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1956 NASCAR Grand National Series

From Wikipedia - Reading time: 32 min

The 1956 NASCAR Grand National (now NASCAR Cup Series) 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.

1956 season summary[edit]

A 1956 Chrysler 300-B restored for the Henry Ford museum to replicate one of season champion Buck Baker's rides.

The season started on a somber note; as former driver Buddy Shuman died the night before the season started, in a Hickory hotel fire. The coroner reported that the mattress had been on fire, and it appeared that Shuman had attempted to escape, but broke down the bathroom door instead of the hallway. Shuman had been put in charge of the factory effort by Ford to succeed in NASCAR.[1]

Buck Baker won the NASCAR Grand National championship with 14 wins in the 1956 race season. The season involved races on 40 dirt tracks, 3 road courses, and 2 superspeedways.[2] More than 300 drivers competed in at least one race throughout the season With Baker and Speedy Thompson competing in 48 of the 56 races. Baker finished the season with 31 top five finishes, 39 top ten, and 12 poles.[3]

Baker had been improving his season finishing position for a couple years; with a 4th place finish in 1953, 3rd in 1954, and runner-up in 1955. For the 1956 season Baker joined the Carl Kiekhaefer team who already boasted Speedy Thompson and Tim Flock. The powerhouse Kiekhaifer team finished with a total of 30 races in the 56 race season, including 16 straight races by 4 different drivers during one stretch of the season.[4] Baker took home the championship, Thompson finished second, and Flock only started 4 races for Kiekhaifer but still brought home a 9th place for his season efforts. Flock quit the Kiekhaifer team part way into the season citing a overly oppressive and driven to win Kiekhaifer.[5] Rules and living arrangements were established by Kiekhaifer; Husbands and wives as well as driver and girlfriends were not allowed to share quarters the night before the race.[6] Herb Thomas replaced Flock on the team, but he refused to remain for the whole season as well.[5][7]

At the time the season occurred, NASCAR was aspiring to become the United States' new dominant race-sanctioning body. This had previously been the a distinction held by the AAA Contest Board. However, the American Automobile Association had ended its involvement in automobile racing in the aftermath of the 1955 Le Mans disaster. Other organizations that were frontrunners angling to become the new dominant U.S. race-sanctioning body were the United States Auto Club and the Sports Car Club of America.[8]

Races[edit]

Summary[edit]

No Race name Track Location Date Track type Winning driver Winning team Attendance
Regular Season
1 Hickory Speedway Hickory, North Carolina November 13, 1955 Oval (dirt short track) Tim Flock Kiekhaefer 7,500
2 Charlotte Speedway Charlotte, North Carolina November 20, 1955 Oval (dirt short track) Fonty Flock Kiekhaefer 10,500
3 Willow Springs Raceway Willow Springs, California November 20, 1955 Road course Chuck Stevenson Carl Dane 17,000
4 Palm Beach Speedway West Palm Beach, Florida December 11, 1955 Oval (short track) Herb Thomas H. Thomas 4,500
5 150 Miles at Arizona State Fairgrounds Arizona State Fairgrounds West Palm Beach, Florida January 22, 1956 Oval (dirt) Buck Baker Kiekhaefer
6 Daytona Beach and Road Course Daytona Beach, Florida February 26, 1956 Road course Tim Flock Kiekhaefer 29,000
7 Palm Beach Speedway West Palm Beach, Florida March 4, 1956 Oval (short track) Billy Myers Stroppe 5,200
8 Wilson Speedway Wilson, North Carolina March 18, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Herb Thomas Yunick 5,000
9 Lakewood Speedway Atlanta, Georgia March 25, 1956 Oval (dirt) Buck Baker Kiekhaefer 17,812
10 Wilkes County 160 North Wilkesboro Speedway North Wilkesboro, North Carolina April 8, 1956 Oval (short track) Tim Flock Kiekhaefer 7,500
11 Greenville-Pickens Speedway Easley, South Carolina May 10, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Buck Baker Kiekhaefer 24,000
12 Richmond 200 Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds Richmond, Virginia April 29, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Buck Baker Kiekhaefer 5,000
13 Arclite 100 Columbia Speedway Columbia, South Carolina May 5, 1956 Oval (dirt) Speedy Thompson Kiekhaefer 5,000
14 Harris Speedway Concord, North Carolina May 6, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Speedy Thompson Kiekhaefer 6,000
15 Greenville-Pickens Speedway Easley, South Carolina May 10, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Buck Baker Kiekhaefer 5,000
16 Hickory Speedway Hickory, North Carolina May 12, 1956 Oval (short track) Speedy Thompson Kiekhaefer 4,500
17 Orange Speedway Hillsborough, North Carolina May 13, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Buck Baker Kiekhaefer 7,500
18 Virginia 500 Martinsville Speedway Ridgeway, Virginia May 20, 1956 Oval (short track) Buck Baker Kiekhaefer 20,000
19 Lincoln Speedway New Oxford, Pennsylvania May 25, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Buck Baker Kiekhaefer
20 Charlotte Speedway Charlotte, North Carolina May 27, 1956 Oval (short track) Speedy Thompson Kiekhaefer 3,900
21 Portland Speedway Portland, Oregon May 27, 1956 Oval (short track) Herb Thomas Kiekhaefer
22 Redwood Speedway California May 30, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Herb Thomas Kiekhaefer
23 Syracuse Mile Syracuse, New York May 30, 1956 Oval (dirt) Buck Baker Kiekhaefer 6,000
24 Merced Fairgrounds Merced, California June 3, 1956 Oval (short track) Herb Thomas Kiekhaefer
25 Memphis-Arkansas Speedway Lehi, Arkansas June 10, 1956 Oval Ralph Moody DePaolo 15,000
26 Southern States Fairgrounds Charlotte, North Carolina June 15, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Speedy Thompson Kiekhaefer 7,800
27 Monroe County Fairgrounds Rochester, New York June 22, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Speedy Thompson Kiekhaefer 6,000
28 Portland Speedway Portland, Oregon June 24, 1956 Oval (short track) John Kieper J. Kieper 1,800
29 Asheville Weaverville Speedway Weaverville, North Carolina July 1, 1956 Oval (short track) Lee Petty Petty Enterprises 8,000
30 Raleigh 250 Raleigh Speedway Raleigh, North Carolina July 4, 1956 Oval Fireball Roberts DePaolo 13,600
31 Peidmont Interstate Fairgrounds Spartanburg, South Carolina July 7, 1956 Oval (short track) Lee Petty Petty Enterprises
32 California State Fairgrounds Sacramento, California July 8, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Lloyd Dane L. Dane
33 Soldier Field Chicago, Illinois July 21, 1956 Oval (short track) Fireball Roberts DePaolo 14,402
34 Cleveland County Fairgrounds Shelby, North Carolina July 27, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Speedy Thompson Kiekhaefer
35 Montgomery Speedway Montgomery, Alabama July 29, 1956 Oval (short track) Marvin Panch Harbison
36 Oklahoma State Fairgrounds Oklahoma City, Oklahoma August 3, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Jim Paschal Hayworth 7,500
37 International Stock Car Road Race Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin August 12, 1956 Road course Tim Flock Stroppe 10,000
38 Old Bridge Stadium Old Bridge, New Jersey August 17, 1956 Oval (short track) Ralph Moody DePaolo
39 Bay Meadows Speedway San Mateo, California August 19, 1956 Oval (dirt track) Eddie Pagan E. Pagan
40 Norfolk Speedway Norfolk, Virginia August 22, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Billy Myers Stroppe
41 Peidmont Interstate Fairgrounds Spartanburg, South Carolina August 23, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Ralph Moody DePaolo 6,000
42 Coastal Speedway Myrtle Beach, South Carolina August 25, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Fireball Roberts DePaolo
43 Portland Speedway Portland, Oregon August 26, 1956 Oval (short track) Royce Hagerty Weida
44 Southern 500 Darlington Raceway Darlington, South Carolina September 3, 1956 Oval Curtis Turner Schwam 70,000
45 Chisholm Speedway Montgomery, Alabama September 9, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Buck Baker Kiekhaefer 2,000
46 Southern States Fairgrounds Charlotte, North Carolina September 12, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Ralph Moody DePaolo 7,300
47 Langhorne Speedway Langhorne, Pennsylvania September 23, 1956 Oval (dirt) Paul Goldsmith Yunick 7,300
48 Portland Speedway Portland, Oregon September 23, 1956 Oval (short track) Lloyd Dane L. Dane
49 Columbia Speedway Cayce, South Carolina September 29, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Buck Baker Kiekhaefer
50 Orange Speedway Hillsborough, North Carolina September 30, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Fireball Roberts DePaolo 7,200
51 Newport Speedway Newport, Tennessee October 7, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Fireball Roberts DePaolo 6,000
52 Charlotte Speedway Charlotte, North Carolina October 14, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Buck Baker Kiekhaefer 6,800
53 Cleveland County Fairgrounds Shelby, North Carolina October 23, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Buck Baker Kiekhaefer
54 Old Dominion 400 Martinsville Speedway Martinsville, Virginia October 28, 1956 Oval (short track) Jack Smith Kiekhaefer 9,500
55 Buddy Shuman 250 Hickory Speedway Hickory, North Carolina November 11, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Speedy Thompson Kiekhaefer 3,500
56 Wilson Speedway Wilson, North Carolina November 18, 1956 Oval (dirt short track) Buck Baker Kiekhaefer

