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Wood Brothers first Grand National race

Glen Wood Wins His First Grand National Race - Bowman Gray Stadium From 1958 through 1971 NASCAR ran races at Bowman Gray Stadium. Bowman Gray Stadium is a 1/4 mile flat, asphalt, oval, short track located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. During ...

Glen Wood Wins His First Grand National Race - Bowman Gray Stadium

From 1958 through 1971 NASCAR ran races at Bowman Gray Stadium. Bowman Gray Stadium is a 1/4 mile flat, asphalt, oval, short track located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. During the fall, it doubles as a football stadium for the Winston-Salem State University Rams football team. Until 1968, it was also home to the Wake Forest Demon Deacon's football team. Local and regional racing series still race on the 1/4 mile short track.

The first NASCAR sanctioned event occurred on May 18, 1949 and was won by Fonty Flock. The Wood Brothers enjoyed much success at Bowman Gray Stadium earning 5 wins and 5 poles.

While Glen Wood liked competing in the convertible division, the team modified his convertible to also race in the Grand National Division (what is known as the Cup Series today) by bolting on a hard top roof. On Easter Monday, April 18, 1960, NASCAR prepared to run the first of its three Bowman Gray Stadium races that year. The Wood Brothers arrived at Bowman Gray Stadium set to field two cars for the Grand National race. Owner/Driver Glen Wood was behind the wheel of one of the cars -- the #16 light blue 1958 Ford Fairlane (one of the few times the Wood Brothers ran the #16 in a Grand National race). Jim Massey drove the team's other car -- a 1959 Ford Fairlane bearing the team's well known #21. Glen qualified his #16 Ford Fairlane on pole, while Massey qualified the #21 Ford Fairlane on the outside pole.

The cars took the green flag for the 200 lap main event before a crowd of over 4,000 people. Glen led the entire 200 lap race from flag to flag and was never contested. For the win, Glen earned $600. Massey brought the #21 home in third place earning $400.

Glen Wood's 1960 Bowman Gray Stadium win was his first NASCAR Grand National Division win and one of many successes on the track during his career. He amassed an impressive 4 wins and 22 top fives in 62 NASCAR Grand National Division starts. For his efforts, Glen Wood has been recognized as one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers of all time.

-credit: wbr

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