1957 Southern 500

Auto race held at Darlington Raceway in 1957 February 2025 CUST Race 40 of 53 in the 1957 NASCAR Grand National Series season Southern 500 http://www.almanac.com/weather/history/SC/Darlington/1957-09-02 1957 Southern 500 weather information The Old Farmers' Almanac 2011-11-25 http://www.racing-reference.info/race/1957_Southern_500/W 1957 Southern 500 racing results Racing Reference 2011-03-08 1957 09 2 1957 40 53 1957_Southern_500_program_cover_and_logo.jpg 1957 Southern 500 program cover Darlington Raceway, Darlington, South Carolina 1.375 2.213 364 500.500 805.477 Extremely hot with temperatures of 93.3 F C; wind speeds of 8.9 mph km/h 100.094 mi/h 75,000 Cotton Owens Nichels Engineering 16.863 seconds Speedy Thompson Speedy Thompson 210 46 Speedy Thompson Speedy Thompson WJMX (local AM radio) Local radio announcers The 1957 Southern 500, the eighth running of the event, was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on September 2, 1957, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Herb Thomas, already a three-time Southern 500 winner, arrived in Darlington in a visibly shaken state. Thomas finally gave up his ride to Fonty Flock stating that he was just too nervous to drive the race. The race was then marred by a violent crash involving him, Bobby Myers and Paul Goldsmith, causing severe injuries to all drivers involved, ending Flock's career and resulting in the death of Myers. Background Darlington Raceway, 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 built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. 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 1.366 mi km oval.http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/tracks/page/darlington/darlington-raceway Darlington Raceway CBS Sports 2013-05-07 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 The event took five hours and one second to complete on a paved oval track spanning 1.375 mi km for a distance of 500.5 mi km. Seventy-five thousand fans attended. Billy Carden qualified for this event in 45th place and finished in 6th place. The most notable crew chiefs for this race were Jess Potter, Bud Moore, Shorty Johns and Ray Fox. http://www.racing-reference.info/entrylist/1957-40/W/C 1957 Southern 500 crew chief information Racing Reference 2017-06-11 Speedy Thompson defeated Cotton Owens by three laps at an average speed of 100.094 mph km/h. Thompson drove the iconic 1957 Chevrolet during that race; that vehicle went on to win the 1958 and the 1959 runnings of the Southern 500. Owens won the pole position with a speed of 117.416 mph km/h during qualifying. Speedy Thompson would record his only Southern 500 victory here even though he would win on other paved superspeedways. T.A. Toomes received the last-place finish due to a problem with his brakes on lap 3 out of 364. Runt Harris returned to NASCAR after a 7-year absence, driving his way to a 39th-place finish after his vehicle developed problems with its clutch. Former Cup series race winner Bill Blair made his only start of the 1957 NASCAR Grand National Series season; finishing in 38th place after inflicting terminal damage to his vehicle. Brownie King was 59 laps down; he started in 31st and managed to improve his position to 21st place. However, he was unable to properly compete for a win or even a finish in the top-15. Tragically, Bobby Myers lost his life as a result of a race-related crash on Lap 27, Fonty Flock spun on the backstretch (the current start-finish line), stopping perpendicular to the track, in turn three (near the current Turn One following 1997 changes). Paul Goldsmith and Myers both struck the stopped car at full speed. Flock and Goldsmith both received serious injuries in the crash. Fonty Flock spun and slid to a stop on the backstretch. Myers slammed into him, immediately followed by Paul Goldsmith. The crash seriously injured Goldsmith, ended Flock's career, and killed Myers. He then flipped side over side and barrel-rolled. Myers died from his injuries. He is buried in Oaklawn Memorial Gardens in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina. The technology found in the modern NASCAR Cup Series vehicles could have saved Myers' life. The loss was viewed as a massive blow to the sport, with Myers being a promising star. