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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]
[edit] The 1952 Season
The first Speedway Division race was held at Darlington Raceway and was won by Buck Baker with a Cadillac engine. [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' only champion. Baker would never defend his title as the Speedway Division was discontinued at season's end.
[edit] References
- ^ Burt, William. The American Stock Car. St. Paul, MN: MBI Publishing, 2001. p. 34
- ^ ibid.
- ^ Fielden, Greg. NASCAR Chronicle. Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International, Ltd, 2004. p. 67
