Daytona Beach Road Course
Encyclopedia
Daytona Beach Road Course was a race track
that was instrumental in the formation of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, or NASCAR. It originally became famous as the location where fifteen world land speed records
were set
(at 4511 South Atlantic Avenue, Ponce Inlet 29.108890°N 80.943669°W). A restaurant named "Racing's North Turn" now stands at that location. It went south two miles (3 km) parallel to the ocean on A1A (S. Atlantic Ave) to the end of the road, where the drivers accessed the beach at the south turn at the Beach Street approach 29.084705°N 80.925566°W, returned two miles (3 km) north on the sandy beach surface, and returned to A1A at the north turn. The lap length in early events was 3.2 miles (5.1 km), and it was lengthened to 4.2 miles (6.8 km) in the late 1940s. In the video game Nascar Thunder 2004
by EA Sports
, the course is shortened to about half its distance, but still shows how the course basic setup was like.
was familiar with the history of Daytona. He moved to Daytona in 1935 to escape the Great Depression
. He set up a car repair shop in Daytona.
Daytona Beach
officials asked local racer Sig Haugdahl
to organize and promote an automobile race along the 3.2 miles (5.1 km) course in 1936. Haugdahl is credited for designing the track. The city posted a $5,000 purse. The ticket-takers arrived at the event on March 8 to find thousands of fans already at the track. The sandy turns became virtually impassable, which caused numerous scoring disputes and technical protests. The event was stopped after 75 of 78 laps. Milt Marion was declared the winner by the AAA
(the sanctioning body). Second place finisher Ben Shaw and third place finisher Tommy Elmore protested the results, but their appeal was overturned. France finished fifth in the event. The city lost a reported $22,000, and has not promoted an event since.
Haugdahl talked with France, and they talked the Daytona Beach Elks Club to host another event in 1937. The event was more successful, but still lost money. Haugdahl didn't promote any more events.
France took over the job of running the course in 1938. There were two events that year. Danny Murphy beat France in the July event, which made $200. France beat Lloyd Moody and Pig Ridings to win the Labor Day weekend event, this time making $20,000.
There were three races in 1939 and three races in 1940. France finished fourth in March, first in July, and sixth in September.
Lloyd Seay
finished fourth in the July 27, 1941 event after rolling twice. He returned on August 24 that year to win the event. He was killed by a family member in a dispute over the family moonshine business.
France was busy planning the 1942 event, until the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor
. France spent World War II
working at the Daytona Boat Works. Most racing stopped until after the war. Car racing returned to the track in 1946.
that ended with the formation of NASCAR on February 21, 1948. The Daytona Beach Road Course hosted the premiere event of the fledgling series until Darlington Speedway was completed in 1950.
NASCAR held a Modified division race at the track on February 15, 1948. Red Byron
beat Marshall Teague
. NASCAR had several divisions in its early years.
The first NASCAR Strictly Stock (now Sprint Cup) race was held in 1949 at the Charlotte Speedway
. The second race on the series schedule was held at Daytona Beach in July. 28 cars raced, including Curtis Turner
, Buck Baker
, Bob Flock
, Fonty Flock
, Marshall Teague
, Herb Thomas
, and second place finisher Tim Flock
. Red Byron
won for his fourth win at the track in the decade. Byron went on to win the series’ first championship in his 1949 Oldsmobile
.
1950
The Strictly Stock series was renamed the Grand National Series. The race is moved to February, which becomes a tradition still held to this day with the modern Daytona 500
. Harold Kite
won the race in a 1949 Lincoln
. He took the lead on lap 25 when Red Byron pitted with gear shift problems. Kite led the rest of the way. Byron surged from seventh to finish second. A second race is added to the weekend, the 100 miles (160.9 km) Modified Stock race, the day before. Gober Sosebee wins.
1951
Marshall Teague
glided his 1951 Fabulous Hudson Hornet
into victory lane for his first career victory. He beat Tim Flock
by 1 minute and 14 seconds. Gober Sosebee wins the Modified Stock race for the second year in a row.
1952
Marshall Teague
made it two in a row in his 1952 Hudson. Teague gained the lead on lap two. The race was shortened by two laps because of an incoming tide. Teague won by 1 minute and 21 seconds over Herb Thomas
. A day earlier, Tim Flock
wins the Modified/Sportmen race.
1953
Polesitter Bob Pronger and second place starter Fonty Flock
had a bet as to who would lead the first lap. They both raced wildly into the north corner. Pronger went too fast into corner, and wrecked his car. Flock had over a one minute lead in the race, but ran out of gas taking the white flag at the start of the final lap. Flock’s teammate pushed his car into the pits. Bill Blair
passed to win the race in a 1953 Oldsmobile
. Flock finished second by 26 seconds.
