1956 NASCAR Grand National Series

The season started on a somber note; as former driver Buddy Shuman died the night before the season started, in a Hickory hotel fire. The coroner reported that the mattress had been on fire, and it appeared that Shuman had attempted to escape, but broke down the bathroom door instead of the hallway. Shuman had been put in charge of the factory effort by Ford to succeed in NASCAR.^[1]

Buck Baker won the NASCAR Grand National championship with 14 wins in the 1956 race season. The season involved races on 40 dirt tracks, 3 road courses, and 2 superspeedways.^[2] More than 300 drivers competed in at least one race throughout the season With Baker and Speedy Thompson competing in 48 of the 56 races. Baker finished the season with 31 top five finishes, 39 top ten, and 12 poles.^[3]

Baker had been improving his season finishing position for a couple years; with a 4th-place finish in 1953, 3rd in 1954, and runner-up in 1955. For the 1956 season Baker joined the Carl Kiekhaefer team who already boasted Speedy Thompson and Tim Flock. The powerhouse Kiekhaifer team finished with a total of 30 races in the 56 race season, including 16 straight races by 4 different drivers during one stretch of the season.^[4] Baker took home the championship, Thompson finished second, and Flock only started 4 races for Kiekhaifer but still brought home a 9th place for his season efforts. Flock quit the Kiekhaifer team part way into the season citing an overly oppressive and driven to win Kiekhaifer.^[5] Rules and living arrangements were established by Kiekhaifer; Husbands and wives as well as driver and girlfriends were not allowed to share quarters the night before the race.^[6] Herb Thomas replaced Flock on the team, but he refused to remain for the whole season as well.^[5][7]

At the time the season occurred, NASCAR was aspiring to become the United States' new dominant race-sanctioning body. This had previously been the a distinction held by the AAA Contest Board. However, the American Automobile Association had ended its involvement in automobile racing in the aftermath of the 1955 Le Mans disaster. Other organizations that were frontrunners angling to become the new dominant U.S. race-sanctioning body were the United States Auto Club and the Sports Car Club of America.^[8]

Summary edit

1955 edit

Race 1: Hickory Speedway (November 13) edit

On November 13, 1955, at the Hickory Speedway, 7,500 people watched as the 1956 NASCAR season got underway, with Tim Flock capturing the win in one of Carl Kiekhaefer's Mercury Outboard motors sponsored Chryslers.^{[note 1]} Flock started on the pole and led the first 121 laps of the 200 lap event before spinning in turn three. Lee Petty took the lead and led through lap 138 when Flock caught and passed him; then Flock led from lap 139 to finish. Petty would finish third behind Flock and Curtis Turner, with Dink Widenhouse and Jim Paschal rounding out the top 5. There were 4 cautions on the 0.4 2.5-mile (4.0 km) dirt track, for a total of 23 laps.^{[citation needed]}

Race 2: Charlotte Speedway (November 20) edit

On November 20,^[10] Race 2 was held on the 3/4 mile dirt track Charlotte Speedway. Tim Flock's brother Fonty, who also drove for Kiekhaefer, would lead the race from start to finish, narrowly edged out his brother Tim by half a car length. Lee Petty, Joe Weatherly and, Buck Baker would round out the top five. This would be Kiekhaefer's 10th win in 12 races, dating back to the 1955 season.^{[citation needed]}

Races 2 and 3 were held on the same day.^[10]

Race 3: Willow Springs Raceway (November 20) edit

Also on November 20, in California at Willow Springs Raceway NASCAR held a 200-mile road race at Willow Springs Raceway in California. Chuck Stevenson grabbed that win in his 1956 Ford; followed by Marvin Panch and Johnny Mantz as November came to a close.^[12]

Race 4: Palm Beach Speedway (December 11) edit

On December 11, 4,500 spectators watched a race at the Palm Beach Speedway in West Palm Beach, Florida. The race is notable in that the first two drivers across the finish line, Joe Weatherly and Jim Reed, were disqualified due to technical violations. The race was awarded to Herb Thomas.^[7] Although Weatherly and Reed finished more than a lap ahead of Thomas NASCAR found that their cars were not strictly stock. Weatherly had a special cam installed, and Reed was found to be using modified valves, and both were stripped of their finishing positions. Thomas won the 200 lap, half mile track, race in an hour and a half. Al Keller finished second, Billy Myers grabbed the third spot with Buck Baker and Lee Petty rounding out the top 5. After the race Big Bill France announced that anyone caught cheating again would not only forfeit their finishing position, but their prize money and all their season points to date as well. This ended the 1955 year for NASCAR racing.^{[citation needed]}

