1955 Mid-South 250
Encyclopedia
The 1955 Mid-South 250 was a NASCAR
Grand National (now Sprint Cup Series) race that took place on August 14, 1955 at the Memphis-Arkansas Speedway
located just west of West Memphis
in the American
community of LeHi, Arkansas
.
Fonty Flock managed to break his brother's eight-race pole streak. However, Tim Flock qualified in second place for this race. Fonty would eventually win the race in his 1955 Chrysler C-300 but Tim would finish in third place (one position worse than he started in). None of the speed records from qualifying portion of this race survive today. This is due NASCAR's tendency to throw away data during that era instead of tabulating it into a more permanent form at the end of each season. Records that survive from the earlier years of NASCAR are often spared from being burned or shredded. Lee Petty was knocked out of the race due to problem with his car's U joint
and Jimmie Lewallen was forced out of the race due to a broken gas line.
* Driver failed to finish race
† signifies that the driver is known to be deceased
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 August 14, 1955 at the Memphis-Arkansas Speedway
Memphis-Arkansas Speedway
The Memphis-Arkansas Speedway was a dirt oval track located just west of West Memphis, Arkansas, USA in the community of LeHi.This speedway would have a total distance spanning . Its elevation is 200 feet above sea level and all races used the Central Time Zone. While the track opened on October 7,...
located just west of West Memphis
West Memphis, Arkansas
West Memphis is the largest city in Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 27,666 at the 2000 census, with an estimated population of 28,181 in 2005, and 31,329 in 2011 ranking it as the state's 11th largest city, behind Hot Springs...
in the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
community of LeHi, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
.
Summary
One hundred and sixty-seven laps were done on a dirt oval track spanning 1.5 miles (2.4 km). There were no cautions and the time of the race was two hours, forty-seven minutes, and twelve seconds. The average speed was 89.982 mi/h while the pole position speed was 99.944 mi/h. Fifteen thousand people attended this live and completely untelevised race. Total winnings for this race were $10,625 ($ in today's money) with the winner receiving $2,950 ($ in today's money).Fonty Flock managed to break his brother's eight-race pole streak. However, Tim Flock qualified in second place for this race. Fonty would eventually win the race in his 1955 Chrysler C-300 but Tim would finish in third place (one position worse than he started in). None of the speed records from qualifying portion of this race survive today. This is due NASCAR's tendency to throw away data during that era instead of tabulating it into a more permanent form at the end of each season. Records that survive from the earlier years of NASCAR are often spared from being burned or shredded. Lee Petty was knocked out of the race due to problem with his car's U joint
Universal joint
A universal joint, universal coupling, U joint, Cardan joint, Hardy-Spicer joint, or Hooke's joint is a joint or coupling in a rigid rod that allows the rod to 'bend' in any direction, and is commonly used in shafts that transmit rotary motion...
and Jimmie Lewallen was forced out of the race due to a broken gas line.
Finishing order
- 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...
† - Speedy ThompsonSpeedy ThompsonAlfred Bruce "Speedy" Thompson was a NASCAR pioneer and driver in the Grand National series from 1950 to 1971; capturing 20 wins along the way.-Racing career:...
† - 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 :...
† - 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...
† - Buck BakerBuck BakerElzie Wylie Baker Sr. , better known as Buck Baker, was an American race car driver.-Racing career:...
† - Bob WelbornBob WelbornRobert "Bob" Joe Welborn of Denton, North Carolina, USA is a former NASCAR Grand National driver. He was named to NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers list in 1998...
† - Junior JohnsonJunior JohnsonRobert Glenn Johnson, Jr. , better known as Junior Johnson, is a retired moonshiner in the rural South who became one of the early superstars of NASCAR in the 1950s and 1960s. He won 50 NASCAR races in his career before retiring in 1966...
- Slick Smith
- Jimmy Ayers
- Ken Johns
- Dave TerrellDave TerrellDave Terrell is a retired NASCAR Grand National driver/owner who participated from 1952 to 1957....
- Eddie Skinner
- Joe Guide
- Herb ThomasHerb ThomasHerbert Watson Thomas was a NASCAR pioneer who was one of the series' most successful drivers in the 1950s.-Background:...
† - Ted Cannady
- Banks SimpsonBanks SimpsonBanks Simpson is a retired NASCAR Grand National driver who participated in only the 1955 season. He was a competitor in the 1955 Southern 500, the 1955 Mid-South 250, and the 1955 Wilkes 160...
- Gene Simpson
- Al WatkinsAl Watkins- Biography :Born Alton Watkins in 1949 Wilmington, NC.First sang publicly at the age of eight at a square dance held in Castle Hayne, NC.He has been noted as a singer, guitarist, writer, producer, entertainer, a true Americana artist and much more!...
- 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:...
*† - Roscoe Rann
- 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...
*† - Jim McLain
- Hooker Hood*
- Jack HubbardJack HubbardJohn H. "Jack" Hubbard was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1966.-External links:*...
* - 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....
*† - Woodie Wilson*
- 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:...
*† - Gordon Smith*
- Gwyn StaleyGwyn StaleyGwyn Staley was a NASCAR Grand National driver from Burlington, North Carolina, USA.-Career:...
*†
* Driver failed to finish race
† signifies that the driver is known to be deceased