History of NASCAR in the 1950's

Despite the fact that the 1949 rollout of the Strictly Stock series featured only eight events, people were taking notice of the late model stock car series. In 1950, Bill France altered the title name of the series, as the Strictly Stock became the NASCAR Grand National Circuit. France favored the new name, as he felt that the term Grand National indicated superior qualities.

Timing was everything when it came to the early growth of the Grand National Series. At this point in time, car manufacturers were focusing on the creation of cars with increased power. This was to attract the younger automobile consumers. Furthermore, manufacturers were improving research and development. The Grand National Circuit was another way to showcase these cars, therefore, earning additional recognition. Oldsmobile made an early impression in late-model stock racing, winning 15 of the first 24 NASCAR Grand National races.

Automaker Hudson was the dominant manufacturer for much of the early portion of the decade. However, by the mid-1950's, General Motorsports, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler began to increase power even more so in the passenger vehicles. Chevrolet and Ford cars were producing V-8 engines with dual carburetors and more horsepower. Additionally, they designed a sophisticated chassis with a lighter exterior. Chrysler developed the hemi engine, which enhance speed for the manufacturer. Hudson began to fade and many of the drivers and teams abandoned the manufacturer.

On February 5, 1950, Harold Kite opened the decade with a victory at the Daytona Beach Road Course while driving a Lincoln. This was also Kite's first race in the series.

Most races at this time were typically 200-miles in length or less. However, France announced that the series would run a full 500-mile race at Darlington Raceway on Labor Day. Tickets, with prices racing from $3 to $10 per seat, went on sale in June. The race identified as the Southern 500 became the original super speedway event. Johnny Mantz, driving a Plymouth, captured the inaugural Southern 500 by lapping the field nine times. He won what was then an unprecedented $10,510 for the victory.

Bill Rexford won the 1950 NASCAR Grand National championship despite winning one race. Curtis Turner led the series with four total wins, but finished fifth in the overall final standings. Rexford seldom competed in 1951, therefore, he did not back up his title run. Herb Thomas, with seven victories in 35 starts, won the 1951 NASCAR Grand National title.

The 1950's were not without controversy. Tim Flock quit the sport after NASCAR officials took away his win at Daytona Beach in 1954. They found a discrepancy of roughly and eighth of an inch with the venturis in the carburetor. Lee Petty was awarded the victory. Flock returned to the sport in 1955. Flock and NASCAR had an interesting relationship, as just two years earlier, Flock and NASCAR were featured on the December 8^th, 1952 edition of TIME Magazine.

The schedule was unusual in the 1950's. All Grand National-sanctioned events counted to the statistic book and win column. Sometimes, there were multiple races in a week and over 50 races in a season. In 1956, Buck Baker and Herb Thomas competed in 48 total races. In 1958, Lee Petty competed in 50 races.

The 1950's also produced the beginning stages of the superspeedway era. The early races in NASCAR were often held on short tracks, dirt and paved. Harold Brasington's Darlington Raceway, 1.336-miles in length, was already a staple on the NASCAR Grand National schedule, but Bill France desired a bigger, better, and faster race track in Daytona Beach. Therefore, the 2.5-mile paved Daytona International Speedway came to conclusion in 1958, in plenty of time for the inaugural Daytona 500 on February 22, 1959.

The race was an overwhelming success, as only inches separated the winner from the runner-up position. Initially, France named Ford Thunderbird driver Johnny Beauchamp the victor. After 61 hours of film and photo study, France officially awarded the first Daytona 500 victory to Lee Petty, who piloted an Oldsmobile.

Construction on other speedways such as Charlotte Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway began as well.

Champions of the 1950's include Bill Rexford (1950), HerbThomas (1951, 1953), Tim Flock (1952, 1955), Lee Petty (1954, 1958, 1959), Buck Baker (1956, 1957).

Reference: NASCAR Chronicle