1950 NASCAR Grand National Series

Last updated

The 1950 NASCAR Grand National season was the second season of professional stock car racing in the United States. Beginning at the Daytona Beach Road Course on February 5, 1950, the season included 19 races. The season concluded at Occoneechee Speedway on October 29. Bill Rexford won the Drivers' Championship with a 26th-place finish at the final race of the season, racing for Julian Buesink.

Contents


Schedule

19 different races were held at 14 different circuits, in 8 different states. The Southern 500 had the largest purse and therefore awarded the highest points, whilst race 1950–04, at the Martinsville Speedway, had the smallest purse.

No.DateRace Title Track MilesPurse
1February 51950–01 Flag of Florida (1900-1985).svg Daytona Beach Road Course, Daytona Beach 200$6200
2April 21950–02 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Charlotte Speedway, Charlotte 150$4125
3April 161950–03 Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Langhorne Speedway, Middletown 150$5500
4May 211950–04 Flag of Virginia.svg Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway 75$3625
5May 30Poor Man's 500 Flag of Ohio.svg Canfield Speedway, Canfield 100$4350
6June 181950–06 Flag of New York.svg Vernon Fairgrounds, Vernon 100$3850
7June 251950–07 Flag of Ohio.svg Dayton Speedway, Dayton 100$3850
8July 21950–08 Flag of New York.svg Monroe County Fairgrounds, Rochester 100$3850
9July 231950–09 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Charlotte Speedway, Charlotte 150$4350
10August 131950–10 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Occoneechee Speedway, Hillsboro 100$3975
11August 201950–11 Flag of Ohio.svg Dayton Speedway, Dayton 98$3850
12August 271950–12 Flag of New York.svg Hamburg Speedway, Hamburg 100$4350
13September 4 Southern 500 Flag of South Carolina.svg Darlington Raceway, Darlington 500$25325
14September 171950–14 Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Langhorne Speedway, Langhorne 200$5450
15September 24 Wilkes 200 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 125 [lower-alpha 1] $3900
16October 11950–16 Flag of New York.svg Vernon Fairgrounds, Vernon 100$3850
17October 151950–17 Flag of Virginia.svg Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway 100$3850
18October 151950–18 Flag of Indiana.svg Funk's Speedway, Winchester 100$3750
19October 291950–19 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Occoneechee Speedway, Hillsboro 175$4675

Race summaries

1950-01

The first race of the 1950 season was run on February 5 at the Daytona Beach Road Course in Daytona Beach, Florida. Joe Littlejohn won the pole. Harold Kite of East Point, Georgia, a former tank driver who began racing on the short tracks after World War II, drove past Red Byron in the 25th lap and went on to score a victory in the 200-mile Grand National opener of the 1950 season. Kite, competing in his first Grand National event, pushed his Lincoln around the sandy course at a record 89.894 mph and beat runner-up Byron to the finish line by 53 seconds. Third place went to Lloyd Moore, Al Gross was fourth, and J. C. Van Landingham, ending a lengthy absence, finished fifth. A crowd estimated at 9,500 watched Kite take the lead at the outset from pole sitter Littlejohn. Kite, a captain in the national guard, held the top spot until Byron passed him on the 15th lap. The defending NASCAR champion relinquished the lead to Kite in the 24th lap when he made a pit stop. Several laps later Byron was forced to make another pit stop to repair gear shift problems. He returned to the race running seventh. Kite went uncontested for the second half of the 48-lap affair on the 4.167-mile course, and Byron provided plenty of action as he worked his way up through the pack. He edged out Moore for second place with a final lap pass. Forty-one cars started the event and 21 were still running at the finish despite the fact that conditions on the beach were less than ideal. Flock turned in one of the most spirited efforts on the cloudy, breezy day. He finished seventh despite the fact that his car's left front wheel wobbled around every turn

Top-ten results

  1. 21- Harold Kite
  2. 22- Red Byron
  3. 59- Lloyd Moore
  4. 88- Al Gross
  5. 35- J. C. Van Landingham
  6. 90- Tim Flock
  7. 7- Bob Flock
  8. 4- Otis Martin
  9. 70- Buck Baker
  10. 47- Fonty Flock

