(This is the third in a series of memorable moments in the 62-year history of Martinsville Speedway. This TUMS moment focuses on Martinsville evolving from a dirt track to NASCAR’s only paved short track).
Martinsville Only Paved Short-Track On 1955 NASCAR Schedule
MARTINSVILLE, Va. – In an era of dirt tracks, Martinsville Speedway owner H. Clay Earles chose not to participate in a follow-the-leader game when it came to operating his race track.
NOTE: TUMS is the sponsor of the TUMS Fast Relief 500, the sixth race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, at Martinsville Speedway on October 25.
Earles preferred to set the standard. He believed a paved track would provide a more comfortable viewing environment for the fans. So in 1955 Earles paved his half-mile speedway, making it the only paved short track on the 45-race NASCAR Grand National [now Sprint Cup] circuit.
Martinsville's first race in 1955 was held on its original dirt surface. Tim Flock emerged the victor on that May day, giving him the distinction of winning the track's final dirt event.
When the series returned to Martinsville for the Oct. 16 race, they found an entirely different challenge with the paved track. First, rain washed out qualifying, so a blind draw determined the grid. A stubborn rain then delayed the start of the event for more than an hour.
Once the race started before the 12,000 spectators, Flock led for 66 laps in the 200-lap race. It was the 14th consecutive Grand National race in which Flock had led at least one lap – an all-time record. However, Flock eventually had to settle for 24th in the 28-car field because of transmission problems.
The race's second half turned into a duel between Speedy Thompson in a Kiekhaefer Chrysler and Bob Welborn in a Chevrolet he owned. Welborn took the lead on lap 106 from Jim Reed and held it for the next 15 circuits. Thompson grabbed it for one lap, but Welborn fought back and retook the top spot on lap 122. This time, he led for 16 laps. Thompson then sped past Welborn on lap 138 and led the rest of the way to claim his fourth career Grand National victory.
Welborn finished second and Jim Paschal took third, also in a Chevrolet owned by Welborn. The top three cars were the only ones on the lead lap. Herb Thomas, one lap down, and Reed, two laps off the pace, rounded out the top five. Both drove Chevrolets.
Martinsville's first race on the paved track was the 42nd event on the schedule.
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