The 1956 NASCAR Grand National race at the Arizona State Fairgrounds was held on January 22, 1956, at the one-mile dirt oval in Phoenix, Arizona, and marked the fifth race of the season. The 150-mile event attracted an estimated 5,200 fans and featured a strong early-season field on one of the West’s premier dirt tracks. Joe Weatherly started from the pole position, setting the pace for the 30-car field at the drop of the green flag.
Buck Baker won the race driving a Chrysler for Carl Kiekhaefer’s factory-backed team, earning $1,500 for the victory. Baker’s win marked his first triumph of the 1956 season and helped establish momentum for his eventual championship run. Frank Mundy finished second, followed by Tim Flock, Marvin Panch, and Lee Petty. The top three finishers — Baker, Mundy, and Flock — all drove for Kiekhaefer, highlighting the team’s growing dominance in NASCAR competition. Multiple cautions slowed the race, but Baker controlled the event late to secure the win on the demanding dirt surface.
The Arizona State Fairgrounds race illustrated the increasing professionalism of NASCAR during the mid-1950s. Strong factory support, national travel, and competitive fields showed how quickly the series was evolving from its regional roots into a true national championship.