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-racing/nascar/season-recaps/1950s/1957-nascar.htm Bobby Myers's fatal crash How Stuff Works 2011-03-09 http://www.legendsofnascar.com/Bobby_Myers.htm Bobby Myers's fatal crash (second reference) Legends of NASCAR 2011-03-10 2016-03-03 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303184809/http://www.legendsofnascar.com/Bobby_Myers.htm dead George Parrish made a notable appearance in this race using a 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk; he witnessed the fatal crash of Bobby Myers at close range. http://www.studebakerracing.com/tedhorn.html The Studebaker Golden Hawk @ the 1957 Southern 500 Studebaker Racing 2011-03-10 Parrish retired after the 1958 NASCAR Cup Series season. As a rookie, Cale Yarborough made his NASCAR debut here and finished in 42nd place (out of 50 drivers). Fonty Flock retired after this race. Qualifying Grid No. Car number Driver Manufacturer Qualifying time Qualifying time in seconds http://www.racing-reference.info/getqualify/1957-40/W 1957 Southern 500 qualifying results Racing Reference 2017-03-29 March 31, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170331024523/http://www.racing-reference.info/getqualify/1957-40/W dead Speed Speed in miles per hour Owner 1 6 Cotton Owens '57 Pontiac 16.863 117.416 Ray Nichels 2 4 Bobby Myers '57 Oldsmobile 16.922 117.007 Petty Enterprises 3 31 Curtis Turner '57 Ford 16.937 116.903 Smokey Yunick 4 80 Jimmie Lewallen '57 Pontiac 17.211 115.042 Sam Rice 5 62 Frankie Schneider '57 Chevrolet 17.228 114.929 Frankie Schenider 6 3 Paul Goldsmith '57 Ford 16.598 119.291 Smokey Yunick 7 46 Speedy Thompson '57 Chevrolet 16.803 117.836 Speedy Thompson 8 42 Lee Petty '57 Oldsmobile 16.845 117.542 Petty Enterprises 9 87 Buck Baker '57 Chevrolet 16.919 117.028 Buck Baker 10 22 Fireball Roberts '57 Ford 17.001 116.463 Fireball Roberts Failed to qualify: Eddie Skinner (#28), Ted Chamberlain (#93), Joe Eubanks (#82), Fred Knapp (#37), Duke DeBrizzi (#81), Dave Terrell (#9), Larry Frank (#76), Bill Widenhouse (#5), Arden Mounts (#18), Bob Whitmire (#61), Barney Smith (#16), Jim Linke (#81) Finishing order Section reference: Pos.St.#DriverSponsor/OwnerCarLapsStatusLedWinnings1746Speedy ThompsonOates Motor Co.   (Speedy Thompson)'57 Chevrolet364running21013590216Cotton OwensRay Nichels'57 Pontiac361running18610033298Marvin PanchMarvin Panch'57 Ford360running037454127Jim ReedJim Reed'57 Ford356running021555987Buck BakerBuck Baker'57 Chevrolet356running016506452Billy CardenHubert Westmoreland'57 Chevrolet354running0122572914Billy MyersBilly Myers'57 Ford353running0112582540Johnny MackisonCamp Hill Special   (Johnny Mackison)'57 Ford352running097594848Possum JonesInalley Chevrolet   (Bob Welborn)'57 Chevrolet350running0775102847Jack SmithJack Smith'57 Chevrolet348crash978511331Curtis TurnerSmokey Yunick'57 Ford346running511060122764Johnny AllenSpook Crawford'57 Plymouth345running0600131734Dick BeatyDick Beaty'56 Ford341running035014480Jimmie LewallenSam Rice'57 Pontiac340running0370153445Eddie PaganEddie Pagan'57 Ford339running0250162377Bobby JohnsShorty Johns'56 Chevrolet335running0225172620Jimmy ThompsonJimmy Thompson'56 Ford328running0225183854Nace MattinglyNace Mattingly'57 Ford326running0200193774L.D. AustinL.D. Austin'56 Chevrolet312running0200201155Tiny LundBrushy Mountain Motors   (A.L. Bumgarner)'57 Pontiac308engine0300213132Brownie KingJess Potter'57 Chevrolet307running0150223596Bobby KeckBobby Keck'57 Chevrolet283running0150234151Roy TynerRoy Tyner'56 Ford282running015024842Lee PettyPetty Enterprises'57 Oldsmobile281crash31750254271George ParrishJoe Frazier'56 Studebaker263running0350263312Marvin PorterOscar Maples'57 Ford221engine0100273010Whitey NormanWhitey Norman'56 Ford215engine0100282044Rex WhiteMax Welborn'57 Chevrolet210axle0100291995Bob DuellJulian Buesink'57 Ford156radiator0100304913Peck PeckhamWilliam