The 1953 NASCAR Grand National Series began on February 1 and ended on November 1. Future NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Herb Thomas, driving his own No. 92 Hudson Hornet, won the championship and became the first repeat champion of the series. It is also the season with the most one-off races. 9 of the 37 races took place on racetracks that only held a cup race in the 1953 season.
Season recap Races marked with * took place exclusively in the 1953 season.
No.Date Event Circuit Winner1 February 1, 1953 1953–01 Palm Beach Speedway Lee Petty2 February 15, 1953 1953–02 Daytona Beach Road Course Bill Blair3 March 8, 1953 1953–03 Harnett Speedway* Herb Thomas4 March 29, 1953 Wilkes County 200 North Wilkesboro Speedway Herb Thomas5 April 5, 1953 1953–05 Charlotte Speedway Dick Passwater6 April 19, 1953 Richmond 200 Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds Lee Petty7 April 26, 1953 1953-07 Central City Speedway Dick Rathmann8 May 3, 1953 1953–08 Langhorne Speedway Buck Baker9 May 9, 1953 1953-09 Columbia Speedway Buck Baker10 May 16, 1953 1953–10 Hickory Speedway Tim Flock11 May 17, 1953 1953–11 Martinsville Speedway Lee Petty12 May 24, 1953 1953–12 Powell Motor Speedway* Herb Thomas13 May 30, 1953 Raleigh 300 Raleigh Speedway Fonty Flock14 June 7, 1953 1953–14 Louisiana Fairgrounds* Lee Petty15 June 14, 1953 1953–15 Five Flags Speedway* Herb Thomas16 June 21, 1953 International 200 Langhorne Speedway Dick Rathmann17 June 26, 1953 1953–17 Tri-City Speedway Herb Thomas18 June 28, 1953 1953–18 Wilson Speedway Fonty Flock19 July 3, 1953 1953–19 Monroe County Fairgrounds Herb Thomas20 July 4, 1953 1953-20 Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds* Lee Petty21 July 10, 1953 1953–21 Morristown Speedway Dick Rathmann22 July 12, 1953 1953–22 Lakewood Speedway Herb Thomas23 July 22, 1953 1953–23 Rapid Valley Speedway* Herb Thomas24 July 26, 1953 1953–24 Lincoln City Fairgrounds* Dick Rathmann25 August 2, 1953 1953–25 Davenport Speedway Herb Thomas26 August 9, 1953 1953–26 Occoneechee Speedway Curtis Turner27 August 16, 1953 1953–27 Asheville-Weaverville Speedway Fonty Flock28 August 23, 1953 1953–28 Princess Anne Speedway* Herb Thomas29 August 29, 1953 1953–29 Hickory Speedway Fonty Flock30 September 7, 1953 Southern 500 Darlington Raceway Buck Baker31 September 13, 1953 1953–31 Central City Speedway Speedy Thompson32 September 20, 1953 1953–32 Langhorne Speedway Dick Rathmann33 October 3, 1953 1953–33 Bloomsburg Fairgrounds* Herb Thomas34 October 4, 1953 1953–34 Wilson Speedway Herb Thomas35 October 11, 1953 Wilkes 160 North Wilkesboro Speedway Speedy Thompson36 October 13, 1953 1953-36 Martinsville Speedway Jim Paschal37 November 1, 1953 1953–37 Lakewood Speedway Buck Baker
Race summaries
1953-01
The first race of the 1953 season was run on February 1 at the Palm Beach Speedway in West Palm Beach, Florida. Dick Rathmann won the pole position.
Top ten results
42- Lee Petty 41- Jimmie Lewallen 91- Tim Flock 1- Herschel Buchanan 86- Don Oldenberg 55- Bub King 60- Dub Livingston 13- Pop McGinnis 9- Donald Thomas 67- Sam DiRusso
1953-02
The second race of the 1953 season was run on February 15 at the Daytona Beach Road Course in Daytona Beach, Florida. Bob Pronger won the pole. Fonty Flock dominated throughout the race, leading every lap until running of fuel on the last lap. Flock was then pushed across the finish line by teammate Slick Smith. Officials ruled that this move was illegal, and Flock was awarded with second place, while Bill Blair was declared the winner.
Top ten results
2- Bill Blair 14- Fonty Flock 40- Tommy Thompson 92- Herb Thomas 91- Tim Flock 77- Dick Passwater 41- Curtis Turner 9- Donald Thomas 38- Tom Cherry 4- Slick Smith
•This was the third and final win for Blair.
1953-03
The third race of the 1953 season was run on March 8 at Harnett Speedway in Spring Lake, North Carolina. Herb Thomas won the pole.
