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Very 1st Daytona 500.... Nascar debut...



Item # 596090

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February 23, 1959

THE NEW YORK TIMES, February 23, 1959 

* Very 1st Daytona 500 Nascar race 
* Johnny Beauchamp vs. Lee Petty
 

Within the sport's section on page 30 is a seven column headline that reads: "Beauchamp Wins 500-Mile Stock Car Race at 135 M.P.H. Average" with subheads: "THUNDERBIRD HAS MARGIN OF A FOOT", "Beauchamp Daytona Victor at Speed Close to Record for Indianapolis Race" See photos for text on the very 1st Daytona 500 Nascar race. It was also historic for having a photo finish which took three days to figure out who won. Lee Petty would be proven the official winner of the race. Great to have in this famous NYC title.

Other news, sports and advertisements of the day throughout. Complete in 36 pages, some foxing along central fold of the front page, otherwise in nice condition.

wikipedia notes: Beauchamp crossed the finish line at about the same time as Lee Petty in the Daytona 500 in 1959. Beauchamp was declared the unofficial winner of the race, so he drove the Holman Moody owned Ford to victory lane. Petty protested the win. "I had him by two feet," Beauchamp said. "I glanced over to Lee Petty's car as I crossed the finish line and I could see his headlight slightly back of my car. It was so close I didn't know how they would call it, but I thought I won." NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr. studied photographs and newsreels for three days before declaring Petty the official winner.

Category: The 20th Century