NASCAR Speedway Division

The NASCAR Speedway Division was a short-lived series brought forth in 1952 by NASCAR president and founder Bill France Sr. The series consisted of open-wheel race cars competing with stock engines. The idea of the series was to draw from the popularity of other open-wheel racing events such as the Indianapolis 500.[1]

NASCAR Speedway Division
CategoryOpen wheel
Country United States
Inaugural season1952
Folded1953
Last Drivers' champion Pete Allen

History

1952 season
Main article: 1952 NASCAR Speedway Division

The first Speedway Division race was held at Darlington Raceway and was won by Buck Baker with a Cadillac engine.[1][2] The series' second race was held at Martinsville Speedway on May 25, with only 17 entries.[3] The pole at Martinsville was won by Bill Miller in an "Olds 88 Special". Tex Keene, driving a car with a stock Mercury engine came from 16th place to win the race. A total of seven races were run in 1952 with Buck Baker becoming the series champion.[4]

1953 season
Main article: 1953 NASCAR Speedway Division

In 1953, Speedway Division events were paired with those in the Sportsman Division. Three races were held with few entries before the series was quietly discontinued. The final series champion was Pete Allen.[5][6]

Statistics

Race wins
Driver NASCAR
Speedway
Division
(1952–1953)
Wally Campbell3
Tom Cherry2
Pete Allen1
Al Keller1
Tex Keene1
Buck Baker1
Wayne Alspaugh1

Championships
Driver NASCAR
Speedway
Division
(1952–1953)
Pete Allen1
Buck Baker1

References
  1. Burt, William M. (2001). The American Stock Car (Second ed.). St. Paul, MN: MBI Publishing Company. p. 34. ISBN 0-7603-0977-9.
  2. "1952 Season Summary". Know Your NASCAR. NASCAR/Turner Productions, Inc. 2001. Archived from the original on 2009-05-16. Retrieved 2009-05-13.
  3. Fielden, Greg (2003). NASCAR Chronicle. Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International, Ltd. pp. 67. ISBN 0-7853-8683-1.
  4. "1952 NASCAR Speedway Division". Champ Car Stats. 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-13.
  5. Capps, Don (2003). "1952 NASCAR Speedway Division Championship". The AUTOSPORT Bulletin Board. Retrieved 2009-05-13.
  6. "1953 NASCAR Speedway Division". Champ Car Stats. 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-13.


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