has competed in and 3097 laps of racing...

, 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...

, and Junior Johnson

Junior Johnson

Robert Glenn Johnson, Jr. , better known as Junior Johnson, is a retired moonshiner in the rural South who became one of the early superstars of NASCAR in the 1950s and 1960s. He won 50 NASCAR races in his career before retiring in 1966...

. All twenty-two drivers who qualified were American-born

United States

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

. Twelve drivers failed to finish the race due to axle

Axle

An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to its surroundings, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearings or bushings are provided at the mounting points where the axle...

, spindle

Spindle (automobile)

In an automobile, the spindle is a part of the suspension system that carries the hub for the wheel and attaches to the upper and lower control arms. The spindle is referred to as an Upright in UK-built vehicles and in areas dominated by these cars like Australia, New Zealand etc.-Design:There are...

, coil

Coil

A coil is a series of loops. A coiled coil is a structure in which the coil itself is in turn also looping.-Electromagnetic coils:An electromagnetic coil is formed when a conductor is wound around a core or form to create an inductor or electromagnet...

, wheel

Wheel

A wheel is a device that allows heavy objects to be moved easily through rotating on an axle through its center, facilitating movement or transportation while supporting a load, or performing labor in machines. Common examples found in transport applications. A wheel, together with an axle,...

, frame

Frame (vehicle)

A frame is the main structure of the chassis of a motor vehicle. All other components fasten to it; a term for this is design is body-on-frame construction.In 1920, every motor vehicle other than a few cars based on motorcycles had a frame...

, vapor

Vapor

A vapor or vapour is a substance in the gas phase at a temperature lower than its critical point....

 lock, tire

Tire

A tire or tyre is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance by providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock while keeping the wheel in close contact with the ground...

, gasket

Gasket

thumb|sright|250px|Some seals and gaskets1. [[o-ring]]2. fiber [[Washer |washer]]3. paper gaskets4. [[cylinder head]] [[head gasket|gasket]]...

, and bearing

Bearing (mechanical)

A bearing is a device to allow constrained relative motion between two or more parts, typically rotation or linear movement. Bearings may be classified broadly according to the motions they allow and according to their principle of operation as well as by the directions of applied loads they can...

 problems.

The total winnings of the race was $3,800 USD ($ in today's money).

Results

1. Buck Baker†
2. Dick Rathmann†
3. Curtis Turner
   Curtis Turner
   Curtis Turner was an early NASCAR driver. In addition to his success in racing, he made a fortune, lost it, and remade it buying and selling timberlands. Throughout his life he developed a reputation for drinking and partying...
   
   †
4. Lee Petty†
5. Eddie Skinner
6. Dave Terrell
   Dave Terrell
   Dave Terrell is a retired NASCAR Grand National driver/owner who participated from 1952 to 1957....
   
   
7. 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...
   
   †
8. Gene Simpson
9. Joel Million
10. Blackie Pitt
    Blackie Pitt
    William H. "Blackie" Pitt is a NASCAR Grand National Series born in the American town of Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He is best known as the 1954 NASCAR Rookie of the Year.-Career:...
    
    †
11. Tommy Ringstaff*
12. John Dodd, Sr.*
13. Tim Flock
    Tim Flock
    Julius Timothy Flock was one of NASCAR's early pioneers, and a two time series champion. He was a brother to NASCAR's second female driver Ethel Mobley and NASCAR pioneers Bob Flock and Fonty Flock.- NASCAR career :...
    
    *†
14. Herb Thomas*†
15. Jimmy Thompson*
16. Jim Paschal
    Jim Paschal
    James Roy "Jim" Paschal, Jr. was a NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup driver. He won twenty-five races and twelve poles over his career. Elected to the "Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame" in 1977, he won the World 600 in 1964 and the 1967 Charlotte Motor Speedway...
    
    *†
17. John Dodd, Jr.*
18. Junior Johnson*
19. Dink Widenhouse*
20. Fonty Flock*†
21. Ralph Liguori
    Ralph Liguori
    Ralph Liguori is a former American racing driver from New York City.-Indycar career:He competed in the USAC Championship Car series from 1957 to 1971 making 61 starts. His best finish was 2nd place at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Speedway in 1970. 1966 was his most active year, when he made 7...
    
    *
22. Boyce Hildreth*

* denotes that the driver failed to finish the race

† signifies that the driver is known to be deceased