1955[edit]

Race 1: Hickory Speedway (November 13)[edit]

On November 13, 1955 at the Hickory Speedway, 7,500 people watched as the 1956 NASCAR season got underway, with Tim Flock capturing the win in one of Carl Kiekhaefer's Mercury Outboard motors sponsored Chryslers.[note 1] Flock started on the pole and led the first 121 laps of the 200 lap event before spinning in turn three. Lee Petty took the lead and led through lap 138 when Flock caught and passed him; then Flock led from lap 139 to finish. Petty would finish third behind Flock and Curtis Turner, with Dink Widenhouse and Jim Paschal rounding out the top 5. There were 4 cautions on the 0.4 2.5-mile (4.0 km) dirt track, for a total of 23 laps.[citation needed]

Stats[9]
Winning driver: Tim Flock
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1955 Chrysler
Track description: 0.4-mile (0.64 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 80 mi (130 km)
Competitors: 31 drivers
Attendance 7,500
Duration: 1:24:16
Avg. speed: 56.962 mph (91.671 km/h)
Pole speed: 68.965 mph (110.988 km/h)
Cautions: 4
Caution laps: 23
Lead changes: 2
Margin-of-victory: 7 seconds

Race 2: Charlotte Speedway (November 20)[edit]

On November 20,[10] Race 2 was held on the 3/4 mile dirt track Charlotte Speedway. Tim Flock's brother Fonty, who also drove for Kiekhaefer, would lead the race from start to finish, narrowly edged out his brother Tim by half a car length. Lee Petty, Joe Weatherly and, Buck Baker would round out the top five. This would be Kiekhaefer's 10th win in 12 races, dating back to the 1955 season.[citation needed]

Races 2 and 3 were held on the same day.[10]

Stats[11]
Winning driver: Fonty Flock
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1955 Chrysler
Track description: 0.76-mile (1.22 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 100.5 mi (161.7 km)
Competitors: 27 drivers
Attendance 10,500
Duration: 1:37:32
Avg. speed: 61.825 mph (99.498 km/h)
Pole speed: 70.496 mph (113.452 km/h)
Cautions: 2
Caution laps: 7
Lead changes: 0
Margin-of-victory: 0.5 car-lengths

Race 3: Willow Springs Raceway (November 20)[edit]

Also on November 20, in California at Willow Springs Raceway NASCAR held a 200 mile road race at Willow Springs Raceway in California. Chuck Stevenson grabbed that win in his 1956 Ford; followed by Marvin Panch and Johnny Mantz as November came to a close.[12]

Stats[13]
Winning driver: Chuck Stevenson
Winning team: Dane
Winning car make: 1956 Ford
Track description: 2.5-mile (4.0 km) road course
Laps: 80
Length: 200 mi (320 km)
Competitors: 37 drivers
Attendance 17,000
Duration: 3:00:25
Avg. speed: 66.512 mph (107.041 km/h)
Pole speed: 76.556 mph (123.205 km/h)
Cautions: 0
Caution laps: 0
Lead changes: 7
Margin-of-victory: 500 ft (150 m)

Race 4: Palm Beach Speedway (December 11)[edit]

On December 11, 4,500 spectators watched a race at the Palm Beach Speedway in West Palm Beach, Florida. The race is notable in that the first two drivers across the finish line, Joe Weatherly and Jim Reed, were disqualified due to technical violations. The race was awarded to Herb Thomas.[7] Although Weatherly and Reed finished more than a lap ahead of Thomas NASCAR found that their cars were not strictly stock. Weatherly had a special cam installed, and Reed was found to be using modified valves, and both were stripped of their finishing positions. Thomas won the 200 lap, half mile track, race in an hour and a half. Al Keller finished second, Billy Myers grabbed the third spot with Buck Baker and Lee Petty rounding out the top 5. After the race Big Bill France announced that anyone caught cheating again would not only forfeit their finishing position, but their prize money and all their season points to date as well. This ended the 1955 year for NASCAR racing, and January 22, 1956 would begin the titular 1956 season.[citation needed]

Stats[14]
Winning driver: Herb Thomas
Winning team: Herb Thomas
Winning car make: 1956 Chevrolet
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) paved short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 100 mi (160 km)
Competitors: 23 drivers
Attendance 4,500
Duration: 1:31:50
Avg. speed: 65.009 mph (104.622 km/h)
Pole speed: 78.912 mph (126.997 km/h)

Winter of 1956[edit]

Race 5: "150 Miles at Arizona State Fairgrounds" (January 22)[edit]

On January 22, the 150 Miles at Arizona State Fairgrounds was contested as the season's fifth race. It was held at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix, Arizona.[10][15] Buck Baker ,in his 55 Chrysler, earned the first win of the new year, and Kiekhaefer drivers Billy Myers and Ralph Moody captured second and third. Baker's victory was his first start for the juggernaut Kiekhaefer team. When Kiekhaefer realized how formidable Baker was on the track he was quoted as saying "There's only one thing to do with a man like that; and that is to hire him."[16] Slowed by 8 cautions, the one mile dirt track hosted the 150 mile race in two and a half hours.[17]

Stats[15]
Winning driver: Buck Baker
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1955 Chrysler
Track description: 1-mile (1.6 km) dirt oval
Laps: 150
Length: 150 mi (240 km)
Competitors: 30 drivers
Duration: 2:19:44
Avg. speed: 64.408 mph (103.655 km/h)
Pole speed: 71.315 mph (114.770 km/h)
Cautions: 8
Lead changes: 3
Margin-of-victory: 10 car-lengths