Top ten results
92- Herb Thomas 120- Dick Rathmann 42- Lee Petty 78- Dick Passwater 1- Herschel Buchanan 18- Mike Klapak 91- Tim Flock 24- Ray Duhigg ??- Don Oldenberg 71- Keith Hamner
Wilkes County 200
The fourth race of the season was run on March 29 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Herb Thomas won the pole.
Top ten results
92- Herb Thomas 120- Dick Rathmann 14- Fonty Flock 42- Lee Petty 43- Jimmie Lewallen 87- Buck Baker 82- Joe Eubanks 4- Slick Smith 78- Dick Passwater 55- Bub King
1953-05
The fifth race of the season was run on April 5 at Charlotte Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tim Flock won the pole.
Top ten results
78- Dick Passwater 51- Gober Sosebee 1- Herschel Buchanan 91- Tim Flock 13- Pop McGinnis 100- Otis Martin 19- Fred Dove 18- Mike Klapak 55- Bub King 3- Coleman Lawrence
This race stands as Passwater's lone win out of 20 starts from 1952 to 1953.
Richmond 200
The sixth race of the season was run on April 19 at the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds in Richmond, Virginia. Buck Baker won the pole.
Top ten results
42- Lee Petty 120- Dick Rathmann 87- Buck Baker 78- Dick Passwater 2- Bill Blair 44- Ray Duhigg 9- Donald Thomas 8- Gene Comstock 19- Fred Dove 92- Herb Thomas
1953-07
The seventh race of the season was run on April 26 at Central City Speedway in Macon, Georgia. Dick Rathmann won the pole.
Top ten results
120- Dick Rathmann 92- Herb Thomas 43- Jimmie Lewallen 14- Fonty Flock 78- Dick Passwater 91- Tim Flock 82- Joe Eubanks 87- Buck Baker 93- Ted Chamberlain 66- Virgil Livengood
1953-08
The eighth race of the season was run on May 3 at Langhorne Speedway in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Tim Flock captured the pole.
Top ten results
87- Buck Baker 42- Lee Petty 14- Fonty Flock 1- Herschel Buchanan 91- Tim Flock 44- Ray Duhigg 92- Herb Thomas 18- Bill Adams 46- Ralph Liguori 93- Ted Chamberlain
1953-09
The ninth race of the season was run on May 9 at Columbia Speedway in Columbia, South Carolina. Herb Thomas won the pole.
Top ten results
87- Buck Baker 91- Tim Flock 43- Jimmie Lewallen 44- Ray Duhigg 42- Lee Petty 51- Gober Sosebee 2- Bill Blair 92- Herb Thomas ??- Bill Jennings 11- Ralph Dyer
1953-10
The tenth race of the season was run on May 16 at Hickory Speedway in Hickory, North Carolina. Herb Thomas won the pole.
Top ten results
91- Tim Flock 82- Joe Eubanks 44- Ray Duhigg 78- Dick Passwater 120- Dick Rathmann ??- Bob Welborn 100- Otis Martin 1- Herschel Buchanan 13- Pop McGinnis 3- Clyde Minter
1953-11
The eleventh race of the season was run on May 17 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. Joe Eubanks won the pole.
Top ten results
42- Lee Petty 92- Herb Thomas 120- Dick Rathmann 44- Ray Duhigg 46- Ralph Liguori 78- Dick Passwater 87- Buck Baker 45- Bob Welborn 3- Clyde Minter 98- Lyle Scott
This race marked the NASCAR debut of Wood Brothers Racing, with co-owner Glen Wood driving. Wood would finish 30th.
1953-12
The twelfth race of the season was run on May 24 at Powell Motor Speedway in Columbus, Ohio. Fonty Flock captured the pole position for the race.
Top ten results
92- Herb Thomas 120- Dick Rathmann 87- Buck Baker 41- Curtis Turner 13- Pop McGinnis 11- Ralph Dyer ??- Ed Benedict 42- Lee Petty 8- Gene Comstock 55- Bub King
Raleigh 300
The thirteenth race of the season was run on May 30 at Raleigh Speedway in Raleigh, North Carolina. Slick Smith won the pole.
Top ten results
14- Fonty Flock 12- Speedy Thompson 91- Tim Flock 92- Herb Thomas 78- Dick Passwater 120- Dick Rathmann 4- Slick Smith 42- Lee Petty 44- Ray Duhigg 82- Joe Eubanks
1953-14
The fourteenth race of the season was run on June 7 at the Louisiana Fairgrounds in Shreveport, Louisiana. Herb Thomas won the pole.
Top ten results
42- Lee Petty 120- Dick Rathmann 92- Herb Thomas 91- Tim Flock 87- Buck Baker 1- Herschel Buchanan 51- Gober Sosebee 11- Ralph Dyer ??- Elbert Allen 4- Slick Smith
1953-15
The fifteen race of the season was run on June 14 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. Dick Rathmann won the pole.
