VISIONS OF GRANDEUR NASCAR Tried Open-Wheel Racing

BY BEN WHITE

From its formation on Feb. 21, 1948, “Big Bill” France built NASCAR on a foundation of racing stock cars on tracks across the United States.

For the 1952 season, France had an idea to expand his fledgling NASCAR empire with a division quite radical from the full-bodied coupes and sedans that were initially raced out of family garages. NASCAR was preparing for the sanctioning body’s fifth year of racing when France introduced the NASCAR Speedway Division. It would showcase open-wheel Indianapolis-style cars powered by stock engines.

France believed the economically minded division would captivate southern race fans. It was about enjoying the mystique of the Indianapolis 500, which annually attracted some 250,000 spectators to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, while remaining close to home.

The Speedway Division debuted with time-trial runs on the sand in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Sunday, Feb. 6, 1952. Buck Baker, who would eventually earn Cup Series titles in 1956 and ’57, was fastest with a top speed of 132.88 mph. Only four of the 11 cars made one-mile runs that afternoon before high tide forced officials to postpone the program.

Baker returned on Tuesday, Feb. 8, and once again led the speed parade at 142. 291 mph to claim the $1,000 prize in the non-points special event. Baker’s roadster carried a Cadillac engine.

Tracks such as Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Atlanta’s Lakewood Speedway, Charlotte (N.C.) Speedway, Langhorne (Pa.) Speedway and Darlington (S.C.) Raceway were slated to host events. With the exception of the Darlington event on May 10 where 21 cars were in the starting lineup, the number of entries fell far short of expectations.

By July, promoters were concerned about the lack of cars. Part of the problem was due to a national steel strike at the time that made it difficult to find materials to build or repair the cars.

NASCAR issued a statement saying, “Due to an unusually warm summer coupled with the paralyzing nationwide steel strike, many promoters have postponed dates until conditions take a turn for the better.”

Although the steel strike was settled in August, the Speedway Division failed to attract any new race dates. Baker became the star of the short-lived series and was crowned champion after only seven points races.

The NASCAR Speedway Division race winners in 1952 were: May 10, Darlington Raceway, Buck Baker; May 25, Martinsville Speedway, Tex Keene; May 30, Monroe County Fairgrounds, Wally Campbell; June 1, Charlotte Speedway, Wally Campbell; June 8, Lakewood Speedway, Al Keller; June 15, Heidelberg Speedway, Tom Cheery; and June 29, Langhorne Speedway, Tom Cherry.

Baker had a reputation for his willingness to drive anything. He once estimated he won 650 races between 1949 and 1977.

“I never worried about anything, especially about being killed (while racing),” Baker said in the October 1992 issue of American Racing Classics. “Heck, no one expected me to live to the old age of 21. I did a lot of experimenting in racing, flying (airplanes) and in life.”