Race 6: Daytona Beach and Road Course (February 26)[edit]

Race 6 was held February 25 at Daytona Beach and Road Course[10] Team owner Kiekhaefer fielded 6 of his drivers for the race: Buck Baker, Tim Flock, his brother Fonty Flock, Charlie Scott, Frank Munday and Speedy Thompson.[18] Tim Flock survived the track and 70-plus other drivers[note 2] to win the race, marking his second in a row win at the beach. Charlie Scott, the 19th-place finisher, is noted as one of the first African-American drivers in NASCAR.[7] The race was flagged to a stop 2 laps before the scheduled 160 miles due to a high tide on the beach.[18]

On February 25, the day before the Grand National race, the track had hosted NASCAR's inaugural NASCAR Convertible Division race.[19] Along with drivers, owners, mechanics and, officials, 13,500 spectators gathered at the 4.1 mile road course to watch Curtis Turner in his 56 Ford convertible beat Fireball Roberts and 26 other drivers to the checkered flag through 160 miles of racing.[20]

Stats[7][21]
Winning driver: Tim Flock
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Chrysler
Track description: 4.1-mile (6.6 km) road course
Laps: 39 (planned) 37 (raced)
Length: 160 mi (260 km) (planned)
Competitors: 80 drivers (entered)
Attendance: 29,000
Duration: 1:40:24
Avg. speed: 90.657 mph (145.898 km/h)
Pole speed: 135.747 mph (218.464 km/h)
Cautions: 2
Caution laps: 2
Lead changes: 2
Margin-of-victory: 57 seconds

Race 7: Palm Beach Speedway (March 4)[edit]

On March 4, the drivers returned to Palm Beach Speedway for race number 7, a 100 mile event. Once again disqualification would play a part in who was declared the winner. Al Keller beat Billy Myers to the checkered flag. However, after Keller was found to have been racing with modified pistons, Myers was awarded the victory. Buck Baker and Herb Thomas grabbed the second and third spots respectively.[18]

Stats[7][22]
Winning driver: Billy Myers
Winning team: Stroppe
Winning car make: 1956 Mercury
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) paved short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 100 mi (160 km)
Competitors: 30 drivers
Attendance 5,200
Duration: 1:26:32
Avg. speed: 68.99 mph (111.03 km/h)
Pole speed: 81.081 mph (130.487 km/h)
Cautions: 1
Caution laps: 3
Lead changes: 2

Race 8: Wilson Speedway (March 18)[edit]

On March 18, 5,000 spectators gathered for Race 8; which was contested on the half mile dirt track of Wilson Speedway. Herb Thomas captured his second win of the season in a Smokey Yunick-prepared Chevy when rain cut the scheduled 200 lap event to 106 laps.[23]

Stats[23]
Winning driver: Herb Thomas
Winning team: Yunick
Winning car make: 1956 Chevrolet
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 200 (planned) 106 (raced)
Length: 100 mi (160 km) (planned)
Competitors: 33 drivers
Attendance 5,000
Duration: 1:08:42
Avg. speed: 46.287 mph (74.492 km/h)
Pole speed: 57.197 mph (92.050 km/h)

Race 9: Lakewood Speedway (March 25)[edit]

On March 25, the Grand National series raced on the one mile dirt track of Lakewood Speedway in Atlanta, Georgia. The event was darkened by the death of Lou Moore who suffered a intracerebral hemorrhage while at the track, and died in the hospital before the end of the race. Moore was a well known Indianapolis 500 car driver, builder and owner. Buck Baker came away with the Wilson Speedway win, and Speedy Thompson finished second, giving Kiekhaefer another 1-2 finish and bringing the March contests to a close.[24]

Stats[25]
Winning driver: Buck Baker
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Chrysler
Track description: 1-mile (1.6 km) dirt oval
Laps: 100
Length: 100 miles (160 km)
Competitors: 28 drivers (entered)
Attendance: 17,812
Duration: 1:24:56
Avg. speed: 70.643 mph (113.689 km/h)
Pole speed: 82.154 mph (132.214 km/h)
Lead changes: 1

Spring of 1956[edit]

Race 10:"Wilkes County 160" at North Wilkesboro Speedway (April 8)[edit]

Main article: 1956 Wilkes County 160

The new month and race 10 would bring one of the 1956 season's biggest turning points as April 8 ushered the NASCAR crew to 0.6 mile North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, N.C. for the Wilkes County 160. Tim Flock posted his third win of the season, and Billy Myers finished second, as 7,500 spectators looked on. Jim Paschal grabbed the third spot, as Herb Thomas and Ralph Moody rounded out the top 5. The news of the day was when Flock shocked the NASCAR family and abruptly quit the highly successful Kiekhaefer Chrysler team after the race, citing worsening ulcers and Kiekhaefer's attitude as the reasons. Kiekhaefer tried to convince Flock to stay with the team, but Flock was adamant about leaving for a Chevy team.[citation needed]

Flock later recounted,

I couldn't take Kiekhaefer's drill-sergeant attitude anymore. I had to quit to save my own life.[26]

Stats[27]
Winning driver: Tim Flock
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Chrysler
Track description: 0.625-mile (1.006 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 160
Length: 100 miles (160 km)
Competitors: 29 drivers
Attendance: 7,500
Duration: 1:24:28
Avg. speed: 71.034 mph (114.318 km/h)
Pole speed: 78.37 mph (126.12 km/h)
Lead changes: 2

Race 11: Langhorne Speedway (April 22)[edit]

On April 22, the season's eleventh was contested on the 1 mile dirt track Langhorne Speedway in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Tragedy struck once again as young driver John McVitty died of massive internal injuries after being thrown from his car as it rolled the day before the race during qualifying. To fill the empty seat left by Flock's leaving, and now driving a Smokey Yunick prepared ride, Kiekhaefer hired Herb Thomas to join his NASCAR team. Flock moved into the lead on lap 115, but would give way to eventual winner Buck Baker with six laps remaining in the 150 lap event. Thomas finished second and Flock dropped to third by the end of the race.[citation needed]

Stats[28]
Winning driver: Buck Baker
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Chrysler
Track description: 1-mile (1.6 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 150
Length: 150 miles (240 km)
Competitors: 41 drivers
Attendance: 24,000
Duration: 1:58:32
Avg. speed: 75.928 mph (122.194 km/h)
Pole speed: 104.59 mph (168.32 km/h)
Lead changes: 2
Margin-of-victory: 1 lap+

Race 12: "Richmond 200" at Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds (April 29)[edit]

April 29 brought 5,000 spectators to the Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds for the Richmond 200 event on the half mile dirt track. Buck Baker dominated, leading all but two laps and lapped the entire field including second place Herb Thomas by the time the checkered flag fell. Backer's win coupled with Flocks last place finish moved Baker into first place in the standings.[29]

Stats[30]
Winning driver: Buck Baker
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Dodge
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 100 miles (160 km)
Competitors: 24 drivers
Attendance: 5,000
Duration: 1:46:42
Avg. speed: 56.232 mph (90.497 km/h)
Pole speed: 67.091 mph (107.972 km/h)
Lead changes: 2
Margin-of-victory: 1 lap+

Race 13: "Arclite 100" at the Columbia Speedway (May 5)[edit]

