New Model Stock Car Races

On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the

Kansas State Fairgrounds

 Hutchinson, Kansas

Memorial Day – Saturday – May 30, 1953

 

 

Promotional company – Hamilton Attractions of Hutchinson, Kansas

Race promoter – Verne Hamilton of Hutchinson, Kansas

Cars – 1940 through 1953 models

Attendance – 4,000

 

 

 

Bill Lehman during driver introductions before the start of the 100-lap race.  The Hudson Hornet was owned by Johnny Sutton – Lehman collection

 

 

 

First Heat Race - 25 Laps

 

 

 

Second Race - 25 Laps

 

 

 

Feature Race – 11 Cars - 100 Laps

Wesley started on the pole with Moffet on the outside of the front row.  Lehman started on the inside of the second row while Dye started on the outside of that row.  Massey started inside of the third row.

Massey drove a taxi cab in Hutchinson on weekends and often entered it in the races at the state fairgrounds on Sunday afternoon.  The cab company’s phone number was 86 and it was painted on the side of the cab so that is the number that was used by scorers as the car’s number.  Both Massey and Dye ran a slow steady pace on this date and completed the full 100-lap distance without making a pit stop.

Wesley led the first 12 laps.  Moffet challenged for the lead until his engine went sour.

Lehman took over on the 13th lap and led the through lap 75 before a rod started knocking in his Hudson’s engine.  Massey took over the lead as Lehman stopped for water and oil.  Lehman only made one more lap before withdrawing from the race with a rod through the side of the block.  Massey was not challenged for the lead again.

Wesley’s 1950 Ford #30 was fast but kept overheating.  He easily out ran Massey and Dye but had to stop every ten to twenty laps for water and they would make up the lost time and then some.  Wesley was four laps behind the leader at the end.

Only seven cars finished the race.

 

 

 

Gayford Dye

Lehman collection

 

 

 

Return to the Feature Race Winners at Hutchinson, Kansas web page