|| *Comments on the 1959 Daytona 500:* View the most recent comment <#52> | Post a comment <#post> Tweet 1. Aaron Camp posted: 12.02.2004 - 11:56 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) First-ever Daytona 500 wasn't decided on the track but in Bill France's office. He needed 3 days of studing photos to prove who won the race. Beauchamp was declared winner at first, but 3 days later Lee Petty was officially crowned winner. 2. bifflefan posted: 12.22.2004 - 1:46 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) and thanks to this events finish, a camera was placed at every races start finish line 3. dalejrrules14 posted: 03.26.2006 - 2:23 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) to think back then 2 cars could finish on the lead lap at daytona back then 4. Anonymous posted: 10.23.2006 - 4:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Starting in his famous No. 43 for the first time, Richard Petty put his father's two year-old Oldsmobile convertible on the third row of the starting grid before the "draft sucked the motor right out of it" after only eight laps. 5. Steve posted: 02.05.2007 - 5:38 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) If only we could have a 59-car field at Daytona 500 THIS year! Then we wouldn't have to worry about 8-10 full-time teams with a DNQ. 6. CanadianFan posted: 02.19.2007 - 11:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dick Foley is Canadian 7. Mike posted: 11.01.2007 - 6:40 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) And Eduardo Dibos is Peruvian. 8. DieselDan posted: 11.25.2007 - 2:13 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) The trivia question that stumps many NASCAR fans: What make of car did Lee Petty drive to win the first Daytona 500? Many answer Dodge, Plymouth, or Chrysler, as he won most of his races in a Mopar product, but he drove an Oldsmobile to win this one. 9. RaceFanX posted: 12.05.2007 - 4:00 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Didn't a city in South Carolina buy Lee's car after the race to field for a driver in the Southern 500? I read that in the Stock Car Encyclopedia 10. RaceFanX posted: 12.05.2007 - 4:04 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ken Marriott becomes the first driver ever to drop out of the Daytona 500. This was actually his last race too. 11. WillG_46 posted: 02.14.2008 - 9:47 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) For the first Daytona 500, the field was split among the NASCAR Grand National Series and the NASCAR Convertible Series. 38 of the 59 starters qualified in the GN qualifying race, which was only for the GN cars. In the Convertible Series, a qualifying race with 21 cars set their starting spots. The GN qualifier counted as a GN points race, and the Covertible qualifier counted as a Convertible points race. For the lineup of the race, the field was formed like today, with the GN cars on the inside and the CS cars on the outside. The convertibles became a problem as it would cause a vacuum in the car, and the drivers felt like they would be sucked out of the car at the high speeds. The highest convertible was Joe Lee Johnson who finished in 16th spot in a GN dominated field. 12. Billy Kingsley posted: 02.29.2008 - 12:30 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) One and only career start for Bob Said, father of Boris Said. I never knew that his father was ever in a NASCAR race. He was also an Olympic Champion bobsledder. Probably in Boris's blood, thus making him so good at Geoff Bodine's Challenge. Great trivia! 13. JR posted: 07.05.2008 - 3:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The Pettys had the only two Oldsmobiles in the event 14. 18fan posted: 12.09.2008 - 1:03 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Richard's first race with in the 43. He won 192 of his 200 races in the 43 15. hyltonfan08 posted: 01.10.2009 - 6:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Final career start for Gober Sosebee. 16. hyltonfan08 posted: 01.23.2009 - 4:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Marvin Panch's sponsor was McGee & Taylors Inc. 17. Sébastien posted: 07.15.2009 - 3:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jack Smith #47 was sponsored by "Georgia Chevrolet Dealers" on the rear and by "Bud Moore's Garage" on the front. Fireball Roberts #3 was sponsored by "Pontiac Americas N°1 Road Car". 