The 1954 Southern 500, the fifth running of the

event Event may refer to: Gatherings of people * Ceremony, an event of ritual significance, performed on a special occasion * Convention (meeting), a gathering of individuals engaged in some common interest * Event management, the organization of eve ...

, was a

NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. The privately owned company was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948, and hi ...

Grand National Series The name NASCAR Grand National Series refers to former names of the following NASCAR series: *National-level stock car series: **NASCAR Cup Series (known as NASCAR Grand National Series between 1950 to 1970, then the NASCAR Winston Cup Grand Nation ...

event that was held on September 6, 1954, at

Darlington Raceway Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located in Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed "The Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition." It is ...

Darlington, South Carolina Darlington is a city located in Darlington County, South Carolina, United States. In 2010, its population was 6,289. It is the county seat of Darlington County. It is part of the Florence, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. Darlington ...

. The race car drivers still had to commute to the races using the same stock cars that competed in a typical weekend's race through a policy of

homologation Homologation (Greek ''homologeo'', ὁμολογέω, "to agree") is the granting of approval by an official authority. This may be a court of law, a government department, or an academic or professional body, any of which would normally work fr ...

(and under their own power). This policy was in effect until roughly 1975. By 1980, NASCAR had completely stopped tracking the year model of all the vehicles and most teams did not take stock cars to the track under their own power anymore.

Background

, nicknamed by many NASCAR fans and drivers as "The Lady in Black" or "The Track Too Tough to Tame" and advertised as a "NASCAR Tradition", is a

race track A race track (racetrack, racing track or racing circuit) is a facility built for racing of vehicles, athletes, or animals (e.g. horse racing or greyhound racing). A race track also may feature grandstands or concourses. Race tracks are also u ...

built for

racing located near

. It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that will be effective at both ends. The track is a four-turn oval. The track's first two turns are banked at twenty-five degrees, while the final two turns are banked two degrees lower at twenty-three degrees. The front stretch (the location of the finish line) and the back stretch is banked at six degrees. Darlington Raceway can seat up to 60,000 people. Darlington has something of a legendary quality among drivers and older fans; this is probably due to its long track length relative to other NASCAR speedways of its era and hence the first venue where many of them became cognizant of the truly high speeds that stock cars could achieve on a long track. The track allegedly earned the moniker The Lady in Black because the night before the race the track maintenance crew would cover the entire track with fresh asphalt sealant, in the early years of the speedway, thus making the racing surface dark black. Darlington is also known as "The Track Too Tough to Tame" because drivers can run lap after lap without a problem and then bounce off of the wall the following lap. Racers will frequently explain that they have to race the racetrack, not their competition. Drivers hitting the wall are considered to have received their "Darlington Stripe" thanks to the missing paint on the right side of the car.

Race report

There were 364 laps done on a paved oval track that spanned .

Van Van Wey Van Van Wey (July 9, 1924 – July 14, 1991) was a NASCAR Grand National Series driver from West Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S.A. Career He occasionally drove in the 1954 and 1955 seasons predominantly in his #10 Ford vehicle that was owned by Ra ...

would make his NASCAR debut in this race; starting in 43rd place and ending in 20th place due to a crash on the 260th lap of the race. Buck Baker ran into trouble early in the race. Baker later drove relief for Laird Bruner and finished in 23rd position. Lee Petty experienced fuel pump trouble and later drove relief for Marvin Panch and crossed the finish line in third-place position.''1954 Southern 500'' racing information
at Racing Reference Otis Martin, Buck Mason, and Frank Stutts would retire from professional stock car racing while Walt Harvey and Joe Sheppard would make their only NASCAR Cup Series appearance in this event. Drivers who failed to qualify for the race were: Bill Blair (#2), Parks Surratt (#00), Bill Morgan (#77),

Jim Graham James McMillan Nielson Graham (August 26, 1945 – June 11, 2017) was a Scottish-born American politician and a member of the Council of the District of Columbia. He was a Democratic Party (United States), Democrat who represented Ward One of t ...

(#72),

Fred Dove Fred Dove (September 7, 1927 – January 5, 1990) was a NASCAR Grand National driver from Martinsville, Virginia, USA. Career He competed in 47 races from (1952 to 1955) with one finish in the top-five, 12 top-ten finishes, and 3919 laps of ...