Winter of 1956 edit

Race 5: 150 Miles at Arizona State Fairgrounds (January 22) edit

On January 22, the 150 Miles at Arizona State Fairgrounds was contested as the season's fifth race. It was held at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix, Arizona.^[10][15] Buck Baker, in his 55 Chrysler, earned the first win of the new year, and Kiekhaefer drivers Billy Myers and Ralph Moody captured second and third. Baker's victory was his first start for the juggernaut Kiekhaefer team. When Kiekhaefer realized how formidable Baker was on the track he was quoted as saying "There's only one thing to do with a man like that; and that is to hire him."^[16] Slowed by 8 cautions, the one mile dirt track hosted the 150 mile race in two and a half hours.^[17]

Race 6: Daytona Beach and Road Course (February 26) edit

Race 6 was held February 25 at Daytona Beach and Road Course^[10] Team owner Kiekhaefer fielded 6 of his drivers for the race: Buck Baker, Tim Flock, his brother Fonty Flock, Charlie Scott, Frank Munday and Speedy Thompson.^[18] Tim Flock survived the track and 70-plus other drivers^{[note 2]} to win the race, marking his second in a row win at the beach. Charlie Scott, the 19th-place finisher, is noted as one of the first African-American drivers in NASCAR.^[7] The race was flagged to a stop 2 laps before the scheduled 160 miles due to a high tide on the beach.^[18]

On February 25, the day before the Grand National race, the track had hosted NASCAR's inaugural NASCAR Convertible Division race.^[19] Along with drivers, owners, mechanics and, officials, 13,500 spectators gathered at the 4.1 mile road course to watch Curtis Turner in his 56 Ford convertible beat Fireball Roberts and 26 other drivers to the checkered flag through 160 miles of racing.^[20]

Race 7: Palm Beach Speedway (March 4) edit

On March 4, the drivers returned to Palm Beach Speedway for race number 7, a 100-mile event. Once again disqualification would play a part in who was declared the winner. Al Keller beat Billy Myers to the checkered flag. However, after Keller was found to have been racing with modified pistons, Myers was awarded the victory. Buck Baker and Herb Thomas grabbed the second and third spots respectively.^[18]

Race 8: Wilson Speedway (March 18) edit

On March 18, 5,000 spectators gathered for Race 8; which was contested on the half mile dirt track of Wilson Speedway. Herb Thomas captured his second win of the season in a Smokey Yunick-prepared Chevy when rain cut the scheduled 200 lap event to 106 laps.^[23]

Race 9: Lakewood Speedway (March 25) edit

On March 25, the Grand National series raced on the one mile dirt track of Lakewood Speedway in Atlanta, Georgia. The event was darkened by the death of Lou Moore who suffered a intracerebral hemorrhage while at the track, and died in the hospital before the end of the race. Moore was a well known Indianapolis 500 car driver, builder and owner. Buck Baker came away with the Wilson Speedway win, and Speedy Thompson finished second, giving Kiekhaefer another 1-2 finish and bringing the March contests to a close.^[24]

Spring of 1956 edit

Race 10: Wilkes County 160 at North Wilkesboro Speedway (April 8) edit

The new month and race 10 would bring one of the 1956 season's biggest turning points as April 8 ushered the NASCAR crew to 0.6 mile North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, N.C. for the Wilkes County 160. Tim Flock posted his third win of the season, and Billy Myers finished second, as 7,500 spectators looked on. Jim Paschal grabbed the third spot, as Herb Thomas and Ralph Moody rounded out the top 5. The news of the day was when Flock shocked the NASCAR family and abruptly quit the highly successful Kiekhaefer Chrysler team after the race, citing worsening ulcers and Kiekhaefer's attitude as the reasons. Kiekhaefer tried to convince Flock to stay with the team, but Flock was adamant about leaving for a Chevy team.^{[citation needed]}

Flock later recounted,

I couldn't take Kiekhaefer's drill-sergeant attitude anymore. I had to quit to save my own life.^[26]