136 cars started the 100 miles (160.9 km) Modified/Sportsman race that year, making it the largest field ever in any NASCAR sanctioned event. Cotton Owens
is the victor.
1954
The "Speedweeks" weekend is expanded to three events, the 100 miles (160.9 km) Sportsmen race, the 125 miles (201.2 km) Modified race, and the 160 miles (257.5 km) main event. Dick Joslin and Cotten Owens win the preliminaries, respectively. Tim Flock
finished the main event first, but was disqualified on a minor technicality. Second place finisher Lee Petty
edged out Buck Baker
, and Petty was declared the winner of the 160 miles (257.5 km) contest. Flock became the first driver to have radio contact with his crew.
1955
The 1955 race was won by Fireball Roberts
. He was later disqualified, so the official win went to Tim Flock
. Roberts was disqualified after NASCAR’s tech director found pushrods that were 0.016 inch (0.4064 mm) too long.Fireball Roberts got the name Fireball because of his softball pitching speed.
Preliminary races were won by Speedy Thompson
(100-mile Sportsmen) and Banjo Matthews
(125-mile Modified).
1956
Tim Flock
won his second consecutive Daytona race from the pole in his 1956 Chrysler
. The car was owned by legendary NASCAR car owner Carl Kiekhaefer
. He led every lap except for the four after his first pit stop. Charlie Scott became the first African-American to compete in a NASCAR Grand National race, driving another Carl Kiekhaefer
entered Chrysler
.
1957
The three-race weekend is revised with new preliminary formats. The first race is a 125 miles (201.2 km) Modifield/Sportsmen race, and the second is a 160 miles (257.5 km) Late Model Convertible event. Tim Flock and Curtis Turner are the victors.
In the main event, Cotton Owens
moved from his third place starting position to lead the first lap. Paul Goldsmith took the lead briefly after 40 miles (of 160 miles). Goldsmith took the lead back from Owens after Owens pitted after 94 miles (151.3 km). Goldsmith’s quick pit stop gave him a lead that he maintained until he went out with a blown piston with 36 miles (57.9 km) left in the race. Owens led the rest of the way for his first career win. The win was the first NASCAR win for Pontiac
, and the first Grand National race speed average over 100 mph (101.541 mph).
1958
Paul Goldsmith
started from the pole to win the final event at the course. He drove a Pontiac
which was prepared by Smokey Yunick
. Curtis Turner
finished second, Jack Smith third, Joe Weatherly
fourth. Lee Petty
, Buck Baker
, Fireball Roberts
, and Cotton Owens
finished in the top ten.
On Friday, Banjo Matthews
won the 125 miles (201.2 km) Sportsmen/Modified race, while on Saturday, Curtis Turner
won the 160 miles (257.5 km) Convertible race.
. France began building a new 2.5 miles (4 km) superspeedway in 1956 to host the new premiere event of the series – the Daytona 500
. In 1958, the Daytona Beach road course hosted its last event. The first Daytona 500 was held in 1959.
Race track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
that was instrumental in the formation of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, or NASCAR. It originally became famous as the location where fifteen world land speed records
Land speed record
The land speed record is the highest speed achieved by a wheeled vehicle on land. There is no single body for validation and regulation; in practice the Category C flying start regulations are used, officiated by regional or national organizations under the auspices of the Fédération...
were set
Beach & road course
Track layout
The course started on the pavement of highway A1AState Road A1A (Florida)
State Road A1A is a Florida State Road that runs mostly along the Atlantic Ocean, with sections from Key West at the southern tip of Florida, to Callahan, just south of Georgia. It is the main road through most oceanfront towns. SR A1A is designated the A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway, a...
(at 4511 South Atlantic Avenue, Ponce Inlet 29.108890°N 80.943669°W). A restaurant named "Racing's North Turn" now stands at that location. It went south two miles (3 km) parallel to the ocean on A1A (S. Atlantic Ave) to the end of the road, where the drivers accessed the beach at the south turn at the Beach Street approach 29.084705°N 80.925566°W, returned two miles (3 km) north on the sandy beach surface, and returned to A1A at the north turn. The lap length in early events was 3.2 miles (5.1 km), and it was lengthened to 4.2 miles (6.8 km) in the late 1940s. In the video game Nascar Thunder 2004
NASCAR Thunder 2004
NASCAR Thunder 2004 is a racing simulator by EA Sports, released in 2003 and available in separate versions for PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC. It features the 2002 champion Tony Stewart on the cover with a scowling look to represent the new Grudges and Alliances feature. It was the only...
by EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
, the course is shortened to about half its distance, but still shows how the course basic setup was like.