1950-02

The second race of the 1950 season was run on April 2 at Charlotte Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. Red Byron won the pole. Tim Flock, wheeling the same Lincoln that carried Harold Kite to victory at Daytona, drove around Byron in the 48th lap and stormed to victory in the 150-mile Grand National race. It was Flock's first win on the NASCAR major league tour. Bob Flock finished second, a half lap behind his younger brother. Clyde Minter wound up third, Byron came in fourth and Bill Snowden was fifth. Byron's fourth-place effort, coupled with his runner-up finish at Daytona, enabled him to move to the top of the Grand National points standings, 2.5 points ahead of Tim Flock. A crowd of 13,000 was on hand to watch Bob Flock lead the opening laps in his Oldsmobile. Pole sitter Byron then charged past and led for 42 laps on the three-quarter mile dirt track. Tim surged past Byron in the 48th lap and led the rest of the way. Lash LaRue, Western movie star, greeted Flock in victory lane. "This is my biggest win", said Flock. "To win a Grand National race is a dream come true." June Cleveland was running in the top five when he flipped his Buick in the 85th lap. The roof was flattened, and Cleveland was transported to a Charlotte hospital with cuts. He was not seriously injured. His crash occurred in the exact spot where Virginia driver Jesse Elmo "Hank" Stanley was killed a few weeks earlier in a modified sportsman race. Curtis Turner, Lee Petty, Buck Baker, Fonty Flock and Bill Blair—all rated as pre-race threats—failed to finish the 200-lap race.

Top-ten results

  1. 21- Tim Flock
  2. 7- Bob Flock
  3. 19- Clyde Minter
  4. 22- Red Byron
  5. Bill Snowden
  6. 49- Glenn Dunaway
  7. Jack White
  8. 10- Fred Johnson
  9. 92- Herb Thomas
  10. Huey Dunn

1950-03

The third race of the 1950 season was run on April 16 at Langhorne Speedway in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Tim Flock won the pole.-- Curtis Turner prevailed in an intense struggle and won the 150-mile race on the one-mile dirt track. His second career Grand National win came at an average speed of 69.399 mph. The lead changed hands seven times as five drivers waged a furious duel. Tim Flock led the opening two laps from the pole position. Bill Blair pushed his Cadillac past Flock in the third lap and led until Flock assumed command again on lap eight. Flock led for 35 laps while 23-year-old rookie Bill Rexford moved into second. The two toured the circular oval in bumper-to-bumper fashion. Rexford sneaked past Flock in the 43rd lap and paced the action for 18 laps. Rexford's Oldsmobile began sputtering, which allowed Turner to take the lead on lap 61. Ray Erickson moved into the lead when he raced his Mercury past Turner in the 84th lap. He was bidding for his first Grand National triumph when a rock pierced his radiator, forcing him out after 114 laps. Turner took the lead at that point and led the rest of the way. Lloyd Moore, Jimmy Florian, Tim Flock and Lee Petty rounded out the top five. Flock was running third when a wheel came off his Lincoln and bounced into the path of Blair, who struck it. The steering column in Blair's Cadillac snapped, came up through the driver's compartment and hit the driver. The High Point, North Carolina, star spent one night in the hospital. Turner won $1,500 for his efforts as only six cars finished after 28 started. Points leader Red Byron did not enter the race. Tim Flock took over the points lead on the strength of his fourth-place finish. Turner's John Eanes-owned Oldsmobile was running on Dunlop tires. Dunlop had plenty of space on Turner's car — placing its name on the hood and side doors. Erickson's appearance was his last start of the year. A short time later, he lost an arm in a hot-rod crash. Also following the race, the FBI began investigating some individuals who were trying to introduce racketeering and gambling into stock car racing.

Top-ten results

  1. 41- Curtis Turner
  2. 59- Lloyd Moore
  3. 27- Jimmy Florian
  4. 21- Tim Flock
  5. 42- Lee Petty
  6. 90- Frank Mundy
  7. 66- Pappy Hough
  8. 293- Bob Dickson
  9. 8- Dick Linder
  10. 89- Pepper Cunningham

1950-04

The fourth race of the 1950 season was run on May 21 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia, the first race in the lineage of the Virginia 500, the spring race at the track. Buck Baker won the pole. Curtis Turner got his second-straight Grand National win with a decisive triumph. The Roanoke, Virginia, "Blond Bomber" dashed ahead of Baker in the 11th lap and led the rest of the way in the 150-lap, 75 mile feature at the half-mile dirt oval. Jim Paschal finished second in a four-year-old Ford, Lee Petty was third and Glenn Dunnaway came in fourth. Cyde Minter picked up fifth spot. Turner's Oldsmobile outdistanced the field by two full laps. He up to only 2.5 points behind leader Tim Flock, who fell victim to rear end problems after 97 laps. Baker started on the pole at 54.216 mph in a Ford police special. He faded to eighth at the finish. Herb Thomas was running among the leaders in his Ford when a spindle broke in the final laps. He got credit for 14th in the field of 25.