Race 11: Langhorne Speedway (April 22) edit

On April 22, the season's eleventh was contested on the 1 mile dirt track Langhorne Speedway in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Tragedy struck once again as young driver John McVitty died of massive internal injuries after being thrown from his car as it rolled the day before the race during qualifying. To fill the empty seat left by Flock's leaving, and now driving a Smokey Yunick prepared ride, Kiekhaefer hired Herb Thomas to join his NASCAR team. Flock moved into the lead on lap 115, but would give way to eventual winner Buck Baker with six laps remaining in the 150 lap event. Thomas finished second and Flock dropped to third by the end of the race.^{[citation needed]}

Race 12: Richmond 200 at Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds (April 29) edit

April 29 brought 5,000 spectators to the Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds for the Richmond 200 event on the half mile dirt track. Buck Baker dominated, leading all but two laps and lapped the entire field including second place Herb Thomas by the time the checkered flag fell. Baker’s win coupled with Flocks last place finish moved Baker into first place in the standings.^[29]

Race 13: Arclite 100 at the Columbia Speedway (May 5) edit

On May 5, the Arclite 100 was held at the Columbia Speedway in Cayce, South Carolina as the thirteenth race of the season. Speedy Thompson won the 100 mile race. This was the fourth consecutive race in which both the winner and runner-up were Kiekhaefer cars.^[10][7] The win at Columbia Speedway was Thompson's fifth career win, and his first of the season.^{[citation needed]} Buck Baker, Joe Weatherly, Tiny Lund, and Bob Flock respectively finished second, third, fourth, and fifth. 5,000 spectators attended the hour and fifty minute race.^[31]

Race 14: Harris Speedway (May 6) edit

On May 6, the second day of the double-duty weekend had the NASCAR race at Harris Speedway in Concord, North Carolina for a 100-mile event on their half-mile dirt track. Speedy Thompson grabbed his second checkered flag in a row, besting Buck Baker and Herb Thomas who finished second and third respectively. It was another 1-2-3 victory for the powerful Kiekhaefer team. Thompson led all but one lap in the one hour and 37 minute event.^{[citation needed]}

Race 15: Greenville-Pickens Speedway (May 10) edit

On May 10, race fifteen was held at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway in South Carolina.^[10] Buck Baker gave Kiekhaefer his 7th victory in a row. The race result would be unsuccessfully challenged. After Baker managed to run the full 200 laps on the half-mile dirt track without a single pit stop, Schwam Motor Co., who fielded Fords for Joe Weatherly and Curtis Turner, went to NASCAR officials and filed a protest against the Kiekhaefer team. An enraged Kiekhaefer filed a counter protest against the Schwam Fords, claiming they ran with illegal motors and rear-ends. Technical inspector Jim Ross reviewed both claims, and held that both cars were legal, giving Baker a 100-point lead in the standings. The final results for the race were that the 500B Chrysler of Baker's was the winner, Curtis Turner in his number 99 second, and Joe Eubanks third. Gwyn Staley and Joe Weatherly rounded out the top five.^[29]

Race 16: Hickory Speedway (May 12) edit

On May 12, the Grand National series returned to the Hickory Speedway. 4,500 spectators attended the race, which Speedy Thompson led from start to finish. The race was filled with cautions, 6 in total throughout the 200 lap event.^[34] There were no driver injuries,^{[citation needed]} and Billy Myers finished second with Buck Baker, Herb Thomas, and Gwyn Stanley filling out the top five spots.^[34] Thompson's win gave Kiekhaefer his eighth straight win.

Race 17: Orange Speedway (May 13) edit

On May 13, the season's seventeenth race was contested on the 0.9-mile Orange Speedway dirt track in Hillsborough, North Carolina. In a near photo finish Buck Baker barely squeaked past Speedy Thompson at the end of the 90 mile event.^{[citation needed]} This was the ninth win of the for Kiekhaefer. The roughly one-hour race was attended by 7,500 spectators.