On May 5, the Arclite 100 was held at the Columbia Speedway in Columbia, South Carolina as the thirteenth race of the season. Speedy Thompson won the 100 mile race. This was the the fourth consecutive race in which both the winner and runner-up were Kiekhaefer cars.[10][7] The win at Columbia Speedway was Thompson's fifth career win, and his first of the season.[citation needed] Buck Baker, Joe Weatherly, Tiny Lund, and Bob Flock respectively finished second, third, fourth, and fifth. 5,000 spectators attended the hour and fifty minute race.[31]

Stats[31]
Winning driver: Speedy Thompson
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Dodge
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 100 miles (160 km)
Competitors: 26 drivers
Attendance: 5,000
Duration: 1:50:00
Avg. speed: 54.545 mph (87.782 km/h)
Pole speed: 63.274 mph (101.830 km/h)
Cautions 2
Lead changes: 3
Margin-of-victory: 2 laps + 25 seconds

Race 14: Harris Speedway (May 6)[edit]

On May 6, the second day of the double-duty weekend had the NASCAR race at Harris Speedway in Concord, North Carolina for a 100 mile event on their half-mile dirt track. Speedy Thompson grabbed his second checkered flag in a row, besting Buck Baker and Herb Thomas who finished second and third respectively. It was another 1-2-3 victory for the powerful Kiekhaefer team. Thompson led all but one lap in the one hour and 37 minute event.[citation needed]

Stats[32]
Winning driver: Speedy Thompson
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Chrysler
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 100 miles (160 km)
Competitors: 30 drivers
Attendance: 6,000
Duration: 1:37:21
Avg. speed: 61.633 mph (99.189 km/h)
Pole speed: 65.241 mph (104.995 km/h)
Cautions 1
Caution laps 3
Lead changes: 2
Margin-of-victory: 18 seconds

Race 15: Greenville-Pickens Speedway (May 10)[edit]

On May 10, race fifteen was held at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway in South Carolina.[10] Buck Baker gave Kiekhaefer his 7th victory in a row. The race result would be unsuccessfully challenged. After Baker managed to run the full 200 laps on the half-mile dirt track without a single pit stop, Schwam Motor Co., who fielded Fords for Joe Weatherly and Curtis Turner, went to NASCAR officials and filed a protest against the Kiekhaefer team. An enraged Kiekhaefer filed a counter protest against the Schwam Fords, claiming they ran with illegal motors and rear-ends. Technical inspector Jim Ross reviewed both claims, and held that both cars were legal, giving Baker a 100 point lead in the standings. The final results for the race were that the 500B Chrysler of Baker's was the winner, Curtis Turner in his number 99 second, and Joe Eubanks third. Gwyn Staley and Joe Weatherly rounded out the top five.[29]

Stats[33]
Winning driver: Buck Baker
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Dodge
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 100 miles (160 km)
Competitors: 23 drivers
Attendance: 5,000
Duration: 1:39:24
Avg. speed: 60.362 mph (97.143 km/h)
Pole speed: 61.1 mph (98.3 km/h)
Margin-of-victory: 1 lap +

Race 16: Hickory Speedway (May 12)[edit]

On May 12, the Grand National series returned to the Hickory Speedway. 4,500 spectators attended the race, which Speedy Thompson led from start to finish. The race was filled with cautions, 6 in total throughout the 200 lap event.[34] There were no driver injuries,[citation needed] and Billy Myers finished second with Buck Baker, Herb Thomas, and Gwyn Stanley filling out the top five spots.[34] Thompson's win gave Kiekhaefer his eighth straight win.

Stats[34]
Winning driver: Speedy Thompson
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Chrysler
Track description: 0.4-mile (0.64 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 80 miles (130 km)
Competitors: 24 drivers
Attendance: 4,500
Duration: 1:20:45
Avg. speed: 59.442 mph (95.663 km/h)
Pole speed: 67.447 mph (108.545 km/h)
Cautions 6
Lead changes: 0
Margin-of-victory: Under caution

Race 17: Orange Speedway (May 13)[edit]

On May 13, the season's seventeenth race was contested on the 0.9-mile Orange Speedway dirt track in Hillsborough, North Carolina. In a near photo finish Buck Baker barely squeaked past Speedy Thompson at the end of the 90 mile event.[citation needed] This was the ninth win of the for Kiekhaefer. The roughly one-hour race was attended by 7,500 spectators.

Stats[35]
Winning driver: Buck Baker
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Chrysler
Track description: 0.9-mile (1.4 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 100
Length: 90 miles (140 km)
Competitors: 31 drivers
Attendance: 7,500
Duration: 1:04:30
Avg. speed: 83.72 mph (134.73 km/h)
Pole speed: 89.305 mph (143.722 km/h)
Lead changes: 2
Margin-of-victory: 1 half-lap

Race 18: "Virginia 500" at Martinsville Speedway (May 20)[edit]

Main article: 1956 Virginia 500

On May 20, racing was held at the picturesque half-mile paved track of the Martinsville Speedway in the newly-named Virginia 500 race. 20,000 spectators watched the 4 hour, 500 lap race, which saw seven caution flags. The race saw Speedy Thompson leading a race0high 259 laps, only to fall to Buck Baker on lap 382. Baker maintained his lead after passing Thompson, delivering the Kiekhaefer team its tenth victory of the season.[citation needed] Lee Petty, Paul Goldsmith and Gwyn Stanley finished third through fifth respectively.[36]

Stats[36]
Winning driver: Buck Baker
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Dodge
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 500
Length: 250 miles (400 km)
Competitors: 35 drivers
Attendance: 20,000
Duration: 4:06:07
Avg. speed: 60.824 mph (97.887 km/h)
Pole speed: 66.103 mph (106.382 km/h)
Cations: 7
Caution laps: 20
Lead changes: 5
Margin-of-victory: 1 half-lap

Race 19: Lincoln Speedway (May 25)[edit]

On May 25,[10] seventeen drivers competed on the half-mile dirt track of Lincoln Speedway in New Oxford, Pennsylvania for 200 laps.[37] In another close finish, Buck Baker secured his third win in a row. Billy Myers had led the first 43 laps until his fuel pump failed, and pole sitter Speedy Thompson retired on lap 97 with a hole in his radiator. Lee Petty put on a show for the fans when he lost a lap after spinning in lap 21. Petty then drove back into the lead lap, and into contention with some yellow flag help.[citation needed] Only eight of the seventeen competing racers completed the race. Baker, Jim Paschal, Petty, Herb Thomas, and Nace Mattingly all finished in the top five.[37]

Stats[37]
Winning driver: Buck Baker
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Dodge
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 100 miles (160 km)
Competitors: 17 drivers
Duration: 1:26:11
Avg. speed: 69.619 mph (112.041 km/h)
Lead changes: 3
Margin-of-victory: 1 car-length

Race 20: Charlotte Speedway (May 27)[edit]

On May 27, NASCAR held two races. The first of these was on the Charlotte Speedway,[10] a 3/4 mile track. The Kiekhaefer saw its drivers once again win all three podium spots,[38] as Speedy Thompson, the newly-acquired Junior Johnson, and points-leader Buck Baker all finished in the top-three spots. Thompson's win was the twelfth victory for the Kiekhaefer team.[citation needed]

Stats[38]
Winning driver: Speedy Thompson
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Chrysler
Track description: 0.75-mile (1.21 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 133
Length: 99.750 miles (160.532 km)
Competitors: 25 drivers
Attendance: 3,900
Duration: 1:32:16
Avg. speed: 64.866 mph (104.392 km/h)
Pole speed: 76.966 mph (123.865 km/h)
Cautions: 3
Caution laps: 9
Lead changes: 6

