nascar racing experience amazing historical memories daytona beach race

NASCAR Racing Experience, Amazing Historical Memories

by Peter Barnes

The 1950 NASCAR Racing Grand National season was the United States’ second season of professional stock car racing. The season began on February 5, 1950, at the Daytona Beach Road Course and lasted 19 races. On October 29, the season came to a close at Occoneechee Speedway.

NASCAR Racing Experience, Amazing Historical Memories
NASCAR Racing at Daytona Beach in 1956 | Pinterest

NASCAR RACING AT A GLANCE

How was NASCAR racing born?

On December 14, 1947, one of these racers, Big Bill France, hosted a conference with other drivers, vehicle owners, and mechanics to finally establish some common rules for the races, resulting in the formation of NASCAR, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. Two months later, the first official race took place.

Why is it called NASCAR?

When it was discovered that the name “National Stock Car Racing Association” was already in use by a rival sanctioning body, mechanic Red Vogt’s suggestion of “National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing” was chosen.

Who won NASCAR in 1950?

On October 29, the season came to a close at Occoneechee Speedway. The Owners’ Championship was won by Julian Buesink, and the Drivers’ Championship was won by Bill Rexford, who finished 26th in the final race of the season.

What year did NASCAR begin?

February 21, 1948, Daytona Beach, FL

Who were the first NASCAR drivers?

Lee Petty, Curtis Turner, Buck Baker

What was the first car banned from NASCAR?

Because it was too good at racing, the Dodge Daytona was banned. Buddy Baker set a new record of 200 mph on the same Talladega track on March 24, 1970.

THE FIRST BEACH RACE WAS HELD IN DAYTONA BEACH IN 1936.

NASCAR Racing Experience, Amazing Historical Memories
First Beach Car Race In 1936 | Getty Images

Even though NASCAR now races on a real track rather than the sand, Daytona Beach is the starting point for every season. With two miles of beach front and two miles of paved road, this beach track was truly unusual, offering the longest straightaways in stock car racing. At both the north and south extremities, there were hairpin corners. Some of the spectators would watch the race from the sand dunes on the course’s outskirts. Others would sit on the infield dunes, while others would sit in the wooden grandstands.

In the 1936 race, all types of vehicles competed – no vehicle was deemed ineligible. The race featured convertibles, hardtops, sports cars, and everything in between. Imagine some of those bigger vehicles on the beach. They’d become engulfed in the sand. The event was supposed to last 250 miles, but organizers called it off 10 miles short of the finish line. When they came to a halt, ten of the twenty-seven cars were still on the road. With his 1936 Ford, Milt Marion came out on top.

NASCAR Racing Experience, Amazing Historical Memories
First Beach Car Race In 1936 | Pinterest

NASCAR IN THE 1950s

NASCAR Racing Experience, Amazing Historical Memories
NASCAR Racing 1950s | Getty Images

Tim Flock went through with the strange gimmick of riding in the automobile with a monkey in 1953. For “Jocko Flocko,” the monkey, they put a little seat in the car. He was even equipped with a helmet. The monkey rode beside him for eight races, winning one of them.

NASCAR Racing Experience, Amazing Historical Memories
Jocko Flocko (center) poses with co-driver Tim Flock (left), Herb Thomas (center right) and Fonty Flock (right) after a NASCAR Cup Series race in 1953. | AccessWDUN

Jocko rode for the last time two weeks later, when he became dislodged from his seat and landed on the floorboard late in the race. When he pushed the wire that opened the trap door, a boulder from the railway flew in and smacked Jocko in the face. As you might expect, he’s a bit of a jerk.

As you might expect, he went insane and began jumping on Tim. Tim was doing everything he could to avoid destroying the automobile until he could make a pit stop. He explained that he had to come to a halt in order to “get the monkey off his back.”

NASCAR Racing Experience, Amazing Historical Memories
Pinterest

THE KIEKHAEFER TEAM HAD A CHALLENGING YEAR IN 1956.

Buck Baker was victorious in Shelby, North Carolina, but not without difficulty. According to Tim Flock, who left the squad before that year after 18 wins and a 1955 Grand National Championship, Buck was a member of the Kiekhaefer team, whose owner was described as a drill sergeant.

Herb Thomas, another member of the squad, also left in the middle of the season, thus he and Buck Owens were opponents.

When the race began, Herb Thomas was leading in the points, but Baker’s teammate, Speedy Thompson, “hooked” Herb’s bumper, causing a crash and badly injuring him. Buck Baker was able to win the race due to the incident. Not just Thompson, but also the team’s owner, Carl Kiekhefer, were chastised by many onlookers and sports journalists. It got to the point that Kiekhefer didn’t show up for another NASCAR race.

NASCAR Racing Experience, Amazing Historical Memories
Wreckage on NASCAR Racing | History Daily

In 1958, Cotton Owens took part in the final beach race in Daytona Beach. He came in tenth position. Paul Goldsmith won in his #3 Smokey Yunick-prepared Pontiac (aptly called), but not without some vision impairment.

His eyesight was obstructed since his wipers had blown back over his roof and were no longer operating. It was difficult for him to see due to the wet sand and wetness from the water. Despite this, he crossed the finish line ahead of Curtis Turner. The next week, Paul left NASCAR to join USAC in order to run in the Indianapolis 500. Years later, he returned to NASCAR.

The Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina, hosted one of the most spectacular races in NASCAR history in September of 1958. Eddie Pagan’s #45 burst through the guardrail after blowing a tire on lap 137; Eddie Gray departed the building on lap 160; and Jack Smith’s #47 bounced over a wall on lap 207.

NASCAR Racing Experience, Amazing Historical Memories
Wreckage on NASCAR Racing | Pinterest

The fact that none of the drivers were injured was a miracle. The race was “Fireball” Roberts’ third super-speedway victory of the year.

In 1959, the Daytona 500 was held for the first time, with 39 NASCAR Grand Nationals and 20 convertibles competing. There were 41,921 ecstatic fans present. It came down to Johnny Beauchamp in the #73 car and Lee Petty in the #42 car in a very close race.

When Beauchamp pulled up alongside Petty with four circuits to go, he was in the lead. Officially, Beauchamp was deemed the winner, although most supporters who were able to see well thought Petty had won. All of the footage and images were evaluated 61 hours after the race ended, and it was eventually determined that Petty was the winner.

NASCAR Racing Experience, Amazing Historical Memories
NASCAR Racing Winner 1950 | Pinterest

Source: Wikipedia, History Daily

Credited to original authors, DM for any removal please.

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