On May 9, 1953, 16 cars took the green flag for a 200-lap NASCAR Grand National race at Palmetto Speedway, also known as Columbia Speedway, on the half-mile dirt track in Columbia, South Carolina. Herb Thomas won the pole position with a qualifying speed of 58.670 mph.
Buck Baker scored the victory, finishing ahead of Tim Flock in second, Jimmie Lewallen in third, Ray Duhigg in fourth, and Lee Petty in fifth. Herb Thomas, the points leader entering the race, started on pole but faded to an eighth-place finish. Baker earned $1,000 for the win, and the race was completed at an average speed of 53.707 mph.