Race 21: Portland Speedway (May 27)[edit]

The second race held on May 27 was across the country from the first at the Portland Speedway in Portland, Oregon.[10] Herb Thomas gave the Kiekhaefer team another win. John Kieper finished second and Clyde Palmer finished third.[39]

Stats[40]
Winning driver: Herb Thomas
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Chrysler
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) paved short track oval
Laps: 150
Length: 75 miles (121 km)
Competitors: 21 drivers
Duration: 1:10:31
Avg. speed: 63.815 mph (102.700 km/h)
Pole speed: 67.239 mph (108.211 km/h)

Race 22: Redwoood Speedway (May 30)[edit]

Two races were held on May 30, the first being at Redwood Speedway in California.[10][41] Due to poor track and weather conditions, the race was halted early after only 78 miles of the scheduled 100 miles had been completed. Ruts and holes in the 0.624 dirt track and swirling dust storms made the track unsafe to race on. Herb Thomas won the shortened race.[citation needed]

Stats[42]
Winning driver: Herb Thomas
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Chrysler
Track description: 0.625-mile (1.006 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 160 (planned)
Length: 100 miles (160 km) (planned)
Competitors: 25 drivers
Duration: 2:00:46
Avg. speed: 38.814 mph (62.465 km/h)
Pole speed: 34.07 mph (54.83 km/h)
Lead changes: 1
Margin-of-victory: 1 lap +

Race 23: Syracuse Mile (May 30)[edit]

The second race of May 30 was held across the country from the first, being held on the Syracuse Mile, a 1 mile dirt oval at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, New York. The race was 150 miles in length. Buck Baker delivered the Kiekhaefer team its the second win of the day, defeating Jim Paschal in his Mercedes by 3 laps.[41]

Stats[43]
Winning driver: Buck Baker
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Chrysler
Track description: 1-mile (1.6 km) dirt oval
Laps: 150
Length: 150 miles (240 km)
Competitors: 24 drivers
Attendance: 6,000
Duration: 1:44:26
Avg. speed: 86.179 mph (138.692 km/h)
Pole speed: 83.975 mph (135.145 km/h)
Cautions: 1
Caution laps: 3
Lead changes: 2
Margin-of-victory: 1 lap +

Summer of 1956[edit]

Race 24: Merced Fairgrounds (June 3)[edit]

On June 3,[10] Herb Thomas easily won the 24th race. The race was a 100-mile event held at the Merced Fairgrounds in Merced, California. Thomas' win was the sixteenth consecutive win for the Carl Kiekhaefer team, a record that still stands as of 2019, and is unlikely to be broken in the modern era.[44] The win streak would be broken in the following race.

Stats[45]
Winning driver: Herb Thomas
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Chrysler
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 100 miles (160 km)
Competitors: 28 drivers
Duration: 2:06:47
Avg. speed: 47.325 mph (76.162 km/h)
Pole speed: 58.234 mph (93.719 km/h)

Race 25: Memphis-Arkansas Speedway (June 10)[edit]

On June 10, Ralph Moody won the season's 25th race at Memphis-Arkansas Speedway in Lehi, Arkansas in a DePaolo Engineering Ford.[7][46] This broke the sixteen-race winning streak of the Kiekhaefer team.[7]

Stats[46]
Winning driver: Ralph Moody
Winning team: DePaolo
Winning car make: 1956 Ford
Track description: 1.5-mile (2.4 km) dirt oval
Laps: 167
Length: 250 miles (400 km)
Competitors: 29 drivers
Attendance: 15,000
Duration: 3:22:15
Avg. speed: 74.313 mph (119.595 km/h)
Pole speed: 98.504 mph (158.527 km/h)
Cautions: 5
Lead changes: 5
Margin-of-victory: 4 seconds

Race 26: Southern States Fairgrounds (June 15)[edit]

On June 15, the 26th race of the season was held at the Southern States Fairgrounds in Charlotte, North Carolina, a half mile dirt track. The 200 lap event saw Speedy Thompson win in his Chrysler by five laps over second-place finisher Curtis Turner. Lee Petty finished third, with Fireball Roberts and Buck Baker respectively placing 4th and 5th.[47]

Stats[48]
Winning driver: Speedy Thompson
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Chrysler
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 100 miles (160 km)
Competitors: 19 drivers
Attendance: 7,800
Duration: 1:47:06
Avg. speed: 56.022 mph (90.159 km/h)
Pole speed: 59.661 mph (96.015 km/h)
Cautions: 2
Caution laps: 6
Lead changes: 3
Margin-of-victory: 5 laps +

Race 27: Monroe County Fairgrounds (June 22)[edit]

On June 22, NASCAR raced on the half-mile dirt track at the Monroe County Fairgrounds in Rochester, New York. In the 200 lap event, Speedy Thompson won a second-consecutive victory, winning by a full lap over Jim Paschal and Herb Thomas. Buck Baker finished fourth, giving the Kiekhaefer team three of the top four finishing spots. 6,000 spectators attended the race, which feature 21 drivers.[49]

Stats[49]
Winning driver: Speedy Thompson
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Chrysler
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 100 miles (160 km)
Competitors: 21 drivers
Attendance: 6,000
Duration: 1:44:44
Avg. speed: 57.288 mph (92.196 km/h)
Pole speed: 57.434 mph (92.431 km/h)
Cautions: 1
Caution laps: 7
Lead changes: 3
Margin-of-victory: 1 lap +

Race 28: Portland Speedway (June 24)[edit]

On June 24, at the Portland Speedway in Portland, Oregon, John Kieper grabbed a win in his own 56 Olds. The paved half mile Portland Speedway was witness to the hour and a half race.[50]

Stats[51]
Winning driver: Johnny Kieper
Winning team: Johnny Kieper
Winning car make: 1956 Oldsmobile
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) pave short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 100 miles (160 km)
Competitors: 20 drivers
Attendance: 1,800
Duration: 1:35:52
Avg. speed: 62.586 mph (100.722 km/h)
Pole speed: 69.934 mph (112.548 km/h)
Pole winner: Herb Thomas
Cautions: 3
Lead changes: 3
Margin-of-victory: One half-lap

Race 29: Asheville-Weaverville Speedway (July 1)[edit]

The 29th race was held at the Asheville-Weaverville Speedway in Weaverville, North Carolina and was won by Lee Petty.[10]

Stats[52]
Winning driver: Lee Petty
Winning team: Petty Enterprises
Winning car make: 1956 Dodge
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 100 miles (160 km)
Competitors: 29 drivers
Attendance: 8,000
Duration: 1:46:29
Avg. speed: 56.435 mph (90.823 km/h)
Pole speed: 72.26 mph (116.29 km/h)
Margin-of-victory: 1 car-length

Race 30: Raleigh 250 (July 4)[edit]

On July 4, Fireball Roberts won the Raleigh 250, a 250 mile race at the Raleigh Speedway in Raleigh, North Carolina.[10] The Raleigh Speedway was a 1 mile oval.[53] This was Roberts' first win on a superspeedway. Kiekhaefer filed a protest with NASCAR officials claiming that Robert's flywheel weight was illegal. At that time NASCAR didn not have scales at the track, so they took the flywheel to a fish market to weigh it, and Roberts's victory stood, being upheld by NASCAR.[7]

