NASCAR Convertible Division
Encyclopedia
The NASCAR Convertible Division was a division of convertible
cars early in NASCAR
's history.
had one qualifying race for Convertibles and one for the hardtop Grand National cars. 20 of the 59 cars in the Daytona 500 were convertibles. The split qualifying races of the 1959 race led to the development of the Gatorade Duel
qualifying races still used in the Daytona 500.
The current Showtime 500 Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway
was held as a Convertible Division race from 1957-62. As NASCAR's only superspeedway in 1957, the inaugural Rebel 300 was held as a Convertible race on May 11, 1957, only to be delayed by rain and raced on the ensuing Sunday (May 12), drawing a fine for promoter Bob Colvin for violating South Carolina blue law
(the track's signature fall race, the Southern 500, was held on Labor Day Monday until 1983). The Rebel would be held as a Confederate Memorial Day
Convertible race even after the division ended in 1959, with three more Convertible division races from 1960-62, won by Joe Weatherly
, Fred Lorenzen
, and the final Rebel 300 for convertibles on May 12, 1962, won by Nelson Stacy
. The Rebel 300 was run as a Grand National race for the first time in 1963, and expanded to 400 miles in 1966, before going to 500 miles in 1974, reverting back to 400 miles in 1994, and returning in 2005 back to its Confederate Memorial Day date as a Saturday night 500-mile Sprint Cup race.
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
cars early in 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...
's history.
History
NASCAR purchased SAFE (Society of Auto Sports, Fellowship, and Education)'s all-convertible Circuit of Champions “All Stars” circuit late in 1955. Most drivers did not make the transition to NASCAR's sanction. NASCAR ran the division from 1956 until 1959. Some Convertibles raced against the Grand National (now Sprint Cup) hardtop cars in the same race. The 1959 Daytona 5001959 Daytona 500
The 1959 First Annual 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona was the second race of the 1959 NASCAR Grand National season. It was held on February 22, 1959, in front of 41,921 spectators...
had one qualifying race for Convertibles and one for the hardtop Grand National cars. 20 of the 59 cars in the Daytona 500 were convertibles. The split qualifying races of the 1959 race led to the development of the Gatorade Duel
Gatorade Duel
The Gatorade Duel is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. It consists of two races, and serves as a qualifying race for the Daytona 500...
qualifying races still used in the Daytona 500.
The current Showtime 500 Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...
was held as a Convertible Division race from 1957-62. As NASCAR's only superspeedway in 1957, the inaugural Rebel 300 was held as a Convertible race on May 11, 1957, only to be delayed by rain and raced on the ensuing Sunday (May 12), drawing a fine for promoter Bob Colvin for violating South Carolina blue law
Blue law
A blue law is a type of law, typically found in the United States and, formerly, in Canada, designed to enforce religious standards, particularly the observance of Sunday as a day of worship or rest, and a restriction on Sunday shopping...
(the track's signature fall race, the Southern 500, was held on Labor Day Monday until 1983). The Rebel would be held as a Confederate Memorial Day
Confederate Memorial Day
Confederate Memorial Day, also known as Confederate Decoration Day and Confederate Heroes Day , is an official holiday and/or observance day in parts of the U.S. South as a day to honor those who died fighting for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War...
Convertible race even after the division ended in 1959, with three more Convertible division races from 1960-62, won by 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...
, Fred Lorenzen
Fred Lorenzen
Fred Lorenzen , nicknamed The Golden Boy, Fast Freddie, The Elmhurst Express and Flyin Freddy, is a former NASCAR driver active between 1958 and 1972. He won the 1965 Daytona 500. Lorenzen was born in Elmurst, Illinois.-Early career:Lorenzen first caught the car bug young, and had built his first...
, and the final Rebel 300 for convertibles on May 12, 1962, won by Nelson Stacy
Nelson Stacy
Nelson Stacy was an American race car driver from Maysville, Kentucky. He won the 1958, 1959, and 1960 MARC Series Nelson Stacy (December 28, 1921 – May 14, 1986) was an American race car driver from Maysville, Kentucky. He won the 1958, 1959, and 1960 MARC Series Nelson Stacy (December 28, 1921 –...
. The Rebel 300 was run as a Grand National race for the first time in 1963, and expanded to 400 miles in 1966, before going to 500 miles in 1974, reverting back to 400 miles in 1994, and returning in 2005 back to its Confederate Memorial Day date as a Saturday night 500-mile Sprint Cup race.
List of champions
- 1956 Bob WelbornBob WelbornRobert "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...
- 1957 Bob Welborn
- 1958 Bob Welborn
- 1959 Joe Lee JohnsonJoe Lee JohnsonJoe Lee Johnson was a NASCAR Grand National driver who won the inaugural World 600 in 1960. He was also the 1959 NASCAR Convertible Division champion. He made his last NASCAR start in 1962. He was the owner of the Cleveland Speedway in Cleveland Tennessee...