Top-ten results

  1. 41- Curtis Turner
  2. 79- Jim Paschal
  3. 42- Lee Petty
  4. 49- Glenn Dunaway
  5. 19- Clyde Minter
  6. 31- Bill Long
  7. 91- Donald Thomas
  8. 87- Buck Baker
  9. 60- Bill Rexford
  10. 59- Lloyd Moore

Poor Man's 500

The fifth race of the 1950 season was run on May 30 at Canfield Speedway in Canfield, Ohio. The event was staged on the same day as the Indianapolis 500 — hence the title of the "Poor Man's 500". Jimmy Florian won the pole. Bill Rexford of Conewango Valley, New York, stalked Curtis Turner for over half the race, then took command to win the 100-mile race. Rexford took the lead in the 121st lap and went on to beat runner-up Glenn Dunnaway by two laps. Lloyd Moore finished third and took the lead in the Grand National point standings by 36.5 points over Tim Flock, who finished ninth. Lee Petty crossed the finish line in fourth place and Bill Blair took fifth. The promoters did pay some lap money, with $5 going to the leader of each lap from the 101st through the 200th. Rexford's earnings came to $1,400 with the lap money. Turner led the first 120 laps before his engine went sour. He departed after 133 laps and wound up 19th. A crowd of 11,000 showed up on Memorial Day and watched Al Gross, former stunt car driver for the Jimmy Lynch Thrill Show, flip his Oldsmobile in the ninth lap. Gross suffered a broken back and was taken to the hospital for an extended stay. Frank Canale posted the second-fastest qualifying time but overheating problems forced him out after 74 laps. Joe Merola was on hand with a new radically designed 1948 Tucker Torpedo, one of the most controversial and advanced automobiles. The car went out before Merola was able to complete a lap. This was the first NASCAR race with a name.

Top-ten results

  1. 60- Bill Rexford
  2. 49- Glenn Dunaway
  3. 59- Lloyd Moore
  4. 42- Lee Petty
  5. 22- Bill Blair
  6. 27- Jimmy Florian
  7. 48- Dick Burns
  8. 89- Bobby Courtwright
  9. 90- Tim Flock
  10. 293- Bob Dickson

1950-06

The sixth race of the 1950 season was run on June 18 at Vernon Fairgrounds in Vernon, New York. Chuck Mahoney won the pole. Bill Blair of High Point, North Carolina, took the lead in the 25th lap and led the remaining distance to score his first Grand National win at the Vernon Fairgrounds. A crowd of 15,000 showed up for the one-year anniversary of NASCAR Grand National stock car racing. Blair's Mercury was comfortably ahead of Lloyd Moore at the finish of the 100-mile race. Moore extended his point lead to 216.5 points over Tim Rock, who did not enter. Chuck Mahoney was third, while Dick Burns came in fourth and Lee Petty fifth. Mahoney started on the pole and led the first 18 laps. He was in the lead when his Mercury hit a loose wheel rolling on the track, blew a tire and bent an axle. His pit crew did an excellent job of repairing the damage, and even more incredible was his drive back into third place. Bill Rexford finished sixth and moved into the top-ten in points. Ann Chester became the fourth female driver to race in the Grand National ranks. Her Plymouth fell victim to early problems and she finished 22nd in the 23 car field.

Top-ten results

  1. 2- Bill Blair
  2. 59- Lloyd Moore
  3. 77- Chuck Mahoney
  4. 18- Dick Burns
  5. 42- Lee Petty
  6. 60- Bill Rexford
  7. 9- Art Lamey
  8. 27- Jimmy Florian
  9. 25- Dick Linder
  10. 24- Dick Clothier

1950-07

The seventh race of the 1950 season was run on June 25 at Dayton Speedway at Dayton, Ohio. Dick Linder won the pole. Jimmy Florian muscled his Ford past Curtis Turner with 32 laps remaining and won the 100-mile event at Dayton Speedway. It was the first win in Grand National competition for the Ford nameplate, and the first NASCAR race held entirely on pavement. The lead changed hands six times among four different drivers with Florian holding the upper hand on two occasions for a total of 40 laps. Along with ushering in Ford's first win, Florian established another "first" on the muggy afternoon. He pulled into victory lane and climbed out wearing nothing but his white pants. The 27-year-old Cleveland mechanic said he decided not to wear a shirt due to the hot weather and since there was no NASCAR rule requiring him to do so. "It was awfully hot and I knew I'd be more comfortable without a shirt," said Florian. "I've done it several times before, but not in the Grand Nationals." Dick Linder started on the pole and led on two occasions for 35 laps. He eventually finished second as Buck Barr came in third. Turner wound up fourth and Art Lamey was fifth. Lloyd Moore finished 23rd in the field of 25 and failed to earn any championship points, but he still held a 202.5 point lead over Lee Petty who finished eighth. Florian jumped to third in the standings, 171.5 points out of first place. Frank Mundy drove a Nash Ambassador, but fell out early with mechanical problems. Herschel Buchanan drove another Nash to a sixth-place finish.

