1951 Southern 500
Encyclopedia
The 1951 Southern 500 was a NASCAR
Grand National (now Sprint Cup Series) race that took place on September 3, 1951 at Darlington Raceway
in the American
community of Darlington
, South Carolina
.
defeated Jesse James Taylor by more than one lap in front of forty thousand people.
This race would be Red Byron
's final race in NASCAR. The race lasted for six hours and thirty minutes; outside the time allotments for modern-day television programming. Eighty-two cars would race in this virtually unregulated "free-for-all." Frank Mundy
would become the worst driver in NASCAR Cup Series history by finishing eighty-two spots worse than he started. This would be an impossibility in today's 43-car field. Lee Connell
would also set a career record for having the worst career average finish in his 1951 Pontiac
vehicle. However, this accomplishment would be impossible today due to the modern rules giving all races a 43-car maximum grid.
Total winnings for this race were $23,740 ($ in today's money). As it was with all races during this era, the 1951 Southern 500 was completely untelevised. The only way that a person could follow the action was to drive to the speedway (to watch it live) or catch it on local radio (if they were lucky to be in the Darlington area at the time).
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Grand National (now Sprint Cup Series) race that took place on September 3, 1951 at Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...
in the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
community of Darlington
Darlington, South Carolina
Darlington is a city in and the county seat of Darlington County, in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is a center for tobacco farming. The population was 6,720 at the 2000 census and is part of the Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
Summary
Four hundred laps were done on a paved oval track spanning 1.25 miles (2 km) for a grand total of 500 miles (804.7 km). Notable speeds for the race were: 76.906 mi/h and 84.173 mi/h for the pole position speed. Four cautions were handed out by NASCAR official for a duration of twenty-six laps. Herb ThomasHerb Thomas
Herbert Watson Thomas was a NASCAR pioneer who was one of the series' most successful drivers in the 1950s.-Background:...
defeated Jesse James Taylor by more than one lap in front of forty thousand people.
This race would be Red Byron
Red Byron
Robert "Red" Byron was a NASCAR driver who was successful in the sanctioning body's first years. He was NASCAR's first Modified champion in 1948 and its first Strictly Stock champion in 1949.-Background:Born in Colorado he moved to Anniston, Alabama at an early age, Byron began...
's final race in NASCAR. The race lasted for six hours and thirty minutes; outside the time allotments for modern-day television programming. Eighty-two cars would race in this virtually unregulated "free-for-all." Frank Mundy
Frank Mundy
Frank "Rebel" Mundy was an American stock car racer. He competed in the American Automobile Association stock cars, winning the 1955 national championship, before the series changed to United States Auto Club sanction...
would become the worst driver in NASCAR Cup Series history by finishing eighty-two spots worse than he started. This would be an impossibility in today's 43-car field. Lee Connell
Lee Connell
Lee Anthony Connell in Bury, England, is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ramsbottom United. He played for Bury FC in the Football League.-External links:...
would also set a career record for having the worst career average finish in his 1951 Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
vehicle. However, this accomplishment would be impossible today due to the modern rules giving all races a 43-car maximum grid.
Total winnings for this race were $23,740 ($ in today's money). As it was with all races during this era, the 1951 Southern 500 was completely untelevised. The only way that a person could follow the action was to drive to the speedway (to watch it live) or catch it on local radio (if they were lucky to be in the Darlington area at the time).
Top forty drivers
- Herb Thomas
- Jesse James Taylor
- Buddy ShumanBuddy ShumanBuddy Shuman was a stock car driver for NASCAR when it was known as the Grand National Series. He raced between 1951 through 1955, achieving one victory, four top 5s, and 16 Top 10s....
- Hershel McGriffHershel McGriffHershel McGriff won four races during his brief career in the NASCAR Grand National series, and later in the NASCAR Winston West Series.-Racing career:...
- Fireball RobertsFireball RobertsEdward Glenn Roberts, Jr. , nicknamed "Fireball", was one of the pioneering race car drivers of NASCAR.-Background:...
- Harold KiteHarold KiteHarold Kite was a NASCAR Grand National driver from East Point, Georgia, United States of America. In his brief Sprint Cup Series career, Kite competed in nine events to earn one win and two top-ten finishes....