(#71), Ken Taylor (#62),

Gober Sosebee Gober C. Sosebee (October 15, 1915 – November 11, 1996) was an American racecar driver. He won on the Daytona Beach Road Course in 1949, 1950, and 1951. He was born in Dawson County, Georgia, and began his career in 1940 at Atlanta's Lake ...

(#51), Hank Carruthers (#50), Clyde Minter (#19), Donald Thomas (#9),

Dick Rathmann Dick Rathmann (born James Rathmann; January 6, 1924February 1, 2000) was an American race car driver. He drove in the American Automobile Association, AAA Championship Car series in the 1949 and 1950 seasons with 4 starts, including the 1950 In ...

(#3) and Ross Morrison (#05).Qualifying information for the 1954 Southern 500
at Racing Reference Overall, the race took five hours, sixteen minutes, and one second from the first green flag to the checkered flag. The average speed was and the pole speed was . There were two cautions for four laps and the margin of victory was twenty-six seconds. Attendance of the race was confirmed at 28,000 people during the start of the race. Notable racers that appeared in the race and didn't finish in the "top ten" included

Lee Petty Lee Arnold Petty (March 14, 1914 – April 5, 2000) was an American stock car racing driver who competed during the 1950s and 1960s. He was one of the pioneers of NASCAR and one of its first superstars. He was NASCAR's first three-time Cup ch ...

(whose streak of 36 top-ten finishes ended at this race),

Cotton Owens Everett "Cotton" Owens (May 21, 1924 – June 7, 2012) was a NASCAR driver. For five straight years (1957–61), Owens captured at least one Grand National Series win. Owens was known as the "King of the Modifieds" for his successes in modified ...

Jimmie Lewallen Jimmie Lewallen (August 22, 1919 – October 16, 1995) was an American stock car racing driver from High Point, North Carolina, USA. He competed in NASCAR's Strictly Stock/Grand National division (now called the NASCAR Cup Series) from its fi ...

Ralph Liguori Ralph Liguori (October 10, 1926 – July 21, 2020) was an American racing driver from New York City. Indycar career He competed in the USAC Championship Car series from 1957 to 1971 making 61 starts. His best finish was 2nd place at the Indi ...

Arden Mounts Enoch Arden Mounts (July 9, 1917 – March 4, 2003) was an American NASCAR Grand National Series driver from Gilbert, Mingo County, West Virginia. His primary vehicle was the #18 self-owned Pontiac machine; although he would occasionally drive a ...

Elmo Langley Elmo Harold Langley (August 21, 1928 – November 21, 1996) was a NASCAR driver and owner. Langley primarily used the number 64 on his race cars during his NASCAR career. Racing career Langley began his racing career racing modified cars in Vir ...

, and

Buck Baker Elzie Wylie Baker Sr. (March 4, 1919 – April 14, 2002), better known as Buck Baker, was an American stock car racer. Born in Richburg, South Carolina, Baker began his NASCAR career in 1949 and won his first race three years later at Columbia ...

(pole winner). There was a 1949 year model car in this race. Apparently, there wasn't anything in the NASCAR Cup Series regulations at that time against racing with an obsolete vehicle but it wasn't really competitive against the newer models. Hassell Reid would end up with a 49th place finish while driving the 1949 Plymouth vehicle. Elmo Langley makes his NASCAR debut. He'd score two victories in a career spanning 536 races from 1954 to 1981. This would be the first Southern 500 where the leader wasn't a lap or more ahead. There were two #20 cars in the race which would be illegal under current NASCAR Cup Series rules and regulations. The total winnings of the race was $27,405 ($ when adjusted for inflation) with the winner taking home $6,830 in winnings ($ when adjusted for inflation). Manufacturers involved in the race included

Hudson Hudson may refer to: People * Hudson (given name) * Hudson (surname) * Henry Hudson, English explorer * Hudson (footballer, born 1986), Hudson Fernando Tobias de Carvalho, Brazilian football right-back * Hudson (footballer, born 1988), Hudso ...

(defunct),

Oldsmobile Oldsmobile or formally the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors was a brand of American automobiles, produced for most of its existence by General Motors. Originally established as "Olds Motor Vehicle Company" by Ransom E. Olds in 1897, it produ ...

(defunct),

Dodge Dodge is an American brand of automobiles and a division of Stellantis, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Dodge vehicles have historically included performance cars, and for much of its existence Dodge was Chrysler's mid-priced brand above P ...