18. Anonymous posted: 03.31.2010 - 12:16 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Interesting to see two drivers from Peru in this race. 19. jessie hennry posted: 02.09.2011 - 7:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 102.232 20. jessie henry posted: 02.21.2011 - 7:25 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) ok daytona 500 21. RaceFanX posted: 04.06.2011 - 11:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) When the convertibles fell back at the start rookie Fritz Wilson, in just his second NASCAR start after the qualifying race, took the lead. Wilson's time at the front was limited as polesitter Bob Welborn passed him before they got to turn 3 and would lead the first lap in Daytona 500 history. Neither Welborn or Fritz would make to halfway before mechanical woes sidelined them. Once Richard Petty's convertible retired, the future King immediately moved over to working on father Lee's pit crew for the rest of the race. Fireball Roberts had an amazing drive through the field in the early laps. Fireball used the high line to shoot past traffic and come from the 46th starting spot up to the lead. His black and gold Pontiac led for just over 21 laps before its engine blew, this was the first time NASCAR teams had run this fast for an extended period of time and Roberts was just one of many sidelined by mechanical failure because of the torture test for the equipment. On of the reasons it was so hard to figure out who won was because it was a three-wide finish. Lee Petty and Johnny Beauchamp both shot to the inside to get around the lapped #48 of Joe Weatherly. Petty was in the middle of the three-wide finish and nipped Beauchamp at the line. The win was the first of 11 in 1959 for Petty and he'd go on to become the first driver to accomplish the rare feat of winning the Daytona 500 and the Cup title in the same year. 22. CoastalJack posted: 09.14.2011 - 2:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Larry Frank drove a 1958 Ford in both the Convertible race, and Daytona 500 in 1959, not a 1957 Chevy. 23. Aldo posted: 11.19.2011 - 2:23 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bobby Johns drove the #72A, not the #72 24. Evan posted: 02.11.2012 - 7:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) * First Daytona 500, for everybody in the field. * First Daytona won by any of the Petties(Lee) and first Daytona 500 that Lee and Richard raced together on. * Richard Petty's first race in his rookie year, and it was in a convertible numbered 43, he dropped out of the great race with an engine failure. * Richard Petty, Lee Petty, and Bob Said all had sons who participated in NASCAR. Lee Petty(Richard), Richard Petty(Kyle), and Bob Said(Boris). Richard was the only one to participate. * First time cars raced on pavement at Daytona, as the other races were ran on the Beach Course. 25. Scott B posted: 12.26.2012 - 12:01 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Field featured an Edsel and a DeSoto. 26. Anonymous posted: 12.30.2012 - 6:43 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) A discrepancy I've noticed. In the results for the convertible qualifier, Richard Petty's car is listed as being owned by Petty Engineering. In this it is listed as being owned by Petty Enterprises. 27. Francis posted: 02.24.2013 - 6:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Astounded that there were no caution laps! How many times did leaders stop for tires and fuel? Noticed that only Daytona and Darlington races averaged over 88 mph and some were in the 40+ mph range that year. 28. Kellen posted: 08.04.2013 - 9:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bill France Sr. Offered any driver to cut there roof off for $1000 because there was a shortage of convertibles compared to hardtops. Come to find out the convertibles where about 10 mph slower than the hardtops and got lapped every 16 to 18 laps. 29. VoteGillilandNotDanica2014 posted: 08.14.2013 - 5:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Tim Flock's sponsor was Russ Bramblet Ford. http://www.floridastockcars.com/gallery3/v/Daytona/Tim+Flock_s+T-Bird+in+the+garage+area+-+1959.jpg.html 30. VoteGillilandNotDanica2014 posted: 08.17.2013 - 7:18 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Here's a pic of Harold Smith's Studebaker. It has Dayton, Ohio on the side. Not sure if you'd consider that a "sponsor" or not, but here you go. http://www.floridastockcars.com/gallery3/v/Daytona/Harold+Smith+and+crew+check+over+his+Studebaker+before+the+start+of+the+_59+Daytona+500_+He+finished+31st___.jpg.html 31. Graham Clayton posted: 10.28.2013 - 7:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Second and final appearance for a '59 De Soto in the GN Division, both occurring during the '59 Daytona 500 meeting. 