Early events
Washington D.C. resident William France Sr.William France Sr.
William Henry Getty France Sr. , also known by Bill France Sr. or Big Bill, was an American race car driver. He is best known for co-founding and managing NASCAR, a sanctioning body of United States-based stock car racing.-Early life:France was born in Washington, D. C...
was familiar with the history of Daytona. He moved to Daytona in 1935 to escape the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. He set up a car repair shop in Daytona.
Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
officials asked local racer Sig Haugdahl
Sig Haugdahl
Sigurd Olson “Sig” Haugdahl was an IMCA champion 1927 - 1932 and an early promoter of stock car racing in the United States.-Background:...
to organize and promote an automobile race along the 3.2 miles (5.1 km) course in 1936. Haugdahl is credited for designing the track. The city posted a $5,000 purse. The ticket-takers arrived at the event on March 8 to find thousands of fans already at the track. The sandy turns became virtually impassable, which caused numerous scoring disputes and technical protests. The event was stopped after 75 of 78 laps. Milt Marion was declared the winner by the AAA
American Automobile Association
AAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
(the sanctioning body). Second place finisher Ben Shaw and third place finisher Tommy Elmore protested the results, but their appeal was overturned. France finished fifth in the event. The city lost a reported $22,000, and has not promoted an event since.
Haugdahl talked with France, and they talked the Daytona Beach Elks Club to host another event in 1937. The event was more successful, but still lost money. Haugdahl didn't promote any more events.
France took over the job of running the course in 1938. There were two events that year. Danny Murphy beat France in the July event, which made $200. France beat Lloyd Moody and Pig Ridings to win the Labor Day weekend event, this time making $20,000.
There were three races in 1939 and three races in 1940. France finished fourth in March, first in July, and sixth in September.
Lloyd Seay
Lloyd Seay
Carl D. "Lightning" Lloyd Seay was an early stock car racing driver from Georgia. NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr. described Seay as the "best pure race driver I ever saw". He was shot to death by his cousin over a moonshine operation. His last name was pronounced as "See".Seay came from a racing...
finished fourth in the July 27, 1941 event after rolling twice. He returned on August 24 that year to win the event. He was killed by a family member in a dispute over the family moonshine business.
France was busy planning the 1942 event, until the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
. France spent World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
working at the Daytona Boat Works. Most racing stopped until after the war. Car racing returned to the track in 1946.
NASCAR formation
France knew that promoters needed to organize their efforts. Drivers were frequently victimized by unscrupulous promoters who would leave events with all the money before drivers were paid. On December 14, 1947 France began talks at the Ebony Bar at the Streamline Hotel at Daytona Beach, FloridaDaytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
that ended with the formation of NASCAR on February 21, 1948. The Daytona Beach Road Course hosted the premiere event of the fledgling series until Darlington Speedway was completed in 1950.
Red Byron
Robert "Red" Byron was a NASCAR driver who was successful in the sanctioning body's first years. He was NASCAR's first Modified champion in 1948 and its first Strictly Stock champion in 1949.-Background:Born in Colorado he moved to Anniston, Alabama at an early age, Byron began...
beat Marshall Teague
Marshall Teague
Marshall Teague was an American race car driver.He was nicknamed by NASCAR fans as the "King of the Beach" for his performances at the Daytona Beach Road Course....
. NASCAR had several divisions in its early years.
NASCAR race results
1949The first NASCAR Strictly Stock (now Sprint Cup) race was held in 1949 at the Charlotte Speedway
Charlotte Speedway
For the current NASCAR track in Charlotte, North Carolina, see Charlotte Motor Speedway.Charlotte Speedway was the site of NASCAR's first Strictly Stock series race on June 19, 1949. The Daytona Beach Road Course held the first race sanctioned by NASCAR in 1948...
. The second race on the series schedule was held at Daytona Beach in July. 28 cars raced, including 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...
, Buck Baker
Buck Baker
Elzie Wylie Baker Sr. , better known as Buck Baker, was an American race car driver.-Racing career:...
, Bob Flock
Bob Flock
Robert Newman Flock of Fort Payne, Alabama, USA was an early NASCAR driver. He qualified on the pole position for NASCAR's first Strictly Stock race.-Flock family:...
, 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...
, Marshall Teague
Marshall Teague
Marshall Teague was an American race car driver.He was nicknamed by NASCAR fans as the "King of the Beach" for his performances at the Daytona Beach Road Course....
