1955 Season Recap

After missing a number of starts and racing on a part-time basis due to his "retirement" from the sport, 1952 NASCAR Grand National (now known as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series) champion Tim Flock returned to the circuit full-time in 1955 and it was clear that he had not lost a step. Flock had stepped away from the sport after disagreeing with the sanctioning body on some decisions to take race wins away from him after being disqualified. Flock returned in record-breaking fashion, dominating the circuit and turning in one of the best seasons in NASCAR history.

Lee Petty jumped out of the gates at the start of the season, leading the points race for the first 32 races. Once Tim Flock caught him in the 33rd race, Petty was left to watch Flock run away with the title.

FIVE RACES TO GO: Columbia, SC - With five races remaining in the 1955 season, defending champion Lee Petty was caught in a downward spiral since losing the points lead to 1952 champion Tim Flock. Having registered only one top 5 finish since in the past 10 races, Petty added to his unlucky streak with a 35th-lap crash at Columbia Speedway, finishing 19th. Points leader Tim Flock made matters worse for Petty by winning the race. Championship contender Buck Baker led most of the races but was running out of fuel with 12 laps to go. Forced to make a pit stop, Baker lost the lead to Flock and came in second. Herb Thomas, who was caught in a three-way battle for fourth in the points standings with Bob Welborn and Junior Johnson, finished the race in third. Welborn and Johnson finished sixth and seventh, respectively.

FOUR RACES TO GO: Martinsville, VA - Tim Flock set a record by leading 66 laps at Martinsville Speedway, marking the 14th consecutive race in which he led at least one lap. His consistent front-running had helped him establish a lead in the point standings. This was not his day, however, as he had transmission trouble and ended up 24th. Speedy Thompson, Flock's teammate, won the race. Thompson was followed by contender Bob Welborn in second, Herb Thomas in fourth, Lee Petty in eighth and Buck Baker in tenth. Junior Johnson lost ground to Thomas and Welborn as he was not entered in the event.

THREE RACES TO GO: Las Vegas, NV - Run on the same day as the event in Martinsville, the NASCAR Grand National race at Las Vegas Park Speedway did not feature any championship contenders.

TWO RACES TO GO: North Wilkesboro, NC - Buck Baker secured at least a second place finish on the season with his flag-to-flag dominance at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Lee Petty never really challenged Baker while driving to a second place finish. Points leader Tim Flock finished fifth in the event and was poised to clinch his second NASCAR Grand National title. Bob Welborn and Herb Thomas made their race for the fourth spot in the standings interesting with sub-par performances, finishing 13th and 21st, respectively. Although Junior Johnson struggled to a 26th place finish, he locked up sixth place in the final standings.

FINAL RACE: Hillsboro, NC - Tim Flock appropriately sealed his record-breaking season with his flag-to flag performance at Orange Speedway. Starting on the pole for a record 18th time, Flock led the entire race to win his 16th race of the season. It was the 11th time in 1955 that he led flag-to-flag, a record. Flock amassed $37,779.60 in winnings on the year, also a record. Buck Baker finished third at North Wilkesboro and was followed by Herb Thomas, whose fourth place finish was not enough to catch Welborn and his tenth place finish in the standings. Lee Petty's 23rd place finish was a fitting finish to the final four months of the season in which he limped to a third place finish in the final standings. Tim Flock won the 1955 title by 508 points over Baker.