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Speedy Thompson

Alfred Bruce "Speedy" Thompson (April 3, 1926, in Monroe, North Carolina – April 2, 1972, in Charlotte, North Carolina) was an American stock car racer in the NASCAR Grand National series from 1950 to 1971, capturing 20 wins along the way.

Alfred "Speedy" Thompson
Speedy Thompson is adoring his fans after winning the 1960 National 400 in Charlotte
Born(1926-04-03)April 3, 1926
Monroe, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedApril 2, 1972(1972-04-02) (aged 45)
Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Cause of deathHeart attack resulting in racing crash
Achievements1957 Southern 500 Winner
AwardsInducted in the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame and Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame
NASCAR Cup Series career
197 races run over 14 years
Best finish3rd (1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959)
First race1950 Vernon Fairgrounds race
Last race1971 World 600 (Charlotte)
First win1953 Central City Speedway race
Last win1960 Capital City 200 (Richmond)
Wins Top tens Poles
20 105 19

Racing career

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He made his debut in 1950 and won two of the seven races he competed in 1953 in the #46 Buckshot Morris Oldsmobile (including the 1953 Wilkes 160). Thompson made 15 starts in 1955 and made a serious attack on the Championship the next year, competing in 42 races in Carl Kiekhaefer's factory-backed Chryslers and Dodges, winning eight times and finishing third in points. 1957 saw a switch to Hugh Babb's and his own Chevrolet's and another third-place result, capturing only two victories that year. Speedy drove his own Chevy for the entire 1958 season, and another third place was the reward for his four victories in 38 starts.

In 1957, he set the 500-mile speed record for stock cars with an average speed of 100.1 mph.[1] This record was quickly broken by other drivers and by Speedy himself. In 1959 he became a charter member of the "Pure Record Club" along with Fireball Roberts, Elmo Langley, and Richard Petty who set the fastest qualifying speed in each make of automobile competing.[2]

Another third place in points came in 1959 from 29 starts in a variety of different cars, this time with no wins. 1959 would be his last full-time effort in the series (participating in 24 different racing events including the 1959 Hickory 250) and he left Grand National after the 1962 season, choosing to race at late models at local North Carolina short tracks. He returned to NASCAR's top series, then called the Winston Cup, in 1971 for the World 600 where he finished 16th.

Death

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During a late model race on Easter Sunday, April 2, 1972, at Metrolina Fairgrounds in Charlotte, Thompson had a seizure on the 21st lap, causing him to crash into a rail. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital, one day before his 46th birthday.[3][4] The medical examiner said that he died of natural causes, an acute coronary occlusion.

Awards

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He was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame and the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame.

Motorsports career results

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NASCAR

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(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