- Leon Sales
- Fonty FlockFonty FlockTruman Fontello "Fonty" Flock of Fort Payne, Alabama was an early NASCAR driver.-Flock family:He was the brother of NASCAR pioneers Tim Flock and Bob Flock, and the second female NASCAR driver Ethel Mobley...
- Bill SnowdenBill SnowdenBill Snowden was a NASCAR driver from St. Augustine, Florida, USA. He was one of the racers whose career was interrupted by World War II. He was nicknamed "Wild Bill" and the "Florida Hurricane"....
- Pap White
- Tim FlockTim FlockJulius Timothy Flock was one of NASCAR's early pioneers, and a two time series champion. He was a brother to NASCAR's second female driver Ethel Mobley and NASCAR pioneers Bob Flock and Fonty Flock.- NASCAR career :...
- Slick Smith
- Jack Goodwin
- Billy CardenBilly CardenBilly Carden was a NASCAR Grand National driver from Mableton, Georgia, USA. He was a stock car racing pioneer and an early NASCAR competitor.-History:...
- Lee PettyLee PettyLee Arnold Petty was an American stock car driver in the 1950s and 1960s. He was one of the pioneers of NASCAR, and one of its first superstars. He was born near Randleman, North Carolina.-Career:...
- Gober SosebeeGober SosebeeGober Sosebee was an American racecar driver. He won on the Daytona Beach Road Course in 1949, 1950 and 1951. He was born in Dawson County, Georgia, and began his career in 1940 at Atlanta's Lakewood Speedway....
- Bud Farrell
- Billy MyersBilly MyersWilliam Harrison Myers was a shortstop in Major League Baseball who played from 1935 through 1941 for the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs . Listed at 5' 8", 168 lb., Myers batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Enola, Pennsylvania...
- Bill WidenhouseBill WidenhouseBill Widenhouse was a NASCAR Grand National driver from Midland, North Carolina, USA.During his 14-year NASCAR career, Widenhouse managed to earn two top-finishes, five top-ten finishes, completed 4131 laps for , and earned $3,275 in take-home pay...
- George Seeger
- Gayle Warren
- Freddie Farmer
- Cotton OwensCotton OwensEverett "Cotton" Owens "the King of the Modifieds" was a NASCAR driver. For five straight years , Owens captured at least one Grand National series win.-Modified driving career:...
- Ed BenedictEd BenedictEd Benedict was an American animator and layout artist. He is best known for his work with Hanna-Barbera Studios, where he helped design Fred Flintstone, Yogi Bear, and Ruff and Ready....
- Red ByronRed ByronRobert "Red" Byron was a NASCAR driver who was successful in the sanctioning body's first years. He was NASCAR's first Modified champion in 1948 and its first Strictly Stock champion in 1949.-Background:Born in Colorado he moved to Anniston, Alabama at an early age, Byron began...
- Bud RileyBud RileyEdward "Bud" Riley is an American former football coach with the Idaho Vandals, Oregon State Beavers, and in the Canadian Football League...
- Bob FlockBob FlockRobert Newman Flock of Fort Payne, Alabama, USA was an early NASCAR driver. He qualified on the pole position for NASCAR's first Strictly Stock race.-Flock family:...
- Jimmie LewallenJimmie LewallenJimmie Lewallen was an American racecar driver from High Point, North Carolina, USA. He competed in NASCAR's Strictly Stock/Grand National division from its first race at Charlotte Speedway in 1949 until 1960.-Racing career:Lewallen began his racing career in motorcycles in 1934...
- Tommy Melvin
- Earl Moss
- Ewell Weddle
- Shorty York
- Marshall TeagueMarshall TeagueMarshall Teague was an American race car driver.He was nicknamed by NASCAR fans as the "King of the Beach" for his performances at the Daytona Beach Road Course....
- Johnny Yontz
- Ted Swaim
- Jim Fiebelkorn
- Gene ComstockGene ComstockGene Comstock was a NASCAR Grand National driver from Chesapeake, Ohio, USA. In his career spanning from 1950 to 1955, Gene racked up one top-five position, six top-ten positions, 3038.6 miles of racing experience, and $2,549 in take home pay...
- Oliver Dial
- Jim PaschalJim PaschalJames Roy "Jim" Paschal, Jr. was a NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup driver. He won twenty-five races and twelve poles over his career. Elected to the "Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame" in 1977, he won the World 600 in 1964 and the 1967 Charlotte Motor Speedway...
- Reino Tulonen