Take a glance at the Lincoln Speedway all-time winners list. As you likely already know, Fred Rahmer tops the list with an astounding 169 career wins. ‘The Black Bandit’ Steve Smith sits second on the list with 150 career wins, with Bobby Allen third with 75 wins and the late Kenny Weld fourth with 73. The leading active feature winner at the speedway is Brian Montieth with 55 career wins at the speedway.
The drivers at the top of the list are those that you would expect, but a more in-depth look at the winner’s list begins to reveal unexpected names such as NASCAR legends Junior Johnson, Lee Petty, Buck Baker and David Pearson; leaving many people to wonder if the winners list is correct! If it is correct, then when did they race there? What did they drive? Who did they drive for? With NASCAR preparing for tonight’s Dirt Derby at Eldora Speedway, it seems appropriate to take a look at NASCAR’s brief history in Central Pennsylvania.
It’s well documented that NASCAR once frequently sanctioned dirt track events, as Bill France Sr. scheduled any race he could in the earliest days of his stock car racing empire. Although often stereotyped as a primarily southern association, NASCAR frequently made trips north to Martinsville, Dover and other northeastern speedways, including several in Central Pennsylvania.
Williams Grove Speedway hosted the first NASCAR Cup Series event in Central PA on June 27, 1954 to a crowd of over 21,000 fans. The 200 lap event was won by Herb Thomas in a ‘54 Hudson, with an average speed of just over 51 MPH. Dick Rathman logged the fastest qualifying time of the day with an average speed of 54.945 MPH. This would be NASCAR’s first and only visit to the speedway.
Richard Petty in the family owned #43 machine at Lincoln Speedway, 1965.
NASCAR visited Central PA again in 1955, with Lincoln Speedway hosting a 100 lap event on June 10thfeaturing a 31 car field won by Junior Johnson in a ‘55 Oldsmobile. The national series returned to Lincoln again in 1956, with Buck Baker taking the win. Returning to Lincoln twice in 1957, Buck Baker was again victorious with Marvin Panch also taking home a victory. Lee Petty won NASCAR’s only visit to the speedway in 1958 outclassing a field of 31 cars for the $800 pay day. NASCAR wouldn’t return to the speedway again until 1964, when David Pearson cruised to the win over Richard Petty on July 21st. Dick Hutcherson won NASCAR’s final event at Lincoln over G.C. Spencer, David Pearson and Ned Jarrett in 1965.
While Langhorne Speedway also hosted NASCAR events during the 1950’s, other Central PA tracks such as Susquehanna (now BAPS) and Port Royal Speedway have never hosted a NASCAR sanctioned event. Selinsgrove Speedway sanctioned a Grand National Series East event in 1973, won by Tiny Lund, but never a national series event.
As NASCAR continues to add chapters to its dirt track racing history, it is important to remember the smaller chapters that add flavor to the history of the sport as well. Central Pennsylvania’s chapter in NASCAR history is small, but important nonetheless!