Grand National Series

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NASCAR Grand National Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 NGNC Pts Ref
1950 Bruce Thompson Plymouth DAB CLT LAN MAR CAN VER DSP MCF CLT HBO DSP HAM DAR LAN NWS VER
21 		MAR WIN HBO – – [5]
1951 Leland Colvin 25 Olds DAB
17 		75th 120 [6]
Plymouth CLT
30 		NMO GAR HBO ASF NWS MAR CAN CLS CLB DSP GAR GRS BAI HEI
Studebaker AWS
5 		MCF ALS MSF FMS MOR ABS DAR CLB CCS LAN CLT DSP WIL HBO TPN PGS MAR OAK NWS HMS JSP ATL GAR NMO
1952 Bruce Root 21 Ford PBS DAB JSP NWS MAR CLB ATL CCS LAN DAR
19 		DSP CAN HAY FMS HBO CLT MSF NIF OSW MON MOR PPS MCF AWS 37th 656 [7]
Sam Knox 51 Ford DAR
14 		CCS LAN DSP WIL HBO MAR NWS ATL PBS
1953 Buckshot Morris 12 Olds PBS DAB HAR NWS CLT RCH CCS LAN CLB HCY MAR PMS RSP
2 		LOU FIF LAN TCS WIL
6 		MCF PIF MOR ATL RVS LCF DAV HBO AWS PAS HCY CCS
1 		11th 2958 [8]
Bob Pronger 46 Olds DAR
7
Buckshot Morris LAN
3 		BLF WIL
2 		NWS
1 		MAR ATL
1954 12 PBS DAB
20 		JSP ATL OSP OAK NWS HBO CCS LAN WIL MAR SHA RSP
27 		CLT GAR CLB
4 		LND HCY
9 		MCF WGS PIF
21 		AWS
18 		SFS GRS MOR OAK CLT SAN COR 23rd 1480 [9]
Buick DAR
10 		CCS CLT LAN MAS MAR NWS
1955 Griffin Motors Racing 87 Olds TCS PBS JSP DAB OSP CLB HBO NWS MGY LAN CLT
17 		HCY MAS
2 		RSP
11 		DAR
45 		MGY LAN
23 		15th 2452 [10]
Don Oliver 5 Olds ASF
6 		TUS
Frank Christian 14 Chevy MAR
18 		RCH NCF
24 		FOR LIN MCF FON AIR
71 Olds CLT
15
Thomas Racing 92 Buick PIF
13 		CLB AWS MOR ALS NYF SAN CLT FOR
Ike Kiser 34 Ford RSP
17 		GPS
DePaolo Engineering 297 Ford MAS
1* 		CLB
Carl Kiekhaefer 30 Chrysler MAR
1 		LVP
20 NWS
7
DePaolo Engineering 297 Hudson HBO
21
1956 Mauri Rose 25 Chevy HCY
30 		CLT
17 		WSS PBS ASF 3rd 8328 [11]
Carl Kiekhaefer 500 Dodge DAB
71 		PBS WIL
10 		CLB
1* 		GPS
15 		MAR
2* 		LIN
11 		RSP
2 		CHI
4 		CCF
1 		MGY
4 		OKL
11 		ROA
18 		OBS SAN NOR POR
Chrysler ATL
2
501 Dodge NWS
18* 		MYB
5
00 Chrysler LAN
37
300 Dodge RCH
3
300C Chrysler CON
1* 		HCY
1** 		HBO
2* 		CLT
1* 		POR EUR NYF
7 		MER MAS
19 		CLT
1* 		MCF
1* 		POR AWS
26 		PIF
7 		CSF
DePaolo Engineering 296 Ford PIF
5
Carl Kiekhaefer 57 Chrysler DAR
2 		CSH
19
Dodge CLT
7
67 LAN
3 		POR CLB
300 Chrysler HBO
3 		NWP
18 		CLT
6 		MAR
4 		HCY
1* 		WIL
3*
500B Dodge CCF
4
1957 Hugh Babb 46 Chevy WSS CON TIC DAB
8 		CON
3 		WIL
3 		HBO
2 		AWS
2 		NWS
16 		LAN
3 		CLT
20 		PIF
15 		GBF
14 		POR CCF
9 		RCH
17 		MAR
11 		POR EUR LIN
5 		LCS
5 		ASP 3rd 8580 [12]
Speedy Thompson NWP
8 		CLB
5 		CPS PIF
4 		RSP
4 		CLT
4 		MAS
22 		POR HCY
23 		NOR
9 		LCS
1** 		GLN KPC LIN
2 		OBS DAR
1* 		NYF AWS
18 		CSF SCF LAN
31 		CLB
19 		CLT
17 		MAR
28 		NBR
6 		CON
6 		NWS
4 		GBF
2
Whitey Norman 1A Ford JAC
13
Bobby Keck 96 Chevy MYB
12
Dick Beaty 34 Ford CCF
15
1958 Speedy Thompson 46 Chevy FAY
9 		DAB
48 		CON
3 		FAY
19 		WIL
20 		HBO
3 		FAY
3 		CLB
1 		PIF
1 		ATL
19 		CLT MAR ODS OBS GPS
17 		GBF
4 		STR NWS
14 		BGS TRN
9 		RSD CLB
11 		NBS
6 		REF
5 		LIN
26 		HCY
3 		AWS
3 		RSP
5 		MCC SLS TOR BUF MCF
3 		BEL
7 		BRR
7 		CLB
1 		NSV
16 		AWS
4 		BGS MBS
15 		CLT
2 		BIR CSF GAF
5 		RCH
1* 		HBO
19 		SAS
29 		MAR
2 		NWS
3 		ATL
29 		3rd 8792 [13]
Steve Pierce 1 Chevy DAR
14
1959 FAY DAY
16 		DAY
10 		HBO
13 		CON
5 		ATL
4 		WIL
21 		NWS
17* 		REF
2 		HCY
6* 		MAR
19 		TRN PIF
14 		GPS
15 		ATL
26 		CLB 3rd 7684 [14]
Don Angel 3 Ford BGS
13
Bruce Thompson 2 Chevy CLB
13 		CLT
4 		NSV ASP RCH
10 		BGS AWS
14 		CLT
24 		MBS
22 		CLT NSV CON
8
12 Chevy WIL
24
Doc White 41 Ford DAY
11 		HEI
Gerald Duke 92 Ford AWS
37 		BGS GPS CLB
W. J. Ridgeway 22 Chevy DAR
14 		HCY RCH CSF MAR
5
W. H. Watson 61 Pontiac HBO
18
Beau Morgan 15 Ford AWS
13 		NWS
15
1960 Bruce Thompson 2 Chevy CLT
5 		CLB 25th 5658 [15]
Matthews Racing 94 Ford DAY
9 		DAY DAY
62 		CLT NWS PHO CLB
Wood Brothers Racing 20 Ford MAR
DNQ 		HCY WIL BGS GPS AWS DAR PIF HBO RCH HMS
Donlavey Racing 90 Ford CLT
25 		BGS DAY HEI MAB MBS ATL
12 		BIR NSV AWS PIF CLB SBO BGS DAR
39 		HCY CSF GSP HBO MAR NWS CLT
DNQ
Wood Brothers Racing 21 Ford CLT
1 		RCH
1* 		ATL
4
1961 Beau Morgan 16 Ford CLT JSP DAY DAY DAY PIF AWS HMS ATL GPS HBO BGS MAR NWS CLB HCY RCH MAR DAR CLT CLT
17 		RSD ASP CLT
41 		PIF BIR GPS BGS NOR HAS STR DAY ATL CLB MBS BRI NSV BGS AWS RCH SBO DAR HCY RCH CSF ATL MAR NWS 62nd 1564 [16]
Wood Brothers Racing 21 Ford CLT
11 		BRI GPS HBO
1962 Holman-Moody 15 Ford CON AWS DAY DAY
23 		DAY
17 		CON AWS SVH HBO RCH CLB NWS GPS MBS MAR BGS BRI RCH HCY CON DAR PIF CLT ATL BGS AUG RCH SBO DAY CLB ASH GPS AUG SVH MBS BRI CHT NSV HUN AWS STR BGS PIF VAL DAR HCY RCH DTS AUG MAR NWS 42nd 2522 [17]
Petty Enterprises 41 Plymouth CLT
9 		ATL
1971 Junior Fields 91 Chevy RSD DAY DAY DAY ONT RCH CAR HCY BRI ATL CLB GPS SMR NWS MAR DAR SBO TAL ASH KPT CLT
16 		DOV MCH RSD HOU GPS DAY BRI AST ISP TRN NSV ATL BGS ONA MCH TAL CLB HCY DAR MAR CLT DOV CAR MGR RCH NWS TWS – – [18]
Daytona 500
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Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1959 Steve Pierce Chevrolet 31 10
1960 Matthews Racing Ford 17 62
1962 Holman-Moody Ford 33 17

