1950 – Mantz Wins Inaugural 500-Miler at Darlington

 

Johnny Mantz receives congratulations from Cannonball Baker after winning the inaugural Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. – Marty Littles Collection

Darlington, S.C. (September 4, 1950) – Thirty-one-year-old Johnny Mantz of Long Beach, Calif., grabbed the lead early on and sped to a six-lap victory in the inaugural $25,000 Southern 500-mile race for stock cars.

Mantz earned $7,000 and added another $3,520 in lap money for a total pickup of $10,520 before a crowd estimated at over 35,000 by Darlington International Raceway officials.

Red Byron of Atlanta, Ga., finished second and took home the runner-up prize of $3,500 while Glenn “Fireball” Roberts of Daytona Beach, Fla., finished third and collected $2,000.

Mantz, who finished seventh in last year’s Indianapolis 500 classic, took over the top spot on lap 49 and held it the rest of the way over the 400-lap route of the 1.25-mile track. He made only three pit stops and averaged just over 75 miles per hour. His elapsed time was 6 hours, 38 minutes, and 40 seconds.

Mantz started from the 35th position after qualifying with one of the slowest time trial runs. He drove a 1950 Oldsmobile 88.

One of his most serious challengers, Curtis Turner of Roanoke, Va., was forced out of the race because of mechanical trouble shortly after the 350-mile mark. Prior to that, Turner had won $40 in lap prizes.

Aside from Mantz and Turner, only Gober Sosebee of Atlanta picked up lap money, earning $40 for the first four laps of the race he led.

With Mantz the apparent winner, chief interest settled on the duel for second place between Byron and Roberts. Byron secured the runner-up spot at the 450-mile spot and held on.

Fifty of the 75 starters finished. A half-dozen accidents occurred during the race, but no serious injuries were reported. The race was run in hot, humid weather under slightly cloudy skies.


Results –

1. Johnny Mantz, Long Beach, Calif.
2. Red Byron, Atlanta, Ga.
3. Glenn Roberts, Daytona Beach, Fla.
4. Bill Rexford, North Tonawanda, N.Y.
5. Herschel McGriff, Portland, Ore.
6. Chuck Mahoney, Rockport, N.Y.
7. Lee Petty, Randleman, N.C.
8. Cotton Owens, Spartanburg, S.C.
9. Bill Blair, High Point, N.C.
10.George Hartley, Erie, Penn.
11.Tim Flock, Winston-Salem, N.C.
12.Johnny Grubb, Greensboro, N.C.
13.Dick Linder, Pittsburgh, Penn.
14.Johnny Dubois, Paterson, N.J
15.Weldon Adams, Augusta, Ga.
16.Barney Smith, Macon, Ga.
17.George Jackson, Toledo, Ohio
18.Gober Sosebee, Atlanta, Ga.