Top-ten results

  1. 27- Jimmy Florian
  2. 25- Dick Linder
  3. 8- Buck Barr
  4. 41- Curtis Turner
  5. 9- Art Lamey
  6. 12- Herschel Buchanan
  7. Duane Carter
  8. 42- Lee Petty
  9. 77- Chuck Mahoney
  10. 8- Bill Rexford

1950-08

The eighth race of the 1950 season was run on July 2 at Monroe County Fairgrounds in Rochester, New York. Curtis Turner won the pole. Turner passed the field and cruised to an easy win in the 100-mile Grand National event. It was his fourth career win. Turner, starting his Oldsmobile on the pole, jumped out to an early lead and led the entire 200 laps on the half-mile dirt track. He wound up three laps in front of runner-up Bill Blair, who edged out Lee Petty in a stretch duel. Jimmy Florian was fourth and Bill Rexford fifth. Turner averaged 50.614 mph as three caution flags broke the action for seven total laps. Following the race, Turner and Petty fought at the inspection station. Each was fined $100 by NASCAR. Dick Burns was badly shaken when his Mercury left the track and struck a light pole in the 133rd lap. The event was the first Grand National race in which a father-son duo competed together. Roscoe "Pappy" Hough and his son Lee finished 18th and 25th. Turner's victory pushed him atop the point standings by two points over Lloyd Moore. Petty stood third in points, 24.5 points out of first place, but he was stripped of all 809 points a week later, when NASCAR officials discovered he that competed in a non-sanctioned race.

Top-ten results

  1. 41- Curtis Turner
  2. 2- Bill Blair
  3. 42- Lee Petty
  4. 27- Jimmy Florian
  5. 80- Bill Rexford
  6. 24- Dick Clothier
  7. 59- Lloyd Moore
  8. 98- Lyle Scott
  9. Dick Jerrett
  10. 25- Dick Linder

1950-09

The ninth race of the 1950 season was run on July 23 at Charlotte Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. Curtis Turner won the pole and jumped into the lead in the opening lap and never looked back as he streaked to victory in the 150-mile Grand National race. The muscular driver out of Roanoke, Virginia led from start to finish — the second race in a row that Turner had led every lap. The triumph kept Turner in the Grand National point lead as Lloyd Moore dropped to 21st in the 26 car field. Chuck Mahoney finished in second place, with Herb Thomas, Jimmie Lewallen and Dick Burns rounding out the top five. Bill Blair and Bill Rexford pressured Turner in the early going, but Blair departed with a broken spindle and engine failure put Rexford out of action. Lee Petty and Glenn Dunnaway were running in the top five when both Plymouth drivers lost wheels. They finished 11th and 12th respectively. On the same day, Jim Roper, winner of the first Grand National race at Charlotte on June 19, 1949, won a 20-lap strictly stock outlaw feature at Pratt, Kansas, on a 1.6-mile paved oval, averaging 67.659 mph.

Top-ten results

  1. 41- Curtis Turner
  2. 77- Chuck Mahoney
  3. 92- Herb Thomas
  4. Jimmie Lewallen
  5. 18- Dick Burns (driver)
  6. 60- George Hartley
  7. 9- Donald Thomas
  8. Frank Mundy
  9. 90- Tim Flock
  10. 37- Bill Snowden

1950-10

The tenth race of the 1950 season was run on August 13 at Occoneechee Speedway in Hillsboro, North Carolina. Dick Linder won the pole, and Curtis Turner took the lead on the first lap of the race and maintained it through the next 45 laps. However, on lap 46, Turner blew a tire and went into the pits, leaving him two laps down. [1] This gave the lead to Pee Wee Martin for 12 laps, before Fireball Roberts took over on lap 58. Turner managed to regain the lead lap, but ran out of time to catch Roberts, who scored the first win of his career. Linder finished third, with Bill Rexford fourth, Clyde Minter fifth, and Gene Austin, Lee Petty, Herb Thomas, Chuck Mahoney, and Johnny Mantz rounding out the top 10. Turner's second place kept him at the top of the points standings. [2]

Top-ten results

  1. 71- Fireball Roberts
  2. 41- Curtis Turner
  3. 25- Dick Linder
  4. 80- Bill Rexford
  5. 19- Clyde Minter
  6. Gene Austin
  7. 42- Lee Petty
  8. 92- Herb Thomas
  9. 77- Chuck Mahoney
  10. 90- Johnny Mantz

1950-11

The eleventh race of the 1950 season was run on August 20 at Dayton Speedway in Dayton, Ohio. Curtis Turner won the pole and led the first 48 laps, but had problems, ultimately finishing in 23rd. [3] Dick Linder then took control, and dominated the remainder of the event, winning over Red Harvey. Herb Thomas, Lee Petty, and Art Lamey rounded out the top five. The race was shortened by five laps due to a serious crash by Johnny Mantz, when he plowed through a guardrail and Joe Merola drove into the debris. Mantz was uninjured, while Merola only had minor cuts and bruises. [3] Despite his 23rd place, Turner kept the points lead over Lloyd Moore.

