On May 24, 1958, Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, hosted its first NASCAR Grand National race, a 150-lap event on the tight .25-mile paved oval. Twenty-four cars took the green flag, with Rex White earning the pole position at a speed of 46.851 mph. White dominated the early going, leading the first 101 laps, but 10th-place starter Bob Welborn charged forward in his Chevrolet and took the lead on lap 102. Welborn went on to win the race, holding off White in second place. Jim Reed finished third, followed by Fred Harb in fourth and Barney Shore in fifth. Nineteen cars were still running at the finish.
The victory marked Bob Welborn’s fourth win of the 1958 season and his fifth career Grand National triumph. Meanwhile, points leader Lee Petty started third but suffered engine failure and finished 23rd. Despite the disappointing result, Petty maintained a solid 128-point lead over Jack Smith in the championship standings. The race highlighted the competitive nature of short-track racing during that era, with Welborn’s strong performance underscoring his prowess on the tight bullring-style tracks.
