1959

March 1st

This would have Orange Speedways’ first race of the year. And it would be an exciting one. It would be a heated battle all day. Curtis Turner, Bob Welborn, Tom Pistone. The lead changed hands 3 times in the last 7 laps. Bob Welborn grabbed the point from Tom Pistone with 3 laps to go. He looked to sail to the victory but then ran out of fuel on the white flag lap. Curtis Turner took the lead and drove to the win over Tom Pistone. With all this excitement going, there was also 2 serious accidents. First Tommy Irwin drove off into the woods when his throttle hung on the 24th lap, he was unhurt. Then with 13 laps to go, Larry Frank flew over the 1st turn embankment and slammed into a tree, he suffered a bruised leg.

April 26th

This race would mark the final time the convertible division would race at Orange. The series was disbanded after the 1959 season. Joe weatherly would take the pole and he would battle most of the day with Buck Baker. Baker would have transmission problems on lap 75 and it would be smooth sailing for Weatherly after that, as he took the win and won $900.

September 20th

For the final time in 1959 the Grand nationals visited Orange Speedway. Jack Smith grabbed the pole and would lead the first 50 laps. Tom Pistone then overtook Smith and led until lap 89 and battled with Lee Petty. Lee would finally would grab the point and led the final 10 laps for the victory over Cotton Owens.

1958——1960

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