Top-ten results

  1. 25- Dick Linder
  2. Red Harvey
  3. 92- Herb Thomas
  4. 42- Lee Petty
  5. Art Lamey
  6. Paul Parks
  7. Jack Kabat
  8. 59- Lloyd Moore
  9. 12- Joe Nagle
  10. Paul Smith

1950-12

The twelfth race of the 1950 season was run on August 27 at Hamburg Speedway in Hamburg, New York. Dick Linder won the pole, and while Curtis Turner showed a major challenge, leading 74 of the 200 laps, Linder came out on top, winning by 20 yards over Fireball Roberts. [4] Turner, Lloyd Moore, and Jack White made up the rest of the top five.

Top-ten results

  1. 25- Dick Linder
  2. 11- Fireball Roberts
  3. 41- Curtis Turner
  4. 59- Lloyd Moore
  5. Jack White
  6. 80- Bill Rexford
  7. Frank Mundy
  8. 93- Ted Chamberlain
  9. 66- Pappy Hough
  10. Bill Blair

Southern 500

The inaugural Southern 500 was run on September 4 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Curtis Turner won the pole.

Top-ten results

  1. 98- Johnny Mantz
  2. 82- Fireball Roberts
  3. 22- Red Byron
  4. 59- Bill Rexford
  5. 77- Chuck Mahoney
  6. 42- Lee Petty
  7. 71- Cotton Owens
  8. 2- Bill Blair
  9. 52- Hershel McGriff
  10. 61- George Hartley

1950-14

The fourteenth race of the 1950 season was run on September 17 at Langhorne Speedway in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Wally Campbell won the pole.

Top-ten results

  1. 47- Fonty Flock
  2. 2- Bill Blair
  3. 82- Fireball Roberts
  4. 42- Lee Petty
  5. Neil Cole
  6. 88- Pepper Cunningham
  7. 87- Buck Baker
  8. 60- Bill Rexford
  9. 44- Johnny Grubb
  10. 46- Kenneth Wagner

Wilkes 200

The Wilkes 200 was run on September 24 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Fireball Roberts won the pole.

Top-ten results

  1. 98- Leon Sales
  2. Jack Smith
  3. 78- Ewell Weddle
  4. 92- Herb Thomas
  5. 44- Gayle Warren
  6. 52- Weldon Adams
  7. Jimmy Thompson
  8. Jerry Wimbish
  9. 7- Bob Flock
  10. 94- Herbert Burns

1950-16

The sixteenth race of the 1950 season was run on October 1 at Vernon Fairgrounds in Vernon, New York. Dick Linder won the pole.

Top-ten results

  1. 25- Dick Linder
  2. 38- Ted Swaim
  3. 59- Lloyd Moore
  4. 9- Tim Flock
  5. Jack Reynolds
  6. 60- Bill Rexford
  7. 42- Lee Petty
  8. Jimmy Thompson
  9. 77- Chuck Mahoney
  10. Dick Jerrett

1950-17

The seventeenth race of the 1950 season was run on October 15 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia, a race now regarded as the second edition of the Old Dominion 500 (the distance changed after the track was paved in 1955 from 200 to 400, and then 500 laps). Fonty Flock won the pole. This race was team owner Junie Donlavey's first career start, fielding an Oldsmobile driven by Runt Harris.

Top-ten results

  1. 92- Herb Thomas
  2. 42- Lee Petty
  3. 87- Buck Baker
  4. 7- Fonty Flock
  5. 52- Weldon Adams
  6. 11- Fireball Roberts
  7. 8- Jack Holloway
  8. 25- Jimmy Thompson
  9. 30- Jim Paschal
  10. 93- Ted Chamberlain

1950-18

The eighteenth race of the 1950 season was run on October 15 at Funk's Speedway in Winchester, Indiana. Dick Linder won the pole.

Top-ten results

  1. 59- Lloyd Moore
  2. 101- Bucky Sager
  3. 60- Bill Rexford
  4. Chuck James
  5. 10- Ray Duhigg
  6. Carl Renner
  7. 27- Jimmy Florian
  8. Chuck Garrett
  9. Bud Boone
  10. 8- Buck Barr

1950-19

The nineteenth and final race of the 1950 season was run on October 29 at Occoneechee Speedway in Hillsboro, North Carolina. Fonty Flock won the pole.