Stats[54]
Winning driver: Fireball Roberts
Winning team: DePaolo
Winning car make: 1956 Ford
Track description: 1-mile (1.6 km) paved oval
Laps: 250
Length: 250 miles (400 km)
Competitors: 36 drivers
Attendance: 13,600
Duration: 3:07:55
Avg. speed: 73.691 mph (118.594 km/h)
Pole speed: 82.587 mph (132.911 km/h)
Cautions: 1
Lead changes: 6
Margin of victory: 2 laps + 10 seconds

Race 31: Peidmont Interstate Fairgrounds (July 7)[edit]

On July 7, the 31st race was contested at Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It was won by Lee Petty.[55]

Stats[55]
Winning driver: Lee Petty
Winning team: Petty Enterprises
Winning car make: 1956 Dodge
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 100 miles (160 km)
Competitors: 18 drivers
Duration: 1:58:51
Avg. speed: 50.483 mph (81.245 km/h)
Pole speed: 58.9 mph (94.8 km/h)

Race 32: California State Fairgrounds (July 8)[edit]

On July 8, the 32nd race was contested at California State Fairgrounds in Sacramento, California. It was won by Loyd Dane[56]

Stats[56]
Winning driver: Lloyd Dane
Winning team: Lloyd Dane
Winning car make: 1956 Mercury
Track description: 1-mile (1.6 km) dirt oval
Laps: 100
Length: 100 miles (160 km)
Competitors: 21 drivers
Duration: 1:21:00
Avg. speed: 74.074 mph (119.211 km/h)
Pole speed: 76.612 mph (123.295 km/h)
Margin-of-victory: 2 car-lengths

Race 33: Soldier Field (July 21)[edit]

Cover of the program for the Soldier Field race
Photograph of Soldier Field circa 1961

On July 21, 1956, Fireball Roberts won a race on the short track at Soldier Field stadium in Chicago, Illinois. This was the first NASCAR Cup race to be held in Chicago.[57] It is today regarded to have been the only NASCAR Cup Series race held at the Soldier Field. Roberts beat Jim Pascal, but only by one car-length.[58][59][60][61]

The race used the stadium's half-mile short track configuration.[62] At 200 laps, the race's length was 100 miles.[63] Attendance at the race was 14,402.[57]

The race was contested by twenty-five drivers. While not an extraordinarily large number of drivers, some of the season's largest stars were among the competitors. Ten cars failed to finish, with many of these being sidelined due to brake issues.[64]

Stats[57][65][63][66][67]
Winning driver: Fireball Roberts
Winning team: DePaolo
Winning car make: 1956 Ford
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) paved short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 100 miles (160 km)
Competitors: 25 drivers
Attendance: 14,402
Duration: 1:38:18
Avg. speed: 61.037 mph (98.230 km/h)
Cautions: 0
Caution laps: 0
Lead changes: 0
Margin-of-victory: 1 car-length
Summary by driver[65]
Finish Driver Make of car Starting position Laps completed Notes
1st Fireball Roberts Ford 3rd 200
2nd Jim Paschal Mercury 14th 200
3rd Ralph Moody Ford 4th 200
4th Speedy Thompson Dodge 12th 200
5th Frank Mundy Dodge 8th 200
6th Buck Baker Dodge 9th 199
7th Bill Champion Ford 13th 1999
8th Paul Goldsmith Chevrolet 6th 198
9th Joy Fair Dodge 7th 192
10th Lee Petty Dodge 10th 190
11th Bob Esposito Oldsmobile 20th 189
12th Frank Edwards Chevrolet 23rd 182
13th Bill Massey Ford 22nd 176
14th Chuck Mesler Dodge 21st 175
15th Al Watkins Ford 15th 164
16th Sal Tovella Ford 24th 142 Did not finish due to brake problem
17th Billy Myers Mercury 1st 140 Did not finish due to brake problem
18th Herb Thomas Chevrolet 2nd 98 Did not finish due to crash
19th Darvin Randhal Ford 17th 86 Did not finish due to brake problem
20th Fred Lorenzen Chevrolet 11th 85 Did not finish due to brake problem
21st Bob Chauncey Pontiac 16th 78 Did not finish due to spindle problem
22nd Tom Pistone Chevrolet 5th 50 Did not finish due to brake problem
23th Bill Vesler Chevrolet 19th 41 Did not finish due to a crash
24th Kenny Paulsen Chevrolet 18th 40 Did not finish due to engine problem
25th Ray Crowley Plymouth 25th 36 Did not finish due to carburetor problem

Race 34: Cleveland County Fairgrounds (July 27)[edit]

On July 27, the 34th race of the season was contested at Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Shelby, North Carolina. It was won by Speedy Thompson of the Kiekhaefer team.[68]

Stats[68]
Winning driver: Speedy Thompson
Winning team: Kiekhaefer
Winning car make: 1956 Dodge
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 201
Length: 100.5 miles (161.7 km)
Competitors: 17 drivers
Duration: 1:51:44
Avg. speed: 53.699 mph (86.420 km/h)
Pole speed: 55.658 mph (89.573 km/h)

Race 35: Montgomery Motor Speedway (July 29)[edit]

On July 29, the 35th race of the season was contested at Montgomery Speedway in Montgomery, Alabama. It was won by Marvin Panch.[69]

Stats[69]
Winning driver: Marvin Panch
Winning team: Harbison
Winning car make: 1956 Ford
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) paved short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 100 miles (160 km)
Competitors: 14 drivers
Duration: 1:29:13
Avg. speed: 67.252 mph (108.232 km/h)
Pole speed: 69.444 mph (111.759 km/h)
Lead changes: 3
Margin-of-victory: 1 lap +

Race 36: Oklahoma State Fairgrounds (August 3)[edit]

On August 3, the 36th race of the season was contested at Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was won by Jim Paschal, who was racing for Frank Hayworth.[70]

Stats[70]
Winning driver: Jim Paschal
Winning team: Hayworth
Winning car make: 1956 Mercury
Track description: 0.5-mile (0.80 km) dirt short track oval
Laps: 200
Length: 100 miles (160 km)
Competitors: 12 drivers
Attendance: 7,500
Duration: 1:39:50
Avg. speed: 60.1 mph (96.7 km/h)
Pole speed: 64.655 mph (104.052 km/h)
Cautions: 0
Lead changes: 2
Margin-of-victory: 0.25 lap

Race 37: "International Stock Car Road Race" at Road America (August 12)[edit]

Program from the International Stock Car Road Race

On August 12, 1956, the 37th race of the season was the International Stock Car Road Race at the Road America road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.[71]

The race took place in rainy weather.[72] After three lead changes,[71] Speedy Thompson led the race between laps 36 and 53, but suffered engine failure in the 53rd lap and retired from the race. Flock led the race thereafter and won.[70][73] Flock was racing for Bill Stroppe in a 1956 Mercury.[71] This would be the last of Flock's 39 career wins in the premier division of NASCAR (Grand National Series/NASCAR Cup Series).[73] Flock's victory was a 17 second photo finish over fellow Stroppe racer Billy Myers. Fireball Roberts (racing for Pete DePaolo), Paul Goldsmith (racing for Smokey Yunick) , and Joe Eubanks (racing for James Satcher) respectively placed third, fourth, and fifth.[71]