, Herb Thomas
Herb Thomas
Herbert Watson Thomas was a NASCAR pioneer who was one of the series' most successful drivers in the 1950s.-Background:...
, and second place finisher 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 :...
. Red Byron
Red Byron
Robert "Red" Byron was a NASCAR driver who was successful in the sanctioning body's first years. He was NASCAR's first Modified champion in 1948 and its first Strictly Stock champion in 1949.-Background:Born in Colorado he moved to Anniston, Alabama at an early age, Byron began...
won for his fourth win at the track in the decade. Byron went on to win the series’ first championship in his 1949 Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
.
1950
The Strictly Stock series was renamed the Grand National Series. The race is moved to February, which becomes a tradition still held to this day with the modern Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
. Harold Kite
Harold Kite
Harold Kite was a NASCAR Grand National driver from East Point, Georgia, United States of America. In his brief Sprint Cup Series career, Kite competed in nine events to earn one win and two top-ten finishes....
won the race in a 1949 Lincoln
Lincoln (automobile)
Lincoln is an American luxury vehicle brand of the Ford Motor Company. Lincoln vehicles are sold mostly in North America.-History:The company was founded in August 1915 by Henry M. Leland, one of the founders of Cadillac . During World War I, he left Cadillac which was sold to General Motors...
. He took the lead on lap 25 when Red Byron pitted with gear shift problems. Kite led the rest of the way. Byron surged from seventh to finish second. A second race is added to the weekend, the 100 miles (160.9 km) Modified Stock race, the day before. Gober Sosebee wins.
1951
Marshall Teague
Marshall Teague
Marshall Teague was an American race car driver.He was nicknamed by NASCAR fans as the "King of the Beach" for his performances at the Daytona Beach Road Course....
glided his 1951 Fabulous Hudson Hornet
Fabulous Hudson Hornet
The Fabulous Hudson Hornet was a famous NASCAR Grand National and AAA stock car produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company. Marshall Teague and Herb Thomas each drove in a Hudson Hornet that they nicknamed the "Fabulous Hudson Hornet"....
into victory lane for his first career victory. He beat 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 :...
by 1 minute and 14 seconds. Gober Sosebee wins the Modified Stock race for the second year in a row.
1952
Marshall Teague
Marshall Teague
Marshall Teague was an American race car driver.He was nicknamed by NASCAR fans as the "King of the Beach" for his performances at the Daytona Beach Road Course....
made it two in a row in his 1952 Hudson. Teague gained the lead on lap two. The race was shortened by two laps because of an incoming tide. Teague won by 1 minute and 21 seconds over Herb Thomas
Herb Thomas
Herbert Watson Thomas was a NASCAR pioneer who was one of the series' most successful drivers in the 1950s.-Background:...
. A day earlier, 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 :...
wins the Modified/Sportmen race.
1953
Polesitter Bob Pronger and second place starter 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...
had a bet as to who would lead the first lap. They both raced wildly into the north corner. Pronger went too fast into corner, and wrecked his car. Flock had over a one minute lead in the race, but ran out of gas taking the white flag at the start of the final lap. Flock’s teammate pushed his car into the pits. Bill Blair
Bill Blair (NASCAR)
Bill Blair was an American stock car driver in the 1940s and the 1950s. He was one of the pioneers of NASCAR.-Wins:...
passed to win the race in a 1953 Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
. Flock finished second by 26 seconds.
136 cars started the 100 miles (160.9 km) Modified/Sportsman race that year, making it the largest field ever in any NASCAR sanctioned event. Cotton Owens
Cotton Owens
Everett "Cotton" Owens "the King of the Modifieds" was a NASCAR driver. For five straight years , Owens captured at least one Grand National series win.-Modified driving career:...
is the victor.
1954
The "Speedweeks" weekend is expanded to three events, the 100 miles (160.9 km) Sportsmen race, the 125 miles (201.2 km) Modified race, and the 160 miles (257.5 km) main event. Dick Joslin and Cotten Owens win the preliminaries, respectively. 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 :...
finished the main event first, but was disqualified on a minor technicality. Second place finisher 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:...
edged out Buck Baker
Buck Baker
Elzie Wylie Baker Sr. , better known as Buck Baker, was an American race car driver.-Racing career:...
, and Petty was declared the winner of the 160 miles (257.5 km) contest. Flock became the first driver to have radio contact with his crew.
1955
The 1955 race was won by Fireball Roberts
Fireball Roberts
Edward Glenn Roberts, Jr. , nicknamed "Fireball", was one of the pioneering race car drivers of NASCAR.-Background:...
. He was later disqualified, so the official win went to 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 :...