32. Anonymous posted: 03.06.2014 - 5:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Lee Petty's crew chief was Kenny Myler. 33. carla 2014 posted: 12.05.2014 - 6:39 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) that was my grandfather in the first edsel engine 46 40 45 Daytona 500 1959 concrates 34. Paul posted: 02.10.2015 - 12:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor Update: #6 Cotton Owens - W.H Watson Trucking (http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/cotton-owens-poses-with-his-w-h-watson-owned-1958-pontiac-news-photo/104400023) #49 Bob Welborn - Tuxedo Plumbing & Heating (http://hostingbytes.us/images/3/1723793.png) #80 Bob Rose - Florida Dump Trucks (http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/february-1959-bobby-rose-of-inglewood-ca-came-east-to-run-news-photo/147815178) 35. Paul posted: 04.07.2015 - 5:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Withdraw: #12 Ralph Moody Make: T-Bird #31 Glen Rockey Make: Ford #46 George Henderson Make: Ford #85 Bob Harkey Make: Chevrolet #?? Jim Delaney Make: Ford #?? Randel Lee Ramage Make: Plymouth Source: https://scontent-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/10931016_10152886369257842_8773258833285837640_n.jpg?oh=59ccf55fc3bade0ff97d6335199be8e4&oe=55A5FE9D 36. Nerf Herder posted: 07.06.2015 - 1:54 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Lee Petty's sponsor was Newton Chappell Motors. The writing is small and difficult to read, but I was finally able to find a clear enough picture. 37. Kenny York posted: 12.30.2015 - 3:04 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) MY Aunt LeAnn Cosats Brother, Paul Bass Drove the #45 Car, Edsel Convertible, He was leading the convertible division when his carb caught on fire.and was listed as engine failure. We always called him "Uncle Paul",,,over the years he had his own garage in speedway, and always helped me thur the years with my hot rods...hes gone now and im still here at 71 still building but reminising this site was great thanks a bunch 38. Sebastien posted: 06.29.2016 - 7:19 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Johnson #53 sponsor was "Built by Champion garage" from Jamestown NY. 39. Siple posted: 03.03.2017 - 2:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsors: 10 Elmo Langley - Café Burgundy 29 Dick Freeman - Ruebush Brothers 32 Brownie King - City Motor Co. 43 Richard Petty - Air Lift 48 Joe Weatherly - Wilson's Pure Oil Service 88 Tiny Lund - Shook's Transfer 40. JSPorts posted: 03.26.2017 - 10:47 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I think it would be awesome to be able to find the top 20 in points after each race before the modern era to be able to put it on this website (along with point totals from those races.) Does anybody know where we could locate such information? 41. spinpsychle posted: 05.08.2017 - 5:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @40: Yeah that would be awesome. I don't think anyone knows exactly how the points worked. Jayski has a page with some theories but even if someone went through all the work and applied it all, it might not be quite right. From 68 onwards, with the exception of 74, it's simple enough that this is possible. F1 and Indycar had simple enough systems that we can do it for them. 42. Jolly Mean Giant posted: 06.02.2018 - 12:58 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) First Daytona 500 starts for all 59 drivers in the field (obviously) Only Daytona 500 starts for Johnny Beauchamp, Raul Cilloniz, Jimmy Thompson, Ben Benz, Ken Rush, Bob Rose, Glenn Wood, Bob Pronger, Billy Carden, Bernie Hentges, Shorty Rollins, Joe Eubanks, Paul Bass, Eduardo Dibos, Gober Sosebee, Bob Said, Pete Kelly, Carl Tyler, Fritz Wilson, Larry Odo and Ken Marriott. 43. Evan posted: 04.21.2019 - 7:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) NASCAR decided that Lee Petty won the race, but he never got the trophy. Johnny Beauchamp got to have the trophy and get kissed by the beauty queen and enjoy the spoils of victory lane but still kept it even after Lee Petty won his protest. This was one of the wildest stories of this race, even after it took 3 days to decide. Strangely enough, this was Johnny's only Daytona start. 