1957 Southern 500
1957 Southern 500 - Quick recap
The eighth Southern 500 was held on September 2, 1957, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. The track is a 1.375-mile egg-shaped oval, and the race covered 364 laps for a total distance of 500.5 miles. It was a very hot day (about 93 F) with around 75,000 spectators.
Cotton Owens won the pole position with a qualifying lap of 16.863 seconds (117.416 mph). Speedy Thompson, in car No. 46, Chevrolet, won the race, leading 210 laps and finishing in about five hours and one second at an average speed of 100.094 mph, about three laps ahead of Owens.
Before the green flag, veteran racer Herb Thomas, a three-time Southern 500 winner, was so nervous he handed his car to Fonty Flock. Early in the race, a serious crash involving Thomas, Bobby Myers, and Paul Goldsmith occurred; Myers died and Flock’s racing career ended.
Other notes: rookie Cale Yarborough made his Cup debut here, finishing 42nd. T.A. Toomes finished last due to brake problems on lap 3. Billy Carden started 45th and finished 6th. Fonty Flock retired after this race. Darlington is known as The Lady in Black and The Track Too Tough to Tame, famous for its challenging turns and the “Darlington Stripe” from cars rubbing the wall. Thompson’s Chevrolet would go on to win the Southern 500 again in 1958 and 1959.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 10:26 (CET).