Meyer'56 Chevrolet155engine0100313935Bill ChampionJohn Whitford'56 Ford130rear end0100321897Bill AmickBill Amick'57 Ford102crash0150331022Fireball RobertsFireball Roberts'57 Ford101crash41460342211Parnelli JonesOscar Maples'57 Ford99crash0100355075Jim PaschalFrank Hayworth'57 Ford84piston0100363617Shorty YorkJim Paschal'57 Mercury79engine0300371689Joe CaspolichPappy Crane'57 Ford66crash0200384626Bill BlairSam Rice'57 Ford63crash0100392490Runt HarrisJunie Donlavey'57 Chevrolet50clutch010040149Joe WeatherlyHolman-Moody Racing'57 Ford37crash0130411384Banjo MatthewsBanjo Matthews'57 Ford31engine0120424430Cale YarboroughBob Weatherly'57 Pontiac31rf hub01004324Bobby MyersYour Oldsmobile Dealer   (Petty Enterprises)'57 Oldsmobile27crash12604463Paul GoldsmithPee Dee Motors   (Smokey Yunick)'57 Ford27crash3200454388Chuck HansonChuck Hansen'57 Chevrolet23piston0100462138Gwyn StaleyJulian Petty'57 Chevrolet22coil010047562Frankie SchneiderFrankie Schneider'57 Chevrolet19engine0100481592Fonty FlockKeith Motors   (Herb Thomas)'57 Pontiac18crash0100494068Neil CastlesNeil Castles'56 Ford13oil pressure0100504741T.A. ToomesC.M. Julian'56 Dodge3brakes0300Failed to qualify, withdrew, or driver changes:5Bill WidenhouseChevrolet9Dave TerrellChevrolet16Barney SmithPontiac18Arden MountsPontiac28Eddie SkinnerFord37Fred KnappFord61Bob WhitmireFord76Larry FrankChevrolet81Duke DeBrizziOldsmobile81Jim LinkeOldsmobile82Joe EubanksPontiac93Ted ChamberlainPlymouth Timeline Section reference: Start of race: Cotton Owens officially started the race as the pole position driver. Lap 3: Brake problems on T.A. Toomes' vehicle made him the last-place finisher. Lap 7: Curtis Turner took over the lead from Cotton Owens. Lap 11: Paul Goldsmith took over the lead from Curtis Turner. Lap 13: Oil pressure issues managed to bump Neil Castles out of the race. Lap 14: Bobby Myers took over the lead from Paul Goldsmith. Lap 15: Curtis Turner took over the lead from Bobby Myers. Lap 17: Cotton Owens took over the lead from Curtis Turner. Lap 18: Fonty Flock had a terminal crash. Lap 19: Frankie Schneider's engine stopped working properly. Lap 22: One of Gwyn Staley's coil came loose; forcing him to stop racing for the rest of the day. Lap 23: One of Chuck Hansen's racing pistons stopped working; forcing him to stop racing for the rest of the day. Lap 27: Fonty Flock, Bobby Myers and Paul Goldsmith crash, resulting in the death of Bobby Myers Lap 29: Lee Petty took over the lead from Cotton Owens. Lap 37: Joe Weatherly had a terminal crash. Lap 41: Fireball Roberts took over the lead from Lee Petty. Lap 50: Runt Harris' vehicle had some problems with its clutch; forcing him to exit the race for safety reasons. Lap 63: Bill Blair had a terminal crash. Lap 66: Joe Caspolich had a terminal crash. Lap 70: Lee Petty took over the lead from Fireball Roberts. Lap 79: Shorty York blew his engine while racing at high speeds. Lap 84: Tom Pistone's vehicle suffered from piston troubles. Lap 89: Fireball Roberts took over the lead from Lee Petty. Lap 99: Parnelli Jones had a terminal crash. Lap 101: Jack Smith took over the lead from Fireball Roberts. Lap 102: Bill Amick had a terminal crash. Lap 110: Speedy Thompson took over the lead from Jack Smith. Lap 130: Bill Champion managed to break the rear end of the vehicle. Lap 155: Peck Peckham blew his engine while racing at high speeds. Lap 156: The radiator on Bob Duell's vehicle finally gave out. Lap 171: Curtis Turner took over the lead from Speedy Thompson. Lap 210: Axle problems on Rex White's vehicle managed to force him off the track. Lap 215: Whitey Norman blew his engine while racing at high speeds. Lap 216: Speedy Thompson took over the lead from Curtis Turner. Lap 221: Marvin Porter blew his engine while racing at high speeds. Lap 281: Lee Petty had a terminal crash. Lap 308: Tiny Lund had a terminal crash. Lap 348: Jack Smith had a terminal crash. Finish: Speedy Thompson in a 57 chevy sedan won the race by 3 laps over Cotton Owens. References 1956 1958 Southern 500 races 1957 Southern 500 Southern 500 Category:NASCAR races at Darlington Raceway