1956 NASCAR Grand National Series
The coroner reported that the mattress had been on fire, and it appeared that Shuman had attempted to escape, but broke down the bathroom door instead of the hallway.
[5] Rules and living arrangements were established by Kiekhaifer; Husbands and wives as well as driver and girlfriends were not allowed to share quarters the night before the race.
[8] On November 13, 1955, at the Hickory Speedway, 7,500 people watched as the 1956 NASCAR season got underway, with Tim Flock capturing the win in one of Carl Kiekhaefer's Mercury Outboard motors sponsored Chryslers.
The race is notable in that the first two drivers across the finish line, Joe Weatherly and Jim Reed, were disqualified due to technical violations.
Al Keller finished second, Billy Myers grabbed the third spot with Buck Baker and Lee Petty rounding out the top 5.
After the race Big Bill France announced that anyone caught cheating again would not only forfeit their finishing position, but their prize money and all their season points to date as well.
[10][15] Buck Baker, in his 55 Chrysler, earned the first win of the new year, and Kiekhaefer drivers Billy Myers and Ralph Moody captured second and third.
[23] On March 25, the Grand National series raced on the one mile dirt track of Lakewood Speedway in Atlanta, Georgia.
The event was darkened by the death of Lou Moore who suffered a intracerebral hemorrhage while at the track, and died in the hospital before the end of the race.
Tragedy struck once again as young driver John McVitty died of massive internal injuries after being thrown from his car as it rolled the day before the race during qualifying.
To fill the empty seat left by Flock's leaving, and now driving a Smokey Yunick prepared ride, Kiekhaefer hired Herb Thomas to join his NASCAR team.
[citation needed] April 29 brought 5,000 spectators to the Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds for the Richmond 200 event on the half mile dirt track.
[31] On May 6, the second day of the double-duty weekend had the NASCAR race at Harris Speedway in Concord, North Carolina for a 100-mile event on their half-mile dirt track.
After Baker managed to run the full 200 laps on the half-mile dirt track without a single pit stop, Schwam Motor Co., who fielded Fords for Joe Weatherly and Curtis Turner, went to NASCAR officials and filed a protest against the Kiekhaefer team.
An enraged Kiekhaefer filed a counter protest against the Schwam Fords, claiming they ran with illegal motors and rear-ends.
Technical inspector Jim Ross reviewed both claims, and held that both cars were legal, giving Baker a 100-point lead in the standings.
[34] There were no driver injuries,[citation needed] and Billy Myers finished second with Buck Baker, Herb Thomas, and Gwyn Stanley filling out the top five spots.
In a near photo finish Buck Baker barely squeaked past Speedy Thompson at the end of the 90 mile event.
[46] On June 10, Ralph Moody won the season's 25th race at Memphis-Arkansas Speedway in Lehi, Arkansas in a DePaolo Engineering Ford.
[7] On June 15, the 26th race of the season was held at the Southern States Fairgrounds in Charlotte, North Carolina, a half mile dirt track.
[74] On August 4, 1956, thirteen drivers met for a scheduled 200 lap race on the 0.5 mile dirt oval short track at the Tulsa Fairgrounds.
[76] However, after 34 laps, Lee Petty (a competing driver) took the initiative to red-flag the race due to conditions of excessive dust combined with poor track lighting.
[77] While the race was officially sanctioned by NASCAR, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) provided support for the event and foreign cars were allowed entry.
At the time, all three organizations were aspiring to succeed the AAA Contest Board as the new main United States race-sanctioning body, as the American Auto Association had withdrawn from involvement in automobile racing the previous year.
While Kiekhaefer racer Buck Baker led the first five laps, he ultimately placed eighth, and his car suffered engine problems by the end of the race.
Speedy Thompson rounded out Kiekhaefer's roster of racers at Road America, finishing eighteenth and suffering engine problems by the end of the race.
[85] On August 19, 1956, Eddie Pagan won the season's 39th race, held at the Bay Meadows Speedway in San Mateo, California.
[89] On August 23, Ralph Moody won the season's 41s race, which was held at Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
[84] On August 25, Fireball Roberts won the season's 42nd race, which was held at Costal Speedway in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
[96] On September 12, Ralph Moody won the season's 46th race, which was held at Southern States Fairgrounds in Charlotte, North Carolina.
