1955 Wilkes 160

The 1955 Wilkes 160 was a NASCAR Grand National (now Sprint Cup Series) race that took place on October 23, 1955 at the North Wilkesboro Speedway in the American community of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.^[1]

Summary

One hundred and sixty laps were competed on a dirt oval track spanning .625 miles (1.006 km).^[1] There were three cautions delivered down by NASCAR officials and the race lasted exactly one hour, twenty-one minutes, and sixteen seconds.^[1] Buck Baker defeated Lee Petty by a time of three seconds.^[1] The average speed was 72.347 miles per hour (116.431 km/h) while the pole position speed was 79.815 miles per hour (128.450 km/h).^[1] Ten thousand people attended this autumn race. This race would produce Joe Weatherly's first finish in the top five.^[1]

Finishers

1. Buck Baker†
2. Lee Petty†
3. Gwyn Staley†
4. Joe Weatherly†
5. Tim Flock†
6. Fonty Flock†
7. Speedy Thompson†
8. Dink Widenhouse
9. Dave Terrell
10. Jim Paschal†
11. Jimmy Massey
12. Jimmie Lewallen†
13. Bob Welborn†
14. Bobby Waddell
15. Ed Cole
16. Eddie Skinner
17. John McVitty*†
18. Ralph Liguori*
19. Bill Blair*†
20. Curtis Turner*†
21. Herb Thomas*†
22. Ned Jarrett*
23. Marvin Panch*
24. Joe Eubanks*†
25. Banks Simpson*
26. Junior Johnson*
27. Tom Pistone*
28. Ted Cannady*

* denotes that the driver failed to finish the race
† signifies that the driver is known to be deceased

References