Fantasy NASCAR Racing

causing NASCAR to disqualify him.  Jim Roper was declared the official winner of the event.  Roper would only compete in one more NASCAR event in his career.  Sara Christian finished 14th to become the first female to start in a NASCAR race.  Twelve races would be contested at this track.  Two races were help in 1950.  Tim Flock would lead 153 of 200 laps to get his first career win.  Curtis Turner would start first; lead all 200 laps and get the win in the season's second race.  Two race were again held in 1951.  Once again Curtis Turner would get the win, after leading the final 104 laps.  The second race of 1951 saw Herb Thomas lead the final 41 laps to claim the win.  Thomas backed up his win when he out distanced Tim Flock in 1952.  From 1953-1955 only one event was held at the speedway.  Dick Passwater would win in 1953 after Pop McGinnis lost a left front wheel with three laps to go.  He limped home to a fifth place finish.  Buck Baker would claim the wins in 1954 and 1955. The tracks final year of operation came in 1956.  NASCAR hosted three races that year.  The first race saw Fonty Flock get the win after he led all 134 laps, but his brother Tim was hot on his heals as Fonty only won by five car lengths.  The race in June saw Speedy Thompson bypass Buck Baker and lead the final four laps to claim the win.  Junior Johnson came home second and Baker third.  Cup final race would come in October.  Buck Baker led the final 104 laps to get the win just ahead of Ralph Moody. NASCAR also hosted three convertible races at the track. Curtis Turner bested Fireball Roberts in 1956; and then beat Lee Petty in May of 1957.  The final convertible race was in August.  Joe Weatherly had the best car and led the first 179 laps before breaking a A-frame.  It was a real barn burner after that as Glen Wood and Gwyn Staley battled. Wood was able to edge Staley by three feet for the win.  The track was forced to close when construction of Interstate 85 took its parking area.