Race 18: "Virginia 500" at Martinsville Speedway (May 20) edit

On May 20, racing was held at the picturesque half-mile paved track of the Martinsville Speedway in the newly named Virginia 500 race. 20,000 spectators watched the 4 hour, 500 lap race, which saw seven caution flags. The race saw Speedy Thompson leading a race high 259 laps, only to fall to Buck Baker on lap 382. Baker maintained his lead after passing Thompson, delivering the Kiekhaefer team its tenth victory of the season.^{[citation needed]} Lee Petty, Paul Goldsmith and Gwyn Stanley finished third through fifth respectively.^[36]

Race 19: Lincoln Speedway (May 25) edit

On May 25,^[10] seventeen drivers competed on the half-mile dirt track of Lincoln Speedway in New Oxford, Pennsylvania for 200 laps.^[37] In another close finish, Buck Baker secured his third win in a row. Billy Myers had led the first 43 laps until his fuel pump failed, and pole sitter Speedy Thompson retired on lap 97 with a hole in his radiator. Lee Petty put on a show for the fans when he lost a lap after spinning in lap 21. Petty then drove back into the lead lap, and into contention with some yellow flag help.^{[citation needed]} Only eight of the seventeen competing racers completed the race. Baker, Jim Paschal, Petty, Herb Thomas, and Nace Mattingly all finished in the top five.^[37]

Race 20: Charlotte Speedway (May 27) edit

On May 27, NASCAR held two races. The first of these was on the Charlotte Speedway,^[10] a 3/4 mile track. The Kiekhaefer saw its drivers once again win all three podium spots,^[38] as Speedy Thompson, the newly acquired Junior Johnson, and points-leader Buck Baker all finished in the top-three spots. Thompson's win was the twelfth victory for the Kiekhaefer team.^{[citation needed]}

Race 21: Portland Speedway (May 27) edit

The second race held on May 27 was across the country from the first at the Portland Speedway in Portland, Oregon.^[10] Herb Thomas gave the Kiekhaefer team another win. John Kieper finished second and Clyde Palmer finished third.^[39]

This was the first NASCAR Grand National Series race held at the track. The series would race three more times in its 1956 season. The following season featured three more races at the track, after which NASCAR's premier division did not return to the track.^[40]

The race was a combined race that also counted as part of the 1956 NASCAR Pacific Coast Late Model Division season.^[41]

Race 22: Redwoood Speedway (May 30) edit

Two races were held on May 30, the first being at Redwood Speedway in California.^[10][42] Due to poor track and weather conditions, the race was halted early after only 78 miles of the scheduled 100 miles had been completed. Ruts and holes in the 0.624 dirt track and swirling dust storms made the track unsafe to race on. Herb Thomas won the shortened race.^{[citation needed]}

Race 23: Syracuse Mile (May 30) edit

The second race of the day on May 30 was held across the country from the first, being held on the Syracuse Mile, a 1-mile dirt oval at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, New York. The race was 150 miles in length. Buck Baker delivered the Kiekhaefer team its the second win of the day, defeating Jim Paschal in his Mercedes by 3 laps.^[42]

Summer of 1956 edit

Race 24: Merced Fairgrounds (June 3) edit

On June 3,^[10] Herb Thomas easily won the 24th race. The race was a 100-mile event held at the Merced Fairgrounds in Merced, California. Thomas' win was the sixteenth consecutive win for the Carl Kiekhaefer team, a record that still stands as of 2019, and is unlikely to be broken in the modern era.^[45] The win streak would be broken in the following race.

This was the first and only time the series raced at this track. The same day, a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race was also contested at the track. That race was also won by Herb Thomas. These were the first two of only three NASCAR races at the track, as a K&N Pro Series West race the following year marked NASCAR's final race at the track.^[46]

Race 25: Memphis-Arkansas Speedway (June 10) edit

On June 10, Ralph Moody won the season's 25th race at Memphis-Arkansas Speedway in Lehi, Arkansas in a DePaolo Engineering Ford.^[7][48] This broke the sixteen-race winning streak of the Kiekhaefer team.^[7]

Race 26: Southern States Fairgrounds (June 15) edit

On June 15, the 26th race of the season was held at the Southern States Fairgrounds in Charlotte, North Carolina, a half mile dirt track. The 200 lap event saw Speedy Thompson win in his Chrysler by five laps over second-place finisher Curtis Turner. Lee Petty finished third, with Fireball Roberts and Buck Baker respectively placing 4th and 5th.^[49]

