1950 Southern 500

The inaugural Southern Five-Hundred (Southern 500 since 1951) 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. [3]

Layout of Darlington Raceway.
1950 Southern Five-Hundred
Race details[1]
Race 13 of 19 in the 1950 NASCAR Grand National Series season
Program promoting the 1950 Southern 500.
Program promoting the 1950 Southern 500.
Date September 4, 1950 (1950-September-04)
Official name Southern Five-Hundred
Location Darlington Raceway, Darlington, South Carolina
Course Permanent racing facility
1.25 mi (2.012 km)
Distance 400 laps, 500 mi (800 km)
Weather Very hot with temperatures of 90 °F (32 °C); wind speeds of 8.9 miles per hour (14.3 km/h)
Average speed 82.766 mph (133.199 km/h)
Attendance 25,000
Pole position
Driver
John Eanes
Time 43.884 seconds[2]
Most laps led
Driver Johnny Mantz Hubert Westmoreland
Laps 351
Winner
No. 98 Johnny Mantz Hubert Westmoreland

It is NASCAR's first 500-mile race, and still holds status as one of NASCAR's premier events. Since there had never been a 500-mile stock car race and Darlington was NASCAR's first superspeedway, drivers and teams came to the event with unique strategies. Darlington set the precedent for race strategies to come at tracks like the Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.

Background

The track at the time was a four-turn 1.25-mile (2.01 km) oval.[4] The track's first two turns are banked at twenty-five degrees, while the final two are banked two degrees lower at twenty-three degrees.[4] The front stretch (the location of the finish line) and the backstretch is banked at six degrees.[4]

Harold Brasington was a retired racer in 1948, who had gotten to know Bill France, Sr. while competing against France at the Daytona Beach Road Course and other dirt tracks in the Southeast and Midwestern United States.[5] He began planning a new speedway after he noticed the huge crowds while attending the 1948 Indianapolis 500[5] and thought, "If Tony Hulman can do it here, I can do it back home."[5] Brasington bought 70 acres from farmer Sherman Ramsey and started making a race track from a cotton and peanut field.[5] However, he was forced to create an egg-shaped oval with one corner tighter, narrower, and more steeply banked because he promised Ramsey that the new track would not disturb Ramsey's minnow pond at the west side of the property.[5] Brasington was able to make the other turn at the east side of the property wide, sweeping, and flat as he wanted.[5] It took almost a year to build the track.[5]

Race report

Historical information

The Interstate Highway System would not begin construction until later in the decade; its heyday and prominence as an "American superhighway" for leisure and business travel did not kick in until the late 1960s when NASCAR first felt the need to expand outside its regional "shell" and into the national stage.[6]

Qualifying

More than 80 entrants showed up for the race.[5] Brasington used a two-week qualifying scheme and arranged the 75 cars in three rows of 25, similar to the Indianapolis 500.[7] During those two weeks of qualifications, locals could take their cars and try to qualify, unlike today where independent contract drivers used to run the races.

Drivers who failed to qualify for the race were Dorothy Shull, Bill Bennett, Lewis Hawkins, Pap White, Louise Smith, and Pat Sutton. The fastest qualifying speed was 82.034 miles per hour or 132.021 kilometres per hour by Wally Campbell, while the slowest was 74.637 miles per hour or 120.117 kilometres per hour by Bill Widenhouse.[2] Herb Thomas did qualify for the race beforehand; the car was on the grid until just before the race when it was repossessed, counting as an automatic withdrawal for Thomas.[2]

Pee Wee Martin and Bob Smith retired from professional stock car racing after this event. Byron Beatty, Walt Crawford, P.E. Godfrey, Bill Henson, Pete Keller, Jerry Kempf, Lee Morgan, Dick Soper, and Jack Yardley made their only NASCAR start in this event. Weldon Adams, Roy Bentley, Jack Carr, Gene Comstock, Gene Darragh, John DuBoise, Carson Dyer, Joe Eubanks, Johnny Grubb, J.E. Hardie, Tex Keene, Bub King, Virgil Livengood, Hub McBride, Hershel McGriff, Bill Osborne, Barney Smith, Rollin Smith, Jesse James Taylor, Charles Tidwell, Murrace Walker, Bill Widenhouse and Shorty York began their NASCAR career at this race and established the first generation of stock car drivers.[8]

Analysis

U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond was the official marshal for the 1950 Southern 500.[9][10]

