October 19, 1958
“Wilkes 160”
Top 5 finishers…..
If you got up during the race to hit the restroom, make a beer run and grab a hot dog, you stood a chance of missing this race all together. The race went caution free and lasted only 1 hour and 10 minutes—I can think of some of today’s caution periods that last almost that long!!! The race speed of 84.906 was just a bit short of the pole qualifying speed of 86.805. Sounds to me like there were no pit stops either—at least not scheduled ones.
Local boy, Junior Johnson pocketed $800 for his second consecutive North Wilkesboro win. Driving a 1957 Ford, Johnson took the checkered flag better than a lap ahead of his nearest competition. In 1955, his first season of full time driving, Johnson had 5 wins, 12 top 5’s and 18 top ten finishes. He finished 6th in the season points standings. Johnson surely would have won rookie of the year had NASCAR had the award in place at the time.
One of “The Brothers”……..the Wood Brothers, came in second—Glen Wood. In his five Grand National races at NWS, Wood sported impressive numbers—an average starting spot of 3.4 to go along with his average finish of 8.2. As a driver, Wood had success in several racing series. In 1954, he won the North Carolina sportsman championship, and three years later he finished third in the NASCAR convertible division points. Wood won all 3 Grand National races at Bowman Gray Stadium at Winston-Salem, in 1960. In his final year behind the wheel, Glen raced only the two Winston-Salem races, winning one and finishing 3rd in the other. In 1959 Wood was named NASCAR's Most Popular Driver. The oldest continuously operating team in NASCAR's top series was founded by Glen Wood, along with his brother, Leonard.
Alfred “Speedy” Thompson brought home another career top 5 at NWS with his 3rd place finish. It would be his 3rd and last top 5 finish at the speedway. Thompson made two more attempts in 1959 at the track, but didn’t fair so well. Thompson’s full time Grand National career ended after the ’59 season. He ran several races over the next few years and had a 16th place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1971. Thompson's life and racing career came to an end when he died of a heart attack while competing in a race at Metrolina Speedway in Charlotte in 1972.
Also gaining another NWS top 5 finish was Cotton Owens. Ya think this fellow knows a little something about winning?? Owens won more than 400 Modified and Late Model sportsman races, nine Winston Cup races and 40 more as car owner, along with a championship with David Pearson in 1966.
Jack Smith piloted the ’57 Chevrolet owned by Buck Baker to a fifth place finish. Smith finished 5 laps off the leader’s pace and was awarded $225 for his efforts.
24 cars entered the race. A tall, lanky 21 year old named Richard Petty made his first attempt in a Grand National race at NWS. An overheating engine forced him and his #2 Oldsmobile out of the race after just 35 laps. He finished in the 23rd position. His future at North Wilkesboro would improve slightly.