1956 -Mantz Captures State Fair Race

Johnny Mantz

Milwaukee, Wis. (August 19, 1956) – Johnny Mantz of Duarte, Calif., finished 50 feet ahead of Chuck Stevenson of Garden Grove, Calif., Sunday to win the 150-mile national championship stock car race at State Fair Park.

Stevenson was just 33 feet ahead of Sam Hanks of Pacific Palisades, Calif., while Jimmy Bryan, Phoenix, Ariz., was another 100 feet behind Hanks.

Mantz traveled the distance on the one-mile oval in 1 hour, 41 minute and 48.48 seconds for an avenge speed of 51.96 miles an hour. Eighteen laps fell under the caution flag. There were many spins and wall crashes but no injuries.

Troy Ruttman of Lynwood, Calif., who set the local 150-mile record of 83.091 miles an hour on July 15, finished fifth, just ahead of Norm Nelson of Racine, Wis.

Mantz and Stevenson piloted 1956 Fords while Hanks, Bryan, Ruttman and Nelson each drove 1956 Mercury’s.

Rounding out the top 10 were Jimmy Reece, Oklahoma City, 1956 Ford; Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa, 1956 Dodge; Dick Linder, Pittsburgh, 1956 Plymouth, and Les Snow, Bloomington, Ill., 1956 Chevrolet.

A crowd of 22,964 watched the races.

Results -

1.     Johnny Mantz

2.     Chuck Stevenson

3.     Sam Hanks

4.     Jimmy Bryan

5.     Troy Ruttman

6.     Norm Nelson

7.     Jimmy Reece

8.     Ernie Derr

9.     Dick Linder

10.  Les Snow

11. Bob Christie

12. Bill Cheesbourg

13. Al Shear

14. Allen Swenson

15. Jim Murray

16. Russ Hepler
17. Bert Ruttman