Convertible Division

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NASCAR Convertible Division results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 NCC Pts Ref
1959 Bruce Thompson 2 Chevy DAY FAY RCH HCY MRL CLT HBO DAR CLB AWS BGS MAR CLB
5 		GPS CLT 69th 168 [19]


References

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  1. ^ "18 Jul 1958, 6 - The Ruston Daily Leader at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  2. ^ "Baker Tops Petty By 10 - Statesville Record And Landmark at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. 18 Aug 1960. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  3. ^ "3 Apr 1972, 2 - The Odessa American at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  4. ^ "4 Apr 1972, Page 7 - Florence Morning News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  5. ^ "Speedy Thompson – 1950 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  6. ^ "Speedy Thompson – 1951 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  7. ^ "Speedy Thompson – 1952 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  8. ^ "Speedy Thompson – 1953 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  9. ^ "Speedy Thompson – 1954 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  10. ^ "Speedy Thompson – 1955 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  11. ^ "Speedy Thompson – 1956 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  12. ^ "Speedy Thompson – 1957 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  13. ^ "Speedy Thompson – 1958 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  14. ^ "Speedy Thompson – 1959 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  15. ^ "Speedy Thompson – 1960 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  16. ^ "Speedy Thompson – 1961 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  17. ^ "Speedy Thompson – 1962 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  18. ^ "Speedy Thompson – 1971 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  19. ^ "Speedy Thompson – 1959 NASCAR Convertible Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
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