While the race was officially sanctioned by NASCAR, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) provided support for the event and foreign cars were allowed entry.[74][75] Ultimately, the race featured 25 American vehicles as well as a Jaguar Mark VII. Hubert Schroeder, secretary of the FIG's sporting arm, served as overseer of the race. The prospect of a NASCAR road race on the challenging new road course attracted particular interest, and due to this, it was attended by several racing executives: NASCAR's Bill France Sr., the United States Auto Club's Duane Carter, and the Sports Car Club of America's Jim Kimberly. At the time, all three organizations were aspiring to succeed the AAA Contest Board as the new main United States race-sanctioning body, as the American Auto Association had withdrawn from involvement in automobile racing the previous year.[8]

Road America had opened the previous year. This was the first premier series race on the course.[73] Road America was considered the nation's finest road course at the time, and was regarded as a challenging course, with tight corners and challenging grade changes. Road course racing was uncommon at the time in American stock car racing.[8] The event was promoted as being "America's First International Stock Car Road Race".[76] There was much advanced interest and speculation among how American cars would perform in maneuvering the challenging course.[8] Those seeking to prognosticate how the race would go on challenged by lack of recent precedent of similar races in the United States, with Time magazine writing, "

[The race] was extraordinary because it was held on a road course, a thing so rare in recent American stock car racing that some oldtimers were casting back to the Elgin, Ill. races of more than two decades ago for a suitable precedent.[8]

While the race was considered a success,[8] NASCAR's premier division did not return to Road America until the 2021 season.[72]

The season-dominant Kiekhaefer team did not see much success in the race. While Kiekhaefer racer Buck Baker led the first five laps, he ultimately placed eighth, and his car suffered engine problems by the end of the race. Frank Mundy also raced for Kiekhaefer, placing fourteenth. Speedy Thompson rounded out Kiekhaefer's roster of racers at Road America, finishing eighteenth and suffering engine problems by the end of the race.[71]

Stats[71]
Winning driver: Tim Flock
Winning team: Stroppe
Winning car make: 1956 Mercury
Track description: 4.1-mile (6.6 km) road course
Laps: 63
Length: 258.3 miles (415.7 km)
Competitors: 26 drivers
Attendance: 10,000
Duration: 3:29:50
Avg. speed: 73.858 mph (118.863 km/h)
Cautions: 0
Lead changes: 4
Margin-of-victory: 17 seconds

Race 38: Old Bridge Stadium (August 17)[edit]

[10]

Race 39: Bay Meadows Race Track (August 19)[edit]

[10]

Race 40: Norfolk Speedway (August 22)[edit]

[10]

Race 41: Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds (August 23)[edit]

[10]

Race 42: Coastal Speedway (August 25)[edit]

[10]

Race 43: Portland Speedway (August 26)[edit]

[10]

Race 44: "Southern 500" at Darlington Raceway (September 3)[edit]

Main article: 1956 Southern 500

70,000 attended the 1956 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.[77]

[10]

Race 45: Chisholm Speedway (September 9)[edit]

[10]

Race 46: Southern States Fairgrounds (September 12)[edit]

[10]

Fall of 1956[edit]

Race 47: Langhorne Speedway (September 23)[edit]

[10]

Race 48: Portland Speedway (September 23)[edit]

[10]

Race 49: Columbia Speedway (September 29)[edit]

[10]

Race 50: Occoneechee Speedway (September 30)[edit]

[10]

Race 51: Newport Speedway (October 7)[edit]

[10]

Race 52: Charlotte Speedway (October 17)[edit]

[10]

Race 53: Cleveland County Fairgrounds (October 23)[edit]

On October 23, NASCAR held a 100 mile at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Shelby North Carolina.[7] At the time, Herb Thomas led the standings by 246 points.[78] Buck Baker won the race.[10]

Race 54: Martinsville Speedway (October 28)[edit]

[10]

Race 55: "Buddy Shuman 250" at Hickory Speedway (November 11)[edit]

Main article: 1956 Buddy Shuman 250

1956 Buddy Shuman 250 at the Hickory Speedway in Hickory, North Carolina.[79]

Race 56: Wilson Speedway (November 18)[edit]

[10]

Season Standings[edit]