(active),

Mercury Mercury commonly refers to: * Mercury (planet), the nearest planet to the Sun * Mercury (element), a metallic chemical element with the symbol Hg * Mercury (mythology), a Roman god Mercury or The Mercury may also refer to: Companies * Merc ...

(active but not racing),

Cadillac The Cadillac Motor Car Division () is a division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM) that designs and builds luxury vehicles. Its major markets are the United States, Canada, and China. Cadillac models are distributed i ...

(active but not racing),

Buick Buick () is a division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM). Started by automotive pioneer David Dunbar Buick in 1899, it was among the first American marques of automobiles, and was the company that established General ...

(active but not racing), Nash (defunct),

Plymouth Plymouth () is a port city and unitary authority in South West England. It is located on the south coast of Devon, approximately south-west of Exeter and south-west of London. It is bordered by Cornwall to the west and south-west. Plymouth ...

(active but not racing),

Studebaker Studebaker was an American wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana, with a building at 1600 Broadway, Times Square, Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 as the Studebaker Brothers M ...

(defunct),

Chrysler Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of the multinational automoti ...

(active but not racing),

Ford Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...

(active), but no entry by any

Chevrolet Chevrolet ( ), colloquially referred to as Chevy and formally the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors Company, is an American automobile division of the American manufacturer General Motors (GM). Louis Chevrolet (1878–1941) and ous ...

(active) vehicles. Robert Foster and Lee Petty were two of the notable crew chiefs that were in attendance for the race. Not only Lee Petty was the crew chief, but he was also driving the #42 Chrysler vehicle in the race.1954 Southern 500 crew chiefs information
at Racing Reference

Qualifying

Finishing order

Section reference: #

Herb Thomas Herbert Watson Thomas (April 6, 1923 – August 9, 2000) was a stock car racer who was one of NASCAR's most successful drivers in the 1950s. Thomas was NASCAR's first multi-time Cup Champion. Background Born in the small town of Olivi ...

Curtis Turner Curtis Morton Turner (April 12, 1924 – October 4, 1970) was an American stock car racer. Throughout his life, he developed a reputation for drinking and partying. In 1999, he was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. History He was ...

Marvin Panch Marvin Panch (May 28, 1926December 31, 2015) was an American stock car racing driver. Winner of the 1961 Daytona 500 and 1966 World 600, he won seventeen NASCAR Grand National Series events during a 17-year career. Early career Born in Menomon ...

Johnny Patterson John (Johnny) Francis Patterson (1840–1889) was an Irish singer, songwriter and circus entertainer. He is now best known for composing the song "The Garden Where the Praties Grow". Early life He was born in Kilbarron, Feakle, County Clare. B ...

Jim Paschal James Roy Paschal, Jr. (December 5, 1926 – July 5, 2004) was a Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver. Career summary Paschal won twenty-five races and twelve poles over his career. Elected to the "Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame" in 1 ...

John Soares John Soares is an American film director, actor, editor, and fight choreographer. He is best known for his martial arts fight choreography in ''Sockbaby'', ''Go Sukashi!'', and ''The Danger Element''. Early life Soares was born in Turlock, Calif ...

Fireball Roberts Edward Glenn "Fireball" Roberts Jr. (January 20, 1929July 2, 1964) was an American stock car racer. Background Roberts was born in Tavares, Florida, and raised in Apopka, Florida, where he was interested in both auto racing and baseball. He was ...

# Gwyn Staley # Joel Million #

Speedy Thompson Alfred Bruce "Speedy" Thompson (April 3, 1926, in Monroe, North Carolina – April 2, 1972, in Charlotte, North Carolina) was an American stock car racer in the NASCAR Grand National series from 1950 to 1971, capturing 20 wins along the way. R ...

# Gene Comstock #

Eddie Skinner Frank Edward Skinner (August 19, 1908 – March 1, 1987) was an American stock car racing racing driver. He competed in the NASCAR Grand National Series during the 1950s. Career Skinner raced out of Yerington, Nevada, where he lived for 35 yea ...

Joe Eubanks ''Joseph "Joe" Eubanks'' (August 9, 1925 – June 21, 1971) was a ''NASCAR Grand National'' driver from Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA.