Race 27: Monroe County Fairgrounds (June 22) edit

On June 22, NASCAR raced on the half-mile dirt track at the Monroe County Fairgrounds in Rochester, New York. In the 200 lap event, Speedy Thompson won a second-consecutive victory, winning by a full lap over Jim Paschal and Herb Thomas. Buck Baker finished fourth, giving the Kiekhaefer team three of the top four finishing spots. 6,000 spectators attended the race, which feature 21 drivers.^[51]

Race 28: Portland Speedway (June 24) edit

On June 24, at the Portland Speedway in Portland, Oregon, John Kieper grabbed a win in his own 1956 Oldsmobile in an hour and a half race on the paved half mile track.^[52]

The race was a combined race that was also counted as part of the 1956 NASCAR Pacific Coast Late Model Division season.^[53]

Race 29: Asheville-Weaverville Speedway (July 1) edit

The 29th race was held at the Asheville–Weaverville Speedway in Weaverville, North Carolina and was won by Lee Petty.^[10]

Race 30: Raleigh 250 (July 4) edit

On July 4, Fireball Roberts won the Raleigh 250, a 250-mile race at the Raleigh Speedway in Raleigh, North Carolina.^[10] The Raleigh Speedway was a 1-mile oval.^[55] This was Roberts' first win on a superspeedway. Kiekhaefer filed a protest with NASCAR officials claiming that Robert's flywheel weight was illegal. At that time NASCAR did not have scales at the track, so they took the flywheel to a fish market to weigh it, and Roberts's victory stood, being upheld by NASCAR.^[7]

Race 31: Peidmont Interstate Fairgrounds (July 7) edit

On July 7, the 31st race was contested at Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It was won by Lee Petty.^[57]

Race 32: California State Fairgrounds (July 8) edit

On July 8, the 32nd race was contested at California State Fairgrounds in Sacramento, California. It was won by Loyd Dane^[58]

This was the first NASCAR Grand National Series race at the track. NASCAR's top division would race there annually through its 1961 season.^[59]

On the same day as the Grand National Series race, a NASCAR Pacific Coast Late Model Division race was also held at the track, which was also won by Dane.^[59]

Race 33: Soldier Field (July 21) edit

On July 21, 1956, Fireball Roberts won a race on the short track at Soldier Field stadium in Chicago, Illinois. This was the first NASCAR Cup race to be held in Chicago.^[60] It is today regarded to have been the only NASCAR Cup Series race held at the Soldier Field. Roberts beat Jim Pascal by one car-length.^{[61][62][63][64]} Pascal had been the lap leader until the 194th of 200 laps, when Roberts surpassed him.^[60]

The race used the stadium's half-mile short track configuration.^[65] At 200 laps, the race's length was 100 miles.^[66] Attendance at the race was 14,402.^[60]

The race was contested by twenty-five drivers. While not an extraordinarily large number of drivers, some of the season's largest stars were among the competitors. Ten cars failed to finish, with many of these being sidelined due to brake issues.^[67]

Race 34: Cleveland County Fairgrounds (July 27) edit

On July 27, the 34th race of the season was contested at Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Shelby, North Carolina. It was won by Speedy Thompson of the Kiekhaefer team.^[71]

Race 35: Montgomery Motor Speedway (July 29) edit

On July 29, the 35th race of the season was contested at Montgomery Speedway in Montgomery, Alabama. It was won by Marvin Panch.^[72]

Race 36: Oklahoma State Fairgrounds (August 3) edit

On August 3, the 36th race of the season was contested at Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was won by Jim Paschal, who was racing for Frank Hayworth.^[73]

This was the only NASCAR race to be contested on this track.^[74]

Cancelled race at Tulsa Fairgrounds (August 4) edit

On August 4, 1956, thirteen drivers met for a scheduled 200 lap race on the 0.5 mile dirt oval short track at the Tulsa Fairgrounds. 6,200 spectators gathered in attendance for the race,^[75] which was promoted by Jack Zink.^[76] However, after 34 laps, Lee Petty (a competing driver) took the initiative to red-flag the race due to conditions of excessive dust combined with poor track lighting.^[75][76] Petty did so by quitting the race by stopping his car near the finish line, and grabbing a flag to wave other drivers to stop racing.^[76] The race was cancelled. In NASCAR records, the cancelled race is not considered official, and awarded no points, money, or championship points.^[75] The race is believed to have been the only race in NASCAR Cup Series history to have started but failed to become official.^[76]