. Roberts was disqualified after NASCAR’s tech director found pushrods that were 0.016 inch (0.4064 mm) too long.Fireball Roberts got the name Fireball because of his softball pitching speed.
Preliminary races were won by 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:...
(100-mile Sportsmen) and Banjo Matthews
Banjo Matthews
Edwin Keith "Banjo" Matthews was a NASCAR driver, car owner and builder.-Driver:...
(125-mile Modified).
1956
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 :...
won his second consecutive Daytona race from the pole in his 1956 Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
. The car was owned by legendary NASCAR car owner Carl Kiekhaefer
Carl Kiekhaefer
Elmer Carl Kiekhaefer was the owner of Kiekhaefer Marine , and also a two-time NASCAR championship car owner.-Kiekhaefer Mercury founder:...
. He led every lap except for the four after his first pit stop. Charlie Scott became the first African-American to compete in a NASCAR Grand National race, driving another Carl Kiekhaefer
Carl Kiekhaefer
Elmer Carl Kiekhaefer was the owner of Kiekhaefer Marine , and also a two-time NASCAR championship car owner.-Kiekhaefer Mercury founder:...
entered Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
.
1957
The three-race weekend is revised with new preliminary formats. The first race is a 125 miles (201.2 km) Modifield/Sportsmen race, and the second is a 160 miles (257.5 km) Late Model Convertible event. Tim Flock and Curtis Turner are the victors.
In the main event, Cotton Owens
Cotton Owens
Everett "Cotton" Owens "the King of the Modifieds" was a NASCAR driver. For five straight years , Owens captured at least one Grand National series win.-Modified driving career:...
moved from his third place starting position to lead the first lap. Paul Goldsmith took the lead briefly after 40 miles (of 160 miles). Goldsmith took the lead back from Owens after Owens pitted after 94 miles (151.3 km). Goldsmith’s quick pit stop gave him a lead that he maintained until he went out with a blown piston with 36 miles (57.9 km) left in the race. Owens led the rest of the way for his first career win. The win was the first NASCAR win for Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
, and the first Grand National race speed average over 100 mph (101.541 mph).
1958
Paul Goldsmith
Paul Goldsmith
Paul Goldsmith is a motorcycle Hall of Famer, Motorsports Hall of Fame of America inductee and former USAC and NASCAR driver.- Motorcycle career :...
started from the pole to win the final event at the course. He drove a Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
which was prepared by Smokey Yunick
Smokey Yunick
Henry "Smokey" Yunick was an American mechanic and car designer associated with motorsports. Yunick was deeply involved in the early years of NASCAR, and he is probably most associated with that racing genre...
. 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...
finished second, Jack Smith third, Joe Weatherly
Joe Weatherly
Joseph "Joe" Weatherly was a two-time NASCAR championship driver. Weatherly was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2009 after winning NASCAR's Grand National championships in 1962 and 1963, three A.M.A...
fourth. 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:...
, Buck Baker
Buck Baker
Elzie Wylie Baker Sr. , better known as Buck Baker, was an American race car driver.-Racing career:...
, Fireball Roberts
Fireball Roberts
Edward Glenn Roberts, Jr. , nicknamed "Fireball", was one of the pioneering race car drivers of NASCAR.-Background:...
, and Cotton Owens
Cotton Owens
Everett "Cotton" Owens "the King of the Modifieds" was a NASCAR driver. For five straight years , Owens captured at least one Grand National series win.-Modified driving career:...
finished in the top ten.
On Friday, Banjo Matthews
Banjo Matthews
Edwin Keith "Banjo" Matthews was a NASCAR driver, car owner and builder.-Driver:...
won the 125 miles (201.2 km) Sportsmen/Modified race, while on Saturday, 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...
won the 160 miles (257.5 km) Convertible race.
End of course
By 1953, France knew it was time for a permanent track to hold the large crowds that were gathering for races. Hotels were popping up all along the beachfront. On April 4, 1953, France proposed a new superspeedway called Daytona International SpeedwayDaytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
. France began building a new 2.5 miles (4 km) superspeedway in 1956 to host the new premiere event of the series – the Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
. In 1958, the Daytona Beach road course hosted its last event. The first Daytona 500 was held in 1959.
External links
- Daytona Beach land speed record history
- History of the Daytona Beach shore
- Bill France, Jr.'s account of races at the track
- NASCAR track stats
- NASCAR track statistics at racing-reference.info
- Account of the 1957 Daytona race from winner cottonowens.com
- Lee Bible’s tragic death
- Speed TV article on Daytona’s history
- Profile of Ormond Beach’s racing history