[80][81] Driver Races Wins Top 5
finishes		 Top 10
finishes		 Poles Earnings Points[note 3]
1st Buck Baker 48 14 31 39 12 $34,076 9,272
2nd Herb Thomas 48 5 22 36 3 $19,351 8,568
3rd Speedy Thompson 42 8 24 29 7 $27,169 8,328
4th Lee Petty 47 2 17 28 1 $15,337 8,324
5th Jim Paschal 42 1 17 27 1 $17,203 7,878
6th Billy Myers 42 2 17 28 1 $15,829 6,920
7th Fireball Roberts 33 5 17 22 3 $14,741 5,794
8th Ralph Moody 35 4 13 21 5 $15,492 5,548
9th Tim Flock 22 4 11 14 5 $15,768 5,062
10th Marvin Panch 20 1 10 13 1 $11,519 4,680
11th Rex White 24 0 3 14 1 $5,333 4,642
12th Johnny Allen 32 0 2 11 0 $4,558 3,924
13th Paul Goldsmith 9 1 4 6 0 $8,568 3,788
14th Gwyn Staley 22 0 5 13 0 $5,158 3,550
15th Joe Eubanks 26 0 7 13 2 $5,583 3,292
16th Joe Weatherly 17 0 6 12 1 $5,250 3,084
17th Bill Amick 13 0 7 10 0 $5,380 3,048
18th Jim Reed 11 0 5 5 2 $5,076 2,870
19th Tiny Lund 21 0 1 8 0 $2,810 2,754
20th Curtis Turner 13 1 4 5 0 $14,540 2,580
21th Jack Smith 15 1 1 6 0 $3,825 2,320
22nd Billy Carden 23 0 0 4 0 $2,175 2,128
23rd Lloyd Dane 10 2 5 9 0 $4,370 2,106
24th Frank Mundy 9 0 3 5 0 $3,585 1,856
25th Bobby Johns 9 0 0 3 0 $1,450 1,832
26th Bill Champion 14 0 0 4 0 $1,570 1,764
27th Blackie Pitt 23 0 0 5 0 $2,702 1,760
28th Harold Hardesty 9 0 2 6 0 $1,185 1,724
29th Al Watkins 14 0 0 4 0 $1,185 1,710
30th Chuck Meekins 7 0 3 6 0 $2,815 1,656
31st Harvey Henderson 18 0 1 4 0 $1,360 1,638
32nd Eddie Pagan 8 1 4 4 0 $4,095 1,598
33rd Pat Kirkwood 3 0 1 2 0 $2,025 1,540
34th Clyde Palmer 11 0 4 6 0 $2,755 1,516
35th Johnny Dodson 11 0 0 4 0 $1,450 1,508
36th John Kieper 8 1 4 7 3 $3250 1,506
37th Junior Johnson 13 0 1 1 1 $1,350 1,372
38th Bill Blair 9 0 0 4 0 $1005 1,264
39th
40th Ed Cole 12 0 0 1 0 $950 1,200
41st Brownie King 16 0 0 0 0 $925 1,140
42nd Allen Adkins 6 0 1 3 0 $1,465 1,104
43rd Bobby Keck 15 0 0 3 0 $1,250 1,076
44th Gordon Haines 7 0 1 2 0 $1,500 1,066
45th Bob Keefe 7 0 1 2 0 $1,040 1,066
46th Dick Beaty 15 0 0 3 0 $910 1,036
47th Jim Blomgren 6 0 0 1 0 $635 992
48th Ed Negre 5 0 2 4 0 $1,255 952
49th Jimmy Massey 7 0 3 4 0 $1,545 950
50th Fonty Flock 7 1 1 4 2 $1,780 946
51st Ralph Liguori 16 0 0 3 0 $1,210
52nd Cotton Owens 8 0 1 4 0 $920
53rd Johnny Patterson 3 0 0 1 0 $425
54th Pete Yow 11 0 0 2 0 $700
55th Bill Hyde 6 0 0 3 0 $910
56th Jimmie Lewallen 11 0 1 1 0 $1,150
57th Roz Howard 1 0 0 0 0 $250
58th Curley Barker 4 0 3 4 0 $1,395
59th Royce Hagerty 6 1 1 2 1 $1,720
60th Russ Truelove 5 0 0 2 0 $450
61st Bobby Myers 8 0 0 2 0 $600
62nd (tie) Bunk Moore 5 0 1 2 0 $845
62nd (tie) Bud Erma 1 0 0 0 0 $845
63rd John Lindsay 5 0 0 1 0 $425
64th Lou Sherman 5 0 1 2 0 $810
65th Darvin Randahl 7 0 0 1 0 $710
66th Harold Beal 5 0 1 3 0 $915
67th Parnelli Jones 3 0 1 1 0 $1,705
68th Bob Ross 3 0 0 2 0 $575
69th Al Keller 4 0 1 2 0 $1,300
73rd Dink Widenhouse 7 0 1 3 0 $940
71st Art Watts 6 0 0 2 0 $525
72nd Erick Erickson 5 0 0 1 0 $365
73rd Billy Rafter 9 0 0 1 0 $975
74th Ray Chaike 3 0 0 0 0 $225
75th George Cork 4 0 0 0 0 $375
76th George Green 6 0 0 0 0 $550
77th Bob Flock 4 0 1 1 0 $442
78th Bob Duell 6 0 1 1 0 $670
79th Ken Milligan 4 0 0 1 0 $300
80th Sherman Clark 5 0 0 2 0 $425
81st Emanuel Zevakis 6 0 0 0 0 $475
82nd Sherman Utsman 5 0 0 1 0 $475
83rd Bill Walker 2 0 0 1 0 $600
84th Bob Welborn 6 0 0 2 0 $650
85th Ernie Young 5 0 0 0 0 $330
86th Walt Schubert 4 0 0 1 0 $375
87th Jim Cook 6 0 1 1 0 $540
88th Bill Moore 6 0 0 2 0 $485
89th George Seeger 2 0 0 1 0 $400
90th Charlie Jackson 5 0 0 2 0 $260
91st Bob Waddell 8 0 0 0 0 $335
92nd Ted Cannady 6 0 0 0 0 $260
93rd Charles Blewitt 2 0 0 0 0 $200
94th Chuck Stevenson 1 1 1 1 0 $1,570
95th Dick Allwine 2 0 0 0 0 $200
96th C.H. Dingler 3 0 0 0 0 $200
97th Carl Hammill 2 0 0 0 0 $160
98th Johnny Mantz 1 0 1 1 0 $1,130
99th Mel Larson 6 0 0 1 0 $385
100th Bill Widenhouse 6 0 1 1 0 $460
101st Bob Korf 1 0 0 1 0 $400
103rd Shorty York 1 0 0 0 0 $130
104th Vince Cougineri 1 0 0 0 0 $150
105th Jim Graham 3 0 1 1 0 $595
106th Fred Johnson 1 0 0 1 0 $325
107th Bob Havemann 4 0 0 1 0 $290
108th Pete Stewart 3 0 0 0 0 $235
109th Jack Tykarski 1 0 0 0 0 $225
110th Donald Thomas 3 0 0 1 0 $200
111th Doug Cox 3 0 1 2 0 $460
112th Jim Rhoades 5 0 0 1 0 $335
113th Bill West 2 0 0 0 0 $150
114th Johnny Roberts 4 0 0 0 0 $2010
115th Cecil Lassiter 1 0 0 0 0 $100
116th John McVitty 4 0 0 1 0 $250
117th Banjo Matthews 1 0 0 0 0 $200
118th Eddie Skinner 6 0 0 0 0 $200
119th Nolan Swift 2 0 0 1 0 $175
120th Fred Lorenzen 7 0 0 0 0 $235
121st Dave Terrell 5 0 0 1 0 $260
122nd Frank Jamison 3 0 0 1 0 $350
123rd Jack Radtke 1 0 0 0 0 $110
124th Russ Graham 2 0 0 0 0 $100
125th Pete Diviney 2 0 0 0 0 $150
126th Jesse James Taylor 3 0 0 0 0 $250
127th Danny Letner 6 0 0 0 0 $410
128th Pee Wee Jones 3 0 0 0 0 $125
129th Don Carr 5 0 0 0 0 $210
130th Fred Frazier 2 0 0 1 0 $200
131st
132nd Benny DeRosier 4 0 0 0 0 $200
133rd Jim Sills 1 0 0 0 0 $150
134th Ted Sweeney 3 0 0 0 0 $150
135th Rat Garner 2 0 0 0 0 $100
136th Arden Mounts 3 0 0 0 0 $210
137th Possum Jones 1 0 0 0 0 $110
138th Bob Ruppert 2 0 0 0 0 $150
139th Roy Bentley 3 0 0 0 0 $200
140th (tie) Jack Goodwin 1 0 0 0 0 $200
140th (tie) Joe Guide 1 0 0 0 0 $200
140th (tie) Gene Simpson 1 0 0 0 0 $100
141st
142nd
143rd
144th Chester Barron 2 0 0 1 0 $150
145th Jimmy Pardue 2 0 0 0 0 $200
146th Gene Goodman 1 0 0 0 0 $75
147th
148th Ralph Earnhardt 1 0 1 1 1 $625
149th Joe Prismo 1 0 0 1 0 $200
150th Peck Peckham 3 0 0 0 0 $225

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Kiekhaefer Mercury was founded in 1939, and sponsored NASCAR entries as Mercury Outboard motors and Kiekhaefer Outboards. The company is currently known as Mercury Marine
  2. ^ 80 cars were entered, 2 did not start, and 6 more failed to complete a lap. In total, 72 cars completed one lap or more
  3. ^ There were discrepancies in the final point stands, with some sources saying Baker finished with 9,272 and others saying 9,252. Some sources also say that Herb Thomas finished second with Speedy Thompson finishing third, while other sources quote a reverse season finish.

References[edit]

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Bibliography[edit]

  • Fleischman, Bill; Pearce, Al (2004). "11. At A Glance; 1956". The Unauthorized NASCAR Fan Guide 2004 (10 ed.). Canton, MI: Checkered Flag Press; Visible Ink Press. ISBN 0-681-27587-1. OCLC 244151351.
  • Fielden, Greg (2015). Bryan Hallman and editors of Consumer Guide Automotive (ed.). NASCAR the complete history (7th ed.). Lincolnwood IL: Publications International Ltd. p. 97. ISBN 978-1-4508-9994-9.
  • Fielden, Greg (1993). "All". Forty Years of Stock Car Racing The Beginning 1949-1958 (Revised 3rd ed.). USA: Garfield Press. p. 336. ISBN 0-9621580-2-X.
  • Fielden, Greg (1990). Ramblin' Ragtops The History of NACAR's Fabulous Convertible Division (1st ed.). USA: Garfield Press. p. 143. ISBN 0-9621580-6-2.

External links[edit]

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