Top-ten results

  1. 42- Lee Petty
  2. 87- Buck Baker
  3. 72- Weldon Adams
  4. 98- Tim Flock
  5. 41.5- Bill Blair
  6. 44- Gayle Warren
  7. 10- Ray Duhigg
  8. 99- Jim Delaney
  9. 18- Herbert Burns
  10. 8- Jack Holloway

Results and standings

Races

No.Race Pole position Most laps ledWinning driverManufacturerModel Year
11950–01 Flag of South Carolina.svg Joe Littlejohn Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Harold Kite Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Harold Kite [5] Lincoln 1949
21950–02 Flag of Alabama.svg Red Byron Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Tim Flock Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Tim Flock Lincoln 1949
31950–03 Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Tim Flock Flag of Virginia.svg Curtis Turner Flag of Virginia.svg Curtis Turner Oldsmobile 1950
41950–04 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Buck Baker Flag of Virginia.svg Curtis Turner Flag of Virginia.svg Curtis Turner Oldsmobile 1950
5Poor Man's 500 Flag of Ohio.svg Jimmy Florian Flag of Virginia.svg Curtis Turner Flag of New York.svg Bill Rexford Oldsmobile 1950
61950–06 Flag of New York.svg Chuck Mahoney Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Bill Blair Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Bill Blair Mercury 1950
71950–07 Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Dick Linder Flag of Virginia.svg Curtis Turner Flag of Ohio.svg Jimmy Florian Ford 1950
81950–08 Flag of Virginia.svg Curtis Turner Flag of Virginia.svg Curtis Turner Flag of Virginia.svg Curtis Turner Oldsmobile 1950
91950–09 Flag of Virginia.svg Curtis Turner Flag of Virginia.svg Curtis Turner Flag of Virginia.svg Curtis Turner Oldsmobile 1950
101950–10 Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Dick Linder Flag of Virginia.svg Curtis Turner Flag of Florida (1900-1985).svg Fireball Roberts Oldsmobile 1949
111950–11 Flag of Virginia.svg Curtis Turner Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Dick Linder Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Dick Linder Oldsmobile 1950
121950–12 Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Dick Linder Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Dick Linder Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Dick Linder Oldsmobile 1950
13 Southern 500 Flag of Virginia.svg Curtis Turner Flag of California.svg Johnny Mantz Flag of California.svg Johnny Mantz Plymouth 1950
141950–14 Flag of New Jersey.svg Wally Campbell Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Fonty Flock Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Fonty Flock Oldsmobile 1950
15 Wilkes 200 Flag of Florida (1900-1985).svg Fireball Roberts Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Fonty Flock Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Leon Sales Plymouth 1950
161950–16 Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Dick Linder Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Dick Linder Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Dick Linder Oldsmobile 1950
171950–17 Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Fonty Flock Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Herb Thomas Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Herb Thomas Plymouth 1950
181950–18 Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Dick Linder Flag of Ohio.svg Bucky Sager Flag of New York.svg Lloyd Moore Mercury 1950
191950–19 Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Fonty Flock Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Fonty Flock Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Lee Petty Plymouth 1949

Drivers' championship

For the 1950 season, the number of points awarded depended on the purse of the race. Most races were worth around $4000, and so the winner got 200 points, second place 180 points, third place 160, and so on. Points were awarded somewhat inconsistently and in particular, the lowest place that got awarded points changed from race to race. The Southern 500, with an incredible $25325 purse, awarded 1250 points, enough to finish in 6th just by winning that one race. Confusing the matter further, many people got deducted points for taking place in non-NASCAR-sanctioned races.

(key) Bold - Pole position * – Most laps led.