The top prize for the race was $10,510 ($127,835 when adjusted for inflation) while the lowest prize was $100 ($1,216 when adjusted for inflation) for 72nd-75th place. Seventy-five cars competed in this era of relatively unregulated racing for a total of $25,325 in winnings ($308,033 when adjusted for inflation).[11] It is pretty incredible, especially for this era to see more than 50 cars out of the 75 starters were still running on lap 300 of 400.[11]

Johnny Mantz's winning Plymouth with car owner Hubert Westmoreland

Gober Sosebee led the first four laps. Curtis Turner, the polesitter, then led until lap 22 before being wrecked out of the race on lap 275 with a significant amount of roof damage. After Turner lost the lead, Cotton Owens lead for 23 laps. After that, Mantz led to the finish. Mantz had taken advantage of an offer from Firestone to test a tire designed for asphalt stock car racing. While some cars used over 60 tires to go the remainder of the race, Mantz kept increasing his lead and won by over nine laps. The total time of the race was 6 hours, 38 minutes, and 40 seconds. The average speed was 75.250 miles per hour (121.103 km/h) while the pole position speed was 82.034 miles per hour (132.021 km/h). Two cautions lasted thirteen laps. Four hundred laps were done spanning 1.250 miles (2.012 km). Most of the known DNFs in the race were caused by crashes, the worst of which involved drivers Tex Keene, Curtis Turner, and Jack Smith all rolling their cars over the course of the race.[11]

For the average car in the race, the tire load unleashed on the tires on the new, paved circuit was too much on the tires, whether it was a Firestone or a random dirt tire. A legend spread around that teams were so desperate to get new tires that they would steal the tires from parking lots and the infield from the spectators. The race is considered to be the first "tire disaster" in NASCAR history, with the next major tire disaster being the 1969 Talladega 500.[12]

Results

Finishing order

Section reference:[11]

