Charley Griffith (September 4, 1929 – November 22, 1999) was a NASCAR Grand National Series driver. He finished 3rd at the 1959 Daytona 500.[1] It is controversial that he finished 3rd, he was still a lap down from race winner Lee Petty. According to NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison as well as other drivers who were there, Charley Griffith and car owner Paul Hudson, won the race. It is said that due to Charley’s lack of familiarity and popularity, NASCAR changed the result of the race , to more popular Lee Petty. [2] This finish was in only his third Grand National start.[3] Griffith is part of NASCAR lore as his car was involved in the famous photo finish of the race.[4]
| Charley Griffith | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | September 4, 1929 Chattanooga, Tennessee | ||||||
| Died | November 22, 1999 (aged 70) | ||||||
| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 17 races run over 5 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 40th (1960) | ||||||
| First race | 1958 Race 43 (Birmingham) | ||||||
| Last race | 1963 Race 1 (Birmingham) | ||||||
| |||||||
He attempted to race in the 1960 Daytona 500, but did not qualify.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Charley Griffith". Legendsofnascar.com. September 4, 1929. Archived from the original on October 6, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ "Farewell Tin Indian". MRN.com. October 31, 2003. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ "Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania · Page 26". Newspapers.com. March 22, 1991. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ "NAPA 500 to close Winston Cup Series". chronicle.augusta.com. June 19, 1949. Archived from the original on February 1, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ "Daytona Beach Morning Journal - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
External links
edit- Charley Griffith driver statistics at Racing-Reference
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Charlie Griffith won the first asphalt race event held at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway on July 19, 1958. He drove a car owned by Hart Hastings, Brooks Tune and George Tune from Shelbyville, TN. Griffith also won the first asphalt event held at Alabama's Birmingham International Raceway (1962) driving for Harry Mewbourne.