44. rm posted: 04.21.2019 - 8:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It was Beauchamp's lone Daytona 500 because he DNQ'd due to a crash in the qualifying race in 1960 and then was involved in a terrible crash in the qualifying race in 1961 that ended his career. In a twist of fate, the crash also involved Lee Petty. It all but ended Lee's career as well, both cars went flying over the guardrail and out of the park. 45. JoeyLoganoFan22 posted: 06.29.2019 - 2:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It was actually called the "Inaugural 500 Mile International Sweepstakes" 46. JoeyLoganoFan22 posted: 06.29.2019 - 2:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Anyone know why there was so many peruvian NASCAR Drivers throughout the late 50s and early 60s? 47. Corey posted: 07.01.2019 - 9:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) After the passing of Jim Reed, I am curious to know how many drivers are still alive from the inaugural Daytona 500. Given the stats from this site, these gentlemen are the ones that maybe still be with us as they do not have a known date of death. Known DOB: Bernie Hentges Brownie King Dick Foley Johnny Allen Junior Johnson Rex White Richard Petty Tom Pistone No known DOB: Bob Potter Bob Rose Dick Freeman(OH) Jim McGuirk Ken Johnson Pete Kelly Raul Cilloniz George Green George Green is a driver where I read something about his passing, however nothing concrete has been presented. 48. Danish_Pie posted: 09.26.2020 - 10:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Two withdrawals currently don't have a drivers page. Randel Lee Ramage Born: February 8, 1938 Died: June 17, 2018 Home: Barlow, KY Glen Rockey Born: June 17, 1927 Died: September 14, 1959 Home: Muskegon, MI 49. thog posted: 10.05.2020 - 9:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bill France offered a $500 bonus to the "highest finishing 3.4L five-passenger Jaguar" for this race, but no Jaguars entered to take the dice. 50. ScottB posted: 10.07.2020 - 4:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 48- Glen Rockey was a midwest racer who mostly drove sprint cars, along with some ARCA stock car starts. He was killed in a crash at Marne Raceway (now Berlin), where he was a frequent competitor. He is inducted into the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame. 51. Ryan posted: 11.09.2020 - 8:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Tonight on Jeopardy this race had a question (err answer) for $400 in the first round of Jeopardy under the category "A Day at the Races". This track had to wait to see who won for three days in a photo finish for its first 500 mile race. Also, before the show a tribute was made to Alex Trebek who has 34 more taped shows after tonight and he did shows up to two weeks until his death. 52. Canadianfan posted: 03.06.2021 - 1:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) https://www.spokesman.com/blogs/autos/2016/feb/12/collector-car-corner-who-really-won-first-daytona-500-1959/ An excerpt from the interview for The Ghosts of NASCAR, The Harlan Boys and the first Daytona 500 In conversations with many insiders in the sport and media people along the way, the actual main topic to this day was whether Lee Petty was actually on the lead lap when the checkered flag fell and NOT the finish line photo, which eventually showed Petty ahead by about a foot at the finish. This discussion centers on the official scoring of the race, or better said, lack thereof. The scorers back then were usually friends or even family members of the team they scored. These people would report for ?scoring? duty and write down the time the car went across the start-finish line every lap from the official race time clock. It was a totally manual effort. I was told in person by two reputable racing legends, namely Smokey Yunick and Chris Economaki, that the major area of concern was the lap scoring. Turns out that the scorer for Lee Petty was his wife, Elizabeth, who reported as did all the other scorers to the official NASCAR scorer in charge, none other than the highly respected Morris Metcalf, who, notwithstanding, started the very first NASCAR fan club in 1955 for Lee Petty. This conflict of interest info aside, Smokey and Chris both felt that the reason it took Bill France three days to overturn the finish is because he was more concerned about whether Lee Petty was on the lead lap, period. France knew his scoring system was at best less than adequate, and that ?mistakes? in recording might have happened. Mistakes like this could have put a car on the lead lap instead of one or more laps down. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: