CANFIELD SPEEDWAY - CANFIELD OH
A 1/2 mile dirt oval race track that hosted (major) sanctioned auto racing from 1950 to 1964, but other associations ran until the late 1970s. The first NASCAR Cup race held there was Memorial day weekend in 1950. It was opposition to the Indy 500, and this race was called the Poor Man's 500. It was called a "500" even though it was just 200 laps around the 1/2 mile dirt surface. JImmy Florian started on the pole; but by the time the first lap was completed; third place starter Curtis Turner was at the point. He would lead the first 120 laps, but would develope over heating issues and fall out after 133 laps. Bill Rexford took the lead with 80 laps to go and went on to get the win. It would be his only career Cup win, but he did win the Championship that season. He would out distance Glenn Dunaway by two laps. Lloyd Moore would finish
third; Lee Petty fourth and Bill Blair fifth. The 1951 version saw Marshall Teague whip the field by more than three laps as Tim and Fonty Flock finished second and third. The final race at Canfield was in 1952 saw Herb Thomas and Bill Blair battle hammer and tong the whole race. When the checkered flag flew Thomas edged out Blair by just four feet. The track is located at the Canfield Fairgrounds in Canfield, Ohio, and is still in use today, primarily during the Canfield Fair.
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