POS ST # DRIVER SPONSOR / OWNER CAR LAPS MONEY STATUS LED
1 43 98   Johnny Mantz Hubert Westmoreland '50 Plymouth 400 10510 running 351
2 67 82   Fireball Roberts Sam Rice '50 Oldsmobile 391 3500 running 0
3 7 22   Red Byron Parks Novelty   (Raymond Parks) '50 Cadillac 390 2000 running 0
4 23 59   Bill Rexford Julian Buesink '50 Oldsmobile 385 1500 running 0
5 15 77   Chuck Mahoney Brooks Motors '50 Mercury 381 1000 running 0
6 35 42   Lee Petty Petty Special   (Petty Enterprises) '49 Plymouth 380 800 running 0
7 38 71   Cotton Owens F.J. Bland '50 Plymouth 380 930 running 23
8 64 2   Bill Blair Sam Rice '49 Cadillac 375 600 running 0
9 44 52   Hershel McGriff City of Roses   (Hershel McGriff) '50 Oldsmobile 374 500 running 0
10 26 61   George Hartley Julian Buesink '50 Oldsmobile 371 450 running 0
11 16 9   Tim Flock Buddy Elliott '50 Oldsmobile 370 400 running 0
12 57 44   Johnny Grubb Johnny Grubb '50 Plymouth 368 350 running 0
13 62 26   Dick Linder Don Rogala '50 Oldsmobile 367 300 running 0
14 68 89   John DuBoise John DuBoise '50 Ford 367 250 running 0
15 72 72   Weldon Adams Harold Mays '49 Plymouth 367 225 running 0
16 32 99   Barney Smith Barney Smith '50 Oldsmobile 366 275 running 0
17 3 51   Gober Sosebee Cherokee Garage   (Gober Sosebee) '50 Oldsmobile 364 290 running 4
18 52 39   Elmer Wilson Elmer Wilson '49 Plymouth 360 100 running 0
19 21 4   Joe Eubanks Joe Eubanks '50 Mercury 359 running 0
20 19 43   Shorty York B.S. Beeson '50 Buick 358 running 0
21 51 64   Walt Crawford South's Garden Spot / Carolina Motors   (Walt Crawford) '50 Buick 358 running 0
22 33   Murrace Walker Murrace Walker '50 Oldsmobile 358 running 0
23 48   Gene Comstock Gene Comstock '50 Oldsmobile 355 0
24 27 17   Jack White Dailey Moyer '50 Ford 354 0
25 71 65   Byron Beatty Byron Beatty '50 Ford 351 0
26 53   Bill Widenhouse Bill Widenhouse '49 Plymouth 350 0
27 4 7   Bob Flock Bob Flock Garage   (Frank Christian) '50 Oldsmobile 348 running 0
28 10 47   Fonty Flock Frank Christian '50 Oldsmobile 346 0
29 13 19   Jack Smith R & W Auto Service '50 Oldsmobile 345 crash 0
30 30 34   Pee Wee Martin Eanes Motor Co. / Firestone Tires   (John Eanes) '50 Oldsmobile 344 100 overheating 0
31 5 5   Lee Morgan Lee Morgan '49 Oldsmobile 342 running 0
32 8   Hub McBride Hub McBride '50 Mercury 341 0
33 11   Slick Smith '50 Oldsmobile 340 0
34 12 45   Ted Chamberlain Ted Chamberlain '50 Plymouth 338 running 0
35 6 66   Virgil Livengood Virgil Livengood '50 Oldsmobile 338 running 0
36 9   Billy Carden '50 Ford 338 running 0
37 14 37   Bill Snowden Nash Motor Co.   (Nash Motor Co.) '50 Nash 338 running 0
38 22 21   Harold Kite Edmunds Motors   (Harold Kite) '49 Lincoln 334 0
39 25 49   Glenn Dunaway Glenn Dunaway '50 Lincoln 333 0
40 2 25   Jimmy Thompson Leland Colvin '50 Lincoln 332 125 engine 0
41 65 27   Jimmy Florian Euclid Motor Co.   (Jimmy Florian) '50 Ford 331 spindle 0
42 20 35   Bob Smith Central Chevrolet Corp. '50 Oldsmobile 331 running 0
43 24 0   Jimmie Lewallen Sam Rice '50 Oldsmobile 330 0
44 75   Jesse James Taylor Jesse James Taylor '50 Mercury 329 0
45 29   Bub King T.L. King '50 Mercury 329 0
46 36 24   Gene Darragh '50 Hudson 323 0
47 39   Roy Bentley Roy Bentley '50 Studebaker 319 0
48 42   J.E. Hardie '50 Studebaker 317 0
49 34   Jerry Kempf '50 Lincoln 315 0
50 46 36   Bill Osborne '50 Mercury 311 100 0
51 37   Carson Dyer Carson Dyer '50 Lincoln 310 0
52 60 33   Wally Campbell Wally Marks '50 Oldsmobile 309 100 0
53 40 79   Jim Paschal Julian Buesink '50 Ford 307 0
54 45 18   Charles Tidwell '49 Oldsmobile 300 100 0
55 41   Ruel Smith '50 Pontiac 289 0
56 47   Al Keller W.O. Taylor '50 Oldsmobile 284 0
57 50   Dick Soper '50 Kaiser 282 0
58 54   Pete Keller '50 Studebaker 281 0
59 56   P.E. Godfrey '49 Lincoln 278 0
60 1 41   Curtis Turner Eanes Motor Co.   (John Eanes) '50 Oldsmobile 275 320 crash 22
61 49   Bob Apperson Bob Apperson '49 Oldsmobile 249 0
62 55   Tommy Thompson Tommy Thompson '50 Hudson 238 0
63 61 6   Marshall Teague Paul Cox '50 Lincoln 230 0
64 70 14   Tex Keene Tex Keene '50 Plymouth 229 crash 0
65 31 38   Clyde Minter Clyde Minter '50 Lincoln 219 100 0
66 74   Rollin Smith '50 Hudson 208 0
67 17 86   Bill Henson '49 Oldsmobile 200 100 0
68 50 48   Gayle Warren Earl Blevins '49 Oldsmobile 188 100 0
69 28 87   Buck Baker Griffin Motors / Darlington Intl. Raceway   (Bob Griffin) '49 Oldsmobile 176 crash 0
70 58 46   Kenneth Wagner Moyer Co.   (Dailey Moyer) '49 Lincoln 155 100 0
71 18 62   Lloyd Moore Julian Buesink '50 Lincoln 112 100 0
72 73 48   Alton Haddock Alton Haddock '50 Ford 98 100 0
73 69 54   Jack Yardley Saverance Motors '50 Ford 89 0
74 66   Jack Carr '50 Mercury 52 engine 0
75 63   Roscoe Thompson Charles Venable '49 Oldsmobile 24 overheating 0
Failed to qualify, withdrew, or driver change
POS NAME NBR SPONSOR OWNER CAR
Bill Bennett Bill Bennett Kaiser
Lewis Hawkins Plymouth
Dorothy Shull Oldsmobile
Pap White Mercury
Pat Sutton 54 Saverance Motors Ford
Louise Smith 94 Leslie Motor Co. Louise Smith Nash
WD Herb Thomas 92 Herb Thomas Plymouth