Pos.DriverRaces Points
DAB CHA LAN MAR POR VER DAY MON CHA OCC DAY HAM DAR LAN NWS VER MAR FNK OCC
1 Flag of New York.svg Bill Rexford 2913229161051941464863261959
2 Flag of Florida (1900-1985).svg Fireball Roberts 33151223166211848+12
3 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Lee Petty 1618534583117427647211590 [lower-alpha 2]
4 Flag of New York.svg Lloyd Moore 3142103223721DNQ84711631171398
5 Flag of Virginia.svg Curtis Turner 11151*1*19*4*1*1*2*23360242217291375+12
6 Flag of California.svg Johnny Mantz 10121*1282
7 Flag of New York.svg Chuck Mahoney15391729271653191217+12
8 Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Dick Linder 91392102231*1*13301*131121
9 Flag of Ohio.svg Jimmy Florian 36814192226417801
10 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Bill Blair 3419191151*1621627108211165766
11 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Herb Thomas 923142021383134111*18590+12
12 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Buck Baker 9228146971432531+12
13 Flag of South Carolina.svg Cotton Owens 14167500
14 Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Fonty Flock 1021281*18*420*458+12
15 Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Weldon Adams15653440
16 Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Tim Flock 61*420991119244124437+12
17 Flag of Virginia.svg Clyde Minter 3523565151419427
18 Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Dick Burns74225221830DNP341+12
19 Flag of Wisconsin.svg Art Lamey75524320
20 Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Bob Flock 72279314
21 Flag of Pennsylvania.svg George Hartley116112029101111298
22 Flag of Virginia.svg Gayle Warren211426202825685186287
23 Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Frank Mundy 3711625873222275+12
24 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Jim Paschal 2322053928220+12
25 Flag of New York.svg Jack White 207252252427211+12
26 Flag of New Jersey.svg Pappy Hough71118928207+12
27 Flag of Ohio.svg Ray Duhigg23242757202+12
28 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Leon Sales 121200
29 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Jimmy Thompson 40788200
30 Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Harold Kite 1*3812187
31 Flag of New Jersey.svg Neil Cole 185183+12
32 Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Jack Smith 27292180
33 Flag of Ohio.svg Bucky Sager2*27180
34 Flag of Ohio.svg Red Harvey2180
35 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Ted Swaim2180
36 Flag of Ohio.svg Buck Barr310180
37 Flag of New Jersey.svg Pepper Cunningham106177+12
38 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Ewell Weddle31314173+12
39 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Donald Thomas 77164
40 Flag of Florida (1900-1985).svg Bill Snowden 5101337163
41 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Jimmie Lewallen 42143140
42 Flag of Ohio.svg Chuck James4140
43 Flag of New Jersey.svg Dick Clothier361012618133+12
44 Flag of Ohio.svg Paul Parks20632121715124+12
45 Flag of Florida (1900-1985).svg Al Gross41828124
46 Flag of New Jersey.svg Jack Reynolds524120
47 Flag of New Jersey.svg Jim Delaney148114
48 Flag of Ohio.svg Carl Renner136108
49 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Jack Holloway710107+12
50 Flag of Florida (1900-1985).svg J. C. Van Landingham 5105
51 Flag of New Jersey.svg Bob Dickson61610123136105
52 Flag of New York.svg Gene Austin176102
53 Flag of Louisiana.svg Herschel Buchanan396100
54 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Bill Long6100
55 Flag of West Virginia.svg Johnny Grubb129111298
56 Flag of California.svg Duane Carter 780
Flag of Ohio.svg Jack Kabat780
58 Flag of Florida (1900-1985).svg Herbert Burns10975
59 Flag of New York.svg Lyle Scott2415824141968
60 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Fred Johnson 82667+12
61 Flag of New York.svg Ted Chamberlain83417101566
62 Flag of New Jersey.svg Bobby Courtwright860
Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Chuck Garrett860
Flag of the State of Georgia (1920-1956).svg Jerry Wimbish860
65 Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg Pap White16DNQ57+12
Pos.DriverRaces Points
DAB CHA LAN MAR POR VER DAY MON CHA OCC DAY HAM DAR LAN NWS VER MAR FNK OCC

Notable drivers who did not score points

Notes

  1. The name "Wilkes 200" refers to the number of laps, not the length.
  2. Petty was deducted 809 points for taking part in a non-NASCAR sanctioned race. Without that penalty, he would have comfortably won the 1950 championship. [1]

Related Research Articles

William J. "Bill" Rexford was a stock car driver in the early 1950s. He is best remembered for winning the 1950 NASCAR Grand National Series championship at only 23 years old. Rexford currently holds the distinction as NASCAR's youngest Cup Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1949 NASCAR Strictly Stock Series</span> 1st season of NASCAR stock-car racing

The 1949 NASCAR Strictly Stock season was the inaugural season of professional stock car racing in the United States. Beginning at Charlotte Speedway on June 19, 1949, the season included eight races and two exhibition races. The season concluded with the Wilkes 200 at North Wilkesboro Speedway on October 16. Raymond Parks won the Owners' Championship, while Red Byron won the Drivers' Championship with a 16th-place finish at the final race of the season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daytona Beach and Road Course</span> Motorsport track in the United States

The Daytona Beach and Road Course was a motorsport race track that was instrumental in the formation of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. It originally became famous as the location where 15 world land speed records were set.

Canfield Speedway is a half mile dirt oval racetrack that hosted (major) sanctioned auto racing from 1950 to 1964, but other associations ran until the late 1970s. There was also a 1/4 mile dirt racing surface that shared the front stretch with the 1/2 mile track. It was used until the track was closed to auto racing in 1973. Attendance varied from 30,000 people for larger events to 10,000 people for ones of less significance. The track is located at the Canfield Fairgrounds in Canfield, Ohio, and is still in use today, primarily during the Canfield Fair.

The 1951 NASCAR Grand National season was the third season of professional stock car racing in the United States. Beginning at the Daytona Beach Road Course on February 5, 1951, the season included forty-one races. The season concluded at New Mobile Speedway on November 25. Herb Thomas won the Drivers' Championship with a 21st-place finish at the final race of the season.

