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  1.   VoteGillilandNotDanica2014 posted:
  02.12.2014 - 6:04 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

From
http://stockcar.racersreunion.com/forum/topics/racing-history-minute-july-14-1957

Maybe it's because 1957 was the year I made my first trip to Darlington,
or maybe it's because most of the 1957 cars had distinctive appearances
on the track. For whatever reason, each time I post a Minute about a
race in 1957, mental images of the cars and tracks, and more especially
for the drivers of the era, float across my computer monitor as I try to
type. When preparing the Minute for today, the term of "cookie-cutter
tracks" arose as this Minute is about a 1.5 mile track, a size very
prevalent in NASCAR these days. But the 1.5 mile track for today's event
was DIRT. That's right. A 1.5 mile dirt track located in LeHI, Arkansas.
Who knew? Did you?

On this date in 1957, a 200 mile/134 lap race was race number 30 on the
'57 schedule. Twenty-six of the drivers and their crews made the trip to
Arkansas for the race. When qualifying was over, Speedy Thompson would
have his Chevrolet on the pole with Paul Goldsmith in a Ford in second
starting position. Buck Baker would start third with Curtis Turner
fourth. Fifth place starter was Bill Amick.

This race included cars designated as "Grand National" which were the
same as the designated "Convertibles" with only the addition of the roof
to specify a difference. Fourth place starter, Curtis Turner, was the
only convertible to start in the top five. Ten of the 28 starters drove
convertibles.

A crowd of 9,500 spectators came out to witness the event, but by the
half-way point of the race, more than half of the crowd left the
premises as the blinding dust raised by the cars made viewing impossible
and breathing most uncomfortable. Two caution flags flew for a total of
56 MINUTES for no other reason than to wet the track in an effort to
keep the dust down. No other cautions were required but the 56 minute
total delay in the race was just too much for some fans as well.

Paul Goldsmith parlayed his second starting position into the lead on
lap one and held on to that spot for 36 laps before Curtis Turner slid
his Ford convertible into the lead. The topless Turner would lead until
lap 72 before Jack Smith stormed into the lead in his Grand National
Chevrolet. Smith steadily moved away from second place and with 10 laps
to go appeared headed for a sure victory. With eight laps to go, the
Chevy power plant exploded and Smith was out of the event. Smith's
departure left Marvin Panch to inherit the number one position. After
the race, Smith said he was "retiring from the sport" as he coiuld "not
afford to keep buying engines". Plainly stated, Jack said "I quit. I
have run my last race". Of course we know that wasn't set in stone as
Jack went on to have a successful career in NASCAR.

Marvin Panch would win the race over a hard charging Bill Amick. With a
few more laps, Amick may have stolen the event from Panch.


  2.   Anonymous posted:
  07.08.2014 - 11:41 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

This was the last race at this track. Plainly, it was too difficult to
keep the dust under control here, not to mention that it was a very
dangerous track, even by 1950s standards (two drivers were killed in one
weekend in 1956, and several more were injured in 1954 and 1955.)


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