On October 16, 1955, the NASCAR Grand National Series ran a 200-lap, 100-mile race at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia—the first Grand National event on the track’s newly paved surface—drawing an estimated crowd of 12,000 and a field of 28 cars. Time trials were rained out, so the starting lineup was set by draw, with Gwyn Staley drawing the pole position.
Speedy Thompson, driving the No. 30 Chrysler for owner Carl Kiekhaefer, took the victory for his fourth career Grand National win and collected $1,100 from a total purse of $4,285. The race lasted 1 hour, 40 minutes, and 40 seconds and was slowed by three cautions. There were seven lead changes among five drivers; Tim Flock led a race-high 66 laps (extending his streak of leading at least one lap to 14 consecutive starts) before retiring with transmission failure. Bob Welborn finished second and Jim Paschal third, both on the lead lap, followed by Herb Thomas and Jim Reed.