The 1952 NASCAR Grand National Series was the fourth season of the premier stock car racing championship sanctioned by NASCAR. Once the season was concluded, driver Tim Flock was crowned the Grand National champion after winning 8 of the 33 events that he competed in. This was the first year that NASCAR scheduled its events to avoid the conflicts of having two races, at two different tracks, on the same day. The only exception was on June 1, when races were held at both Toledo Speedway in Ohio, and Hayloft Speedway in Augusta, Georgia. Herb Thomas finished second to Flock after competing in 32 races, and Lee Petty finished third in the standings that year. Throughout the 1952 season, a total of 261 drivers entered at least one of the 34 events. Virtually every American car manufacturer had at least one of their cars start that season.

The 1953 NASCAR Grand National Series began on February 1 and ended on November 1. Future NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Herb Thomas, driving his own No. 92 Hudson Hornet, won the championship and became the first repeat champion of the series. It is also the season with the most one-off races. 9 of the 37 races took place on racetracks that only held a cup race in the 1953 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1955 Southern 500</span> Auto race held at Darlington Raceway in 1955

The 1955 NASCAR Grand National season began on November 7, 1954, and ended on October 30, 1955. Even though the season was resolved in the course of two different years, all NASCAR personnel were allowed to have their traditional two-month silly season that traditionally comes between mid-November and mid-February. Tim Flock won the 1955 championship by a margin of 1508 over top of Buck Baker. This season was unusual because of its 11-month season. As the ninth season of the series now known as the Cup Series, most of the drivers involved were still the first-generation race car drivers. They did not have any ties to the stock car racing world through their parents or grandparents although some of them served in World War II prior to their NASCAR careers. However, the generation that would gain notoriety and fame through nepotism would emerge about ten years later. The average horsepower of a stock car competing the 1955 NASCAR Grand National season would be 230 horsepower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1956 Wilkes County 160</span> Auto race run at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 1956

The 1956 Wilkes County 160 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on April 8, 1956, at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1950 Southern 500</span> Auto race held at Darlington Raceway in 1950

The inaugural Southern Five-Hundred was an automobile race held at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina on September 4, 1950, as part of the 1950 NASCAR Grand National. While the 1950 race was co-sanctioned by NASCAR and its rival Central States Racing Association, all subsequent Southern 500 races were hosted exclusively by NASCAR.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1951 Southern 500</span> Auto race held at Darlington Raceway in 1951

The 1951 Southern 500, the second running of the event, was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on September 3, 1951, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. The winner of the race was Herb Thomas. The event had the most starters in NASCAR history with 82 cars starting the race, of which 58 cars would not finish the race and only one car finished on the lead lap.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1952 Southern 500</span> Auto race held at Darlington Raceway in 1952

The 1952 Southern 500, the third running of the event, was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on September 1, 1952, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1954 Wilkes County 160</span> Auto race held at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 1954

The 1954 Wilkes County 160 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event held on April 4, 1954, at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Until the 1957 running of the Wilkes 160, North Wilkesboro Speedway was a dirt oval track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1953 Wilkes 160</span> Auto race held at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 1953

The 1953 Wilkes 160 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on October 11, 1953, at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1957 Southern 500</span> Auto race held at Darlington Raceway in 1957

The 1957 Southern 500, the eighth running of the event, was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on September 2, 1957, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1950 Wilkes 200</span> NASCAR race from 1950

The 1950 Wilkes 200 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on September 24, 1950, at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

The 1954 NASCAR Grand National season consisted of 37 races from February 1, 1954, and to November 1. Lee Petty, driving for Petty Enterprises, won the championship, his first of three in the series.

Jimmy Florian was an American stock car racing driver. Nicknamed "Shirtless", he attained the moniker after winning his first and only NASCAR Grand National Series race in 1950 at Dayton Speedway; upon entering Victory Lane, he exited the car without wearing a shirt. The victory was also the first for Ford Motor Company in NASCAR's top series.

The 1956 NASCAR Grand National Season began on November 13, 1955, and ended on November 18, 1956, lasting slightly longer than a full year. Driver Tim Flock was the defending champion, and started off with a win at the opening Hickory Speedway, but it was Buck Baker who captured the championship. Along with the trophies, Baker also collected $34,076.35 in prize money, and finished more than 400 points ahead of his closest competitor. Baker competed in 48 races throughout the 1956 season as Speedy Thompson and Herb Thomas rounded out the top three in points by the final race. Even though auto manufactures Chevrolet and Ford both contributed millions of dollars into their cars during the season, it was Carl Kiekhaefer's Chryslers and Dodges that dominated the season including a 16 win stretch through the summer months.

References

  1. 1 2 "50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Occoneechee Speedway (Post 54)". Race Fans Forever. Archived from the original on 2018-07-03. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  2. "1950-10 (Cup) - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  3. 1 2 "1950-11 (Cup) - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  4. "1950-12 (Cup) - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  5. "Kite Wins Daytona Race". Tampa Tribune. February 6, 1950. Retrieved May 14, 2022.