Race 37: "International Stock Car Road Race" at Road America (August 12) edit

On August 12, 1956, the 37th race of the season was the International Stock Car Road Race at the Road America road course near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.^[77]

The race took place in rainy weather,^[78] and is considered to be the first occasion in which NASCAR ran a race in the rain.^[79] After three lead changes,^[77] Speedy Thompson led the race between laps 36 and 53, but suffered engine failure in the 53rd lap and retired from the race. Flock led the race thereafter and won.^[73][80] Flock was racing for Bill Stroppe in a 1956 Mercury.^[77] This would be the last of Flock's 39 career wins in the premier division of NASCAR (Grand National Series/NASCAR Cup Series).^[80] Flock's victory was a 17-second photo finish over fellow Stroppe racer Billy Myers. Fireball Roberts (racing for Pete DePaolo), Paul Goldsmith (racing for Smokey Yunick), and Joe Eubanks (racing for James Satcher) respectively placed third, fourth, and fifth.^[77]

While the race was officially sanctioned by NASCAR, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) provided support for the event and foreign cars were allowed entry.^[81][82] Ultimately, the race featured 25 American vehicles as well as a Jaguar Mark VII. Hubert Schroeder, secretary of the FIG's sporting arm, served as overseer of the race. The prospect of a NASCAR road race on the challenging new road course attracted particular interest, and due to this, it was attended by several racing executives: NASCAR's Bill France Sr., the United States Auto Club's Duane Carter, and the Sports Car Club of America's Jim Kimberly. At the time, all three organizations were aspiring to succeed the AAA Contest Board as the new main United States race-sanctioning body, as the American Auto Association had withdrawn from involvement in automobile racing the previous year.^[8]

Road America had opened the previous year. This was the first premier series race on the course.^[80] Road America was considered the nation's finest road course at the time, and was regarded as a challenging course, with tight corners and challenging grade changes. Road course racing was uncommon at the time in American stock car racing.^[8] The event was promoted as being "America's First International Stock Car Road Race".^[83] There was much advanced interest and speculation among how American cars would perform in maneuvering the challenging course.^[8] Those seeking to prognosticate how the race would go on challenged by lack of recent precedent of similar races in the United States, with Time magazine writing, "

[The race] was extraordinary because it was held on a road course, a thing so rare in recent American stock car racing that some oldtimers were casting back to the Elgin, Ill. races of more than two decades ago for a suitable precedent.^[8]

While the race was considered a success,^[8] NASCAR's premier division did not return to Road America until the 2021 season.^[78]

The season-dominant Kiekhaefer team did not see much success in the race. While Kiekhaefer racer Buck Baker led the first five laps, he ultimately placed eighth, and his car suffered engine problems by the end of the race. Frank Mundy also raced for Kiekhaefer, placing fourteenth. Speedy Thompson rounded out Kiekhaefer's roster of racers at Road America, finishing eighteenth and suffering engine problems by the end of the race.^[77]

Race 38: Old Bridge Stadium (August 17) edit

On August 17, the 38th race of the season was won by Ralph Moody at Old Bridge Stadium in Old Bridge, New Jersey. Jim Reed had led the first 176 laps, but Moody led the final four, securing victory.^[84]

While a NASCAR Convertible Series race had previously been held at the course in May, this was the first Grand National Series race held at the track. The Grand National Series would visit the track five more times in subsequent seasons (in 1957, 1958, 1963, 1964, and 1965).^[85]

Race 39: Bay Meadows Speedway (August 19) edit

On August 19, 1956, Eddie Pagan won the season's 39th race, held at the Bay Meadows Speedway in San Mateo, California. Due to a crash, the race, planned to be 250 laps, was shortened to 241 laps.^[86]

As with the two races that had been held at the track in the two preceding Grand National Series seasons, the same day as this race the track also hosted a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race. Pagan won this race as well, similar two the previous two seasons in which the winners of the Grand National Series and K&N Pro Series West races were the same driver. The 1956 races were the final two NASCAR races at the track.^[87]

Race 40: Norfolk Speedway (August 22) edit

On August 22, Billy Myers won the season's 40th race, which was held at the Norfolk Speedway in Norfolk, Virginia.^[88]

While the NASCAR Convertible Series had previously raced at the track on June 22, this was the first Grand National Series race to be held at the track. NASCAR only raced at the track in the 1956 and 1957 seasons, with a single further Grand National Series race and three further Convertible Series races being held in 1957 before NASCAR left the track.^[89]

