The 1959 Wilkes 160, the 43rd race of the 44-race 1959 NASCAR Grand National Series season, was held on Sunday, October 18 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
A crowd of less than 6,000 watched the 26-car field compete on the 0.625-mile dirt oval for 160 laps (100 miles). Glen Wood earned the pole position with a qualifying speed of 86.806 mph. Lee Petty, starting second in the #42 Petty Enterprises Plymouth, led all 160 laps in a dominant performance to secure the victory.
Rex White finished second, followed by Richard Petty in third, Tom Pistone in fourth, and Junior Johnson in fifth. Lee Petty’s win came at an average speed of 74.829 mph and earned him $900. The race was slowed by three cautions.
This victory was Lee Petty’s 11th of the 1959 season and his 48th career Grand National win, tying him with Herb Thomas for the most victories in series history at that time. It was a strong showing for the Petty family, with father and son both on the podium. Lee Petty’s sweep of both North Wilkesboro races underscored his dominance en route to the 1959 Grand National championship.