Top ten results
92- Herb Thomas 120- Dick Rathmann 42- Lee Petty 87- Buck Baker 91- Tim Flock 78- Dick Passwater 82- Joe Eubanks 4- Slick Smith 51- Gober Sosebee 191- Fred Moore
International 200
The sixteenth race of the season was run on June 21 at Langhorne Speedway in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Lloyd Shaw won the pole.
Top ten results
120- Dick Rathmann 42- Lee Petty 80- Jim Paschal 92- Herb Thomas 2- Bill Blair 15- Dick Allwine 91- Tim Flock 10- Nick Fornono 23- Billy Oswald 60- Bill Rexford
1953-17
The seventeenth race of the season was run on June 26 at Tri-City Speedway in High Point, North Carolina. Herb Thomas won the pole.
Top ten results
92- Herb Thomas 120- Dick Rathmann 82- Joe Eubanks 87- Buck Baker 42- Lee Petty 80- Jim Paschal 78- Slick Smith 41- Jimmie Lewallen ??- Buck Smith 34- Andy Winfree
1953-18
The eighteenth race of the season was run on June 28 at Wilson Speedway in Wilson, North Carolina. Buck Baker earned the pole position for the event.
Top ten results
14- Fonty Flock 120- Dick Rathmann 92- Herb Thomas 82- Joe Eubanks 87- Buck Baker 12- Speedy Thompson 91- Tim Flock 19- Fred Dove 42- Lee Petty 41- Jimmie Lewallen
1953-19
The nineteenth race of the season was run on July 3 at the Monroe County Fairgrounds in Rochester, New York. Tim Flock won the pole.
Top ten results
92- Herb Thomas 120- Dick Rathmann 42- Lee Petty 91- Tim Flock 60- Bill Rexford ??- Bob Cameron ??- John Meggers ??- Jerry Earl ??- Russ Truelove 167- Elton Hildreth
1953-20
The twentieth race of the season was run on July 4 at the Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Buck Baker won the pole.
Top ten results
42- Lee Petty 87- Buck Baker 92- Herb Thomas 14- Fonty Flock 58- Johnny Patterson 82- Joe Eubanks ??- Elbert Allen 51- Gober Sosebee 108- Arden Mounts 120- Dick Rathmann
1953-21
The twenty-first race of the season was run on July 10 at Morristown Speedway in Morristown, New Jersey. Herb Thomas won the pole.
Top ten results
120- Dick Rathmann 92- Herb Thomas 42- Lee Petty 80- Jim Paschal 53- Ronnie Kohler ??- Eddie Riker 167- Elton Hildreth ??- Charles Barry ??- John Meggers ??- Bill Cleveland
1953-22
The twenty-second race of the season was run on July 12 at Lakewood Speedway in Atlanta, Georgia. Herb Thomas won the pole.
Top ten results
92- Herb Thomas 120- Dick Rathmann 42- Lee Petty 82- Joe Eubanks ??- Jerry Wimbish 50- Gober Sosebee 87- Buck Baker ??- Neil Roberts ??- C. H. Dingler 33- Gordon Bracken
1953-23
The twenty-third race of the season was run on July 22 at Rapid Valley Speedway in Rapid City, South Dakota. Herb Thomas captured the pole for the event.
Top ten results
92- Herb Thomas 120- Dick Rathmann 14- Fonty Flock 42- Lee Petty 87- Buck Baker 9- Bill Harrison 28- Eddie Skinner ??- Leo Ray ??- Dick Fellows ??- C. H. Dingler
1953-24
The twenty-fourth race of the season was run on July 26 at the Lincoln City Fairgrounds in North Platte, Nebraska. Herb Thomas won the pole.
Top ten results
120- Dick Rathmann 92- Herb Thomas 42- Lee Petty 87- Buck Baker ??- Marvin Copple 9- Bill Harrison ??- Byron Clouse ??- C. H. Dingler ??- Tubby Harrison ??- Sandy Slack
1953-25
The twenty-fifth race of the season was run on August 2 at Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa. Buck Baker won the pole.
Top ten results
92- Herb Thomas 87- Buck Baker 42- Lee Petty 120- Dick Rathmann 14- Fonty Flock 9- Bill Harrison ??- Mel Krueger ??- Johnny Beauchamp ??- Tubby Harrison ??- Keith Lucas
1953-26
The twenty-sixth race of the season was run on August 9 at Occoneechee Speedway in Hillsboro, North Carolina. Curtis Turner won the pole.
Top ten results
41- Curtis Turner 92- Herb Thomas 42- Lee Petty 82- Joe Eubanks 2- Bill Blair 80- Jim Paschal 4- Slick Smith 167- Elton Hildreth 22- Jimmie Lewallen ??- Jimmy Ayers
1953-27