Timeline

Section reference:[11]

  • Start of race: Gober Sosebee officially started the race with the pole position.
  • Lap 5: Curtis Turner took over the lead from Gober Sosebee.
  • Lap 24: Roscoe Thompson overheated his vehicle, making him the last-place finisher.
  • Lap 27: Cotton Owens took over the lead from Curtis Turner.
  • Lap 50: Johnny Mantz took over the lead from Cotton Owens.
  • Lap 52: Jack Carr's vehicle overheated while he was racing.
  • Lap 89: Jack Yardley failed to finish the race.
  • Lap 98: Alton Haddock failed to finish the race.
  • Lap 112: Lloyd Moore failed to finish the race.
  • Lap 155: Kenneth Wagner failed to finish the race.
  • Lap 176: Buck Baker had a terminal crash, forcing him to retire from the event.
  • Lap 188: Gayle Warner failed to finish the race.
  • Lap 200: Bill Henson failed to finish the race.
  • Lap 208: Rollin Smith failed to finish the race.
  • Lap 219: Clyde Minter failed to finish the race.
  • Lap 229: Tex Keene had a terminal crash, forcing him to retire from the event.
  • Lap 230: Marshall Teague failed to finish the race.
  • Lap 238: Tommy Thompson failed to finish the race.
  • Lap 249: Bob Apperson failed to finish the race.
  • Lap 278: P.E. Godfrey failed to finish the race.
  • Lap 281: Pete Keller failed to finish the race.
  • Lap 282: Dick Soper failed to finish the race.
  • Lap 284: Al Keller failed to finish the race.
  • Lap 320: Curtis Turner had a terminal crash after leading 22 laps, forcing him to retire from the event.
  • Lap 331: Jimmy Florian had a problem with his vehicle's spindle, knocking him out of the race.
  • Lap 332: Jimmy Thompson managed to overheat his vehicle's engine.
  • Lap 333: Glenn Dunaway finished well behind the lead lap drivers, his standing wasn't fully recorded.
  • Lap 334: Harold Kite finished well behind the lead lap drivers, his standing wasn't fully recorded.
  • Lap 340: Slick Smith finished well behind the lead lap drivers, his standing wasn't fully recorded.
  • Lap 341: Hub McBride finished well behind the lead lap drivers, his standing wasn't fully recorded.
  • Lap 344: Pee Wee Martin managed to overheat his vehicle while he was racing.
  • Lap 345: Jack Smith had a terminal crash, forcing him to retire from the event.
  • Lap 346: Fonty Flock finished well behind the lead lap drivers, his standing wasn't fully recorded.
  • Lap 350: Bill Widenhouse finished well behind the lead lap drivers, his standing wasn't fully recorded.
  • Lap 351: Byron Beaty finished well behind the lead lap drivers, his standing wasn't fully recorded.
  • Lap 354: Jack White finished well behind the lead lap drivers, his standing wasn't fully recorded.
  • Lap 355: Gene Comstock finished well behind the lead lap drivers, his standing wasn't fully recorded.
  • Finish: Johnny Mantz was officially declared the winner of the event.

References
  1. Complete weather information for the 1950 Southern 500 at The Old Farmers' Almanac
  2. 1950 Southern 500 qualifying information at Racing Reference
  3. NASCAR Off the Record at Google Books
  4. "Darlington Raceway". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
  5. Fleischman, Bill; Al Pearce (1999). The Unauthorized NASCAR Fan Guide (1998-99). Visible Ink Press. pp. 7.
  6. Darlington made stock car racing a modern sport at NASCAR.com
  7. Fleischman, page 8
  8. "1950 Southern 500 results: race-database.com". www.race-database.com. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  9. Information about the official marshal Archived 2012-08-05 at archive.today at 50 Things You May Not Know About NASCAR
  10. Paul Finkelman and Peter Wallenstein, eds. The Encyclopedia Of American Political History (CQ Press, 2001) pp. 124–126
  11. "Race Graph". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  12. Blood on the Asphalt: The NASCAR Tire Wars of 1988-89 & 1994, archived from the original on 2021-12-15, retrieved 2021-05-31
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