Race 41: Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds (August 23) edit

On August 23, Ralph Moody won the season's 41s race, which was held at Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds in Spartanburg, South Carolina.^[84]

Race 42: Coastal Speedway (August 25) edit

On August 25, Fireball Roberts won the season's 42nd race, which was held at Costal Speedway in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.^[91]

This was the first NASCAR race at this track. NASCAR would only return one more time, with a Grand National Series race being contested there in 1957.^[92]

Race 43: Portland Speedway (August 26) edit

On August 26, Royce Haggerty won the season's 43rd race, which was held at Portland Speedway in Portland, Oregon. Due to a scoring error, the planned 250 laps were reduced to 246 laps.^[84]

The race was a combined race that was also counted as part of the 1956 NASCAR Pacific Coast Late Model Division season.^[93]

Race 44: "Southern 500" at Darlington Raceway (September 3) edit

70,000 attended the 1956 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, the 44th race of the season. It was won by Curtis Turner.^[94]

Race 45: Chisholm Speedway (September 9) edit

On September 9, Buck Baker won the season's 45th race, which was held at Chisholm Speedway in Montgomery, Alabama.^[95] This was the only NASCAR race ever contested on this track.^[96]

Race 46: Southern States Fairgrounds (September 12) edit

On September 12, Ralph Moody won the season's 46th race, which was held at Southern States Fairgrounds in Charlotte, North Carolina.^[84]

Fall of 1956 edit

Race 47: Langhorne Speedway (September 23) edit

On September 23, NASCAR held two races.^[10] The first of the races, which was held at Langhorne Speedway in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, saw Paul Goldsmith win before a crowd of 31,000 spectators.^[97]

Race 48: Portland Speedway (September 23) edit

The second race held on September 23 was located across the country from the first,^[10] being contested at the Portland Speedway in Portland, Oregon. It was won by Lloyd Dane.^[98]

The race was a combined race that was also counted as part of the 1956 NASCAR Pacific Coast Late Model Division season.^[93]

Race 49: Columbia Speedway (September 29) edit

On September 29, Buck Baker won the season's 49th race race, which was held at the Columbia Speedway in Cayce, South Carolina.^[99]

Race 50: Orange Speedway (September 30) edit

On September 30, Fireball Roberts won the season's 50th race, which was held at Orange Speedway in Hillsborough, North Carolina.^[100]

Race 51: Newport Speedway (October 7) edit

On October 7, Fireball Roberts won the season's 51st race, which was held at Newport Speedway in Newport, Tennessee.^[101]

Race 52: Charlotte Speedway (October 17) edit

On October 14, Buck Baker won the season's 52nd race, which was held at Charlotte Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina.^[102]

Race 53: Cleveland County Fairgrounds (October 23) edit

On October 23, NASCAR held a 100 mile at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Shelby North Carolina.^[7] At the time, Herb Thomas led the standings by 246 points.^[103] Buck Baker won the race.^[10]

Race 54: "Old Dominion 400" at Martinsville Speedway (October 28) edit

On October 28, Jack Smith won the Old Dominion 400, which was held as the season's 54th race race at the Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia.^[105]

Race 55: "Buddy Shuman 250" at Hickory Speedway (November 11) edit

On November 11, the Buddy Shuman 250 at the Hickory Speedway in Hickory, North Carolina was held as the season's' 55th race. It was won by Speedy Thompson before a crowd of 3,500 spectators.^[106]

Race 56: Wilson Speedway (November 18) edit

On November 18, Buck Baker won the season's 56th and final race, which was held at the Wilson Speedway in Wilson, North Carolina.^[107]

Glossary

• Driver: Driver's name
• Races: Number of starts for driver
• Win: Number of races won
• Top 5: Number of top 5 finishes
• Top 10: Number of top 10 finishes
• Poles: Poles won (won in qualifying only)
• Laps: Laps completed
• Laps led: Laps led
• Earnings: Total money won for the season (includes bonuses)
• AvSt: Average starting position
• AvFn: Average finishing position
• RAF: Number of times Running At Finish (DNFs = Races - RAF)
• Miles raced: Miles raced by driver
• LLF: Lead lap finishes
• Points: Driver's points total