On July 4, 1956, Darlington Raceway hosted the Pee Dee 200, a 200-mile USAC Championship Car race on the 1.375-mile paved egg-shaped oval. Twenty-three cars started the event, which covered 146 laps.
Johnny Boyd led the first twelve laps from the field, but Pat O’Connor took over in his #7 Sumar entry and led the remainder of the race to score a convincing victory. Jack Turner finished second, followed by Johnny Boyd in third, George Amick fourth, and Pat Flaherty fifth. The race average speed was 124.883 mph.
Andy Linden had qualified on pole. The Independence Day event provided a rare opportunity for open-wheel Indy-style roadsters to compete at the famed Darlington track, adding variety to the 1956 USAC Championship Car schedule dominated that season by Jimmy Bryan.
