The 1954 Wilkes 160, the 37th and final race of the 37-race 1954 NASCAR Grand National Series season, was held on Sunday, October 24 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
A crowd of 8,500 watched 32 cars compete on the rough 0.625-mile dirt oval. Hershel McGriff earned the pole position with a qualifying speed of 77.612 mph. McGriff, driving an Oldsmobile, took the lead after a spirited battle with Dick Rathmann on lap 85 and was in command late in the race.
He went on to win over runner-up Buck Baker after the event was shortened due to a tragic accident. Herb Thomas finished third, Slick Smith fourth, and Dick Rathmann fifth. McGriff’s victory came at an average speed of 65.175 mph, with four cautions for 16 laps. He earned $1,000 for his fourth win of the season.
The race was marred by a fatal crash involving Lou Figaro. On lap 157, just three laps from the scheduled finish, Figaro’s #187 Hudson flipped violently, with the roof caving in. He suffered critical head injuries and died the following day at age 34. This was the third NASCAR driver fatality since the series began.
Lee Petty finished 32nd after clinching his first Grand National championship the previous week at Martinsville.