# Elton Hildreth #

Bill Widenhouse Bill Widenhouse (born June 17, 1929 - died June 29, 1995) was a NASCAR Grand National driver from Midland, North Carolina, USA. He was the 1955 NASCAR Modified Champion. Career During his 14-year NASCAR career, Widenhouse managed to earn two to ...

# Harvey Eakin #

Bill Amick Bill Amick (November 16, 1925 – July 15, 1995) was a NASCAR Grand National Series and West Coast driver from Portland, Oregon. He has one win, nineteen top-fives, twenty-seven top 10s, and five poles in Grand National. Driving career After ra ...

# Charlie Cregar # Art Watts # George Parrish # Laird Bruner # Jims Gillette #

Otis Martin Otis Mason Martin (March 1, 1918 – November 21, 1955) was an American stock car racing driver. One of the pioneers of the NASCAR Grand National Series, he competed in 23 races over the first six years of the sport, with a best finish of sixt ...

# Walt Harvey # Buck Mason # Charles Brinkley #

Ted Chamberlain Edward Edinborough Chamberlain (5 July 1906 – 2 April 1993) was a New Zealand plant pathologist. Biography Born in Masterton in 1906, Chamberlain completed his MSc at Victoria University College with a thesis entitled ''An investigation of t ...

# Frank Stutts #

Dave Terrell Dave Terrell (born February 21, 1931 in Newtown, Pennsylvania, USA) is a retired NASCAR Grand National driver/owner who participated from 1952 to 1957.

# Pop McGinnis # Dean Pelton # Joe Sheppard #

Erick Erickson Erick Woods Erickson (born June 3, 1975) is a conservative American radio host and blogger. He hosts a three-hour weekday talk show on WSB 95.5 FM and 750 AM in Atlanta, which is syndicated to other radio stations around the U.S. He also write ...

Ken Fisher Kenneth Lawrence Fisher (born November 29, 1950) is an American billionaire investment analyst, author, and the founder and chairman of Fisher Investments, a fee-only financial adviser. Fisher's ''Forbes'' "Portfolio Strategy" column ran from 1 ...

# Dink Widenhouse # Blackie Pitt #

Hershel McGriff Hershel Eldridge McGriff Sr. (born December 14, 1927) is an American professional stock car racing driver. A long-time competitor in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, formerly known as the Winston West Series, he won the series' 1986 championship, a ...

# John McGinley # Danny Letner #

Bob Welborn Robert "Bob" Joe Welborn (May 5, 1928 – August 10, 1997) of Denton was a NASCAR Grand National Series driver. He was named to NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers list in 1998. He won the final three NASCAR Convertible Division championships in 1956, ...

# Hassell Reid # Jimmy Thompson

Timeline

Section reference: * Start: Buck Baker was leading the starting grid as the green flag was waved in the air. * Lap 35: Bill Amick took over the lead from Buck Baker. * Lap 44: Curtis Turner took over the lead from Bill Amick. * Lap 130: Charlie Cregar took over the lead from Curtis Turner. * Lap 138: Pop McGinnis took over the lead from Charlie Cregar. * Lap 142: Curtis Turner took over the lead from Pop McGinnis. * Lap 191: Herb Thomas took over the lead from Curtis Turner. * Lap 204: Curtis Turner took over the lead from Herb Thomas. * Lap 216: Dean Pelton's vehicle blew a gasket while racing at high speeds. * Lap 221: Pop McGinnis' vehicle ran out of fuel. * Lap 228: Cotton Owens fell out with engine failure. * Lap 231: Dave Terrell managed to ruin the rear end of his vehicle. * Lap 260: Van Van Wey was involved in a terminal crash. * Lap 268: Charles Brinkley fell out with engine failure. * Lap 298: Herb Thomas took over the lead from Curtis Turner. * Lap 302: Curtis Turner took over the lead from Herb Thomas. * Lap 308: Herb Thomas took over the lead from Curtis Turner. * Lap 314: Curtis Turner took over the lead from Herb Thomas. * Lap 345: Herb Thomas took over the lead from Curtis Turner. * Finish: Herb Thomas was officially declared the winner of the event.

References

External links

Everything Stock Car
{{Bojangles' Southern 500

Southern 500 The Southern 500, officially known as the Cook Out Southern 500 for sponsorship reasons, is a NASCAR Cup Series stock car race at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, United States. The race distance is and consists of 367 laps. Fro ...

NASCAR races at Darlington Raceway