Bob Welborn
Robert "Bob" Joe Welborn (May 5, 1928 – August 10, 1997) of Denton was a NASCAR Grand National Series driver. He was named to NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers list in 1998. He won the final three NASCAR Convertible Division championships in 1956, 1957, and 1958.
| Bob Welborn | |||||||
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 Bob Welborn's image on a NASCAR sports card | |||||||
| Born | Robert Joe Welborn May 5, 1928 Denton, North Carolina, United States | ||||||
| Died | August 10, 1997 (aged 69) | ||||||
| Achievements | 1956 NASCAR Convertible Division Champion 1957 NASCAR Convertible Division Champion 1959 Daytona 500 pole winner (first annual) | ||||||
| Awards | Named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers (1998) National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame (1982) | ||||||
| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 183 races run over 13 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 4th (1955) | ||||||
| First race | 1952 (Martinsville) | ||||||
| Last race | 1964 Pennsylvania 200 (New Oxford) | ||||||
| First win | 1957 Sweepstakes 500 (Martinsville) | ||||||
| Last win | 1959 Western North Carolina 500 (Weaverville) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Convertible Division career | |||||||
| 111 races run over 4 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 1st (1956, 1957, 1958) | ||||||
| First race | 1956 Charlotte 100 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| Last race | 1959 Charlotte 100 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| First win | 1956 Fayetteville 50 (Fayetteville) | ||||||
| Last win | 1959 Weaverville 100 (Asheville-Weaverville) | ||||||
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| Statistics current as of February 23, 2013. | |||||||
NASCAR career
Welborn drove in 11 Grand National events in 1953 for Julian Petty and J.O. Goode’s. He had 2 Top-5 finishes and 6 Top-10 finishes.
He drove in 9 events in 1954 for owners Julian Petty, Bob Griffin, and George Hutchens. Welborn had 1 Top-5 and 3 Top-10 finishes.
Welborn drove in 32 of 45 events in Julian Petty and his own cars. He won the pole at Greenville-Pickens Speedway. Welborn finished fourth in the 1955 points.
Welborn raced in 6 events in 1956. He also won the NASCAR Convertible Division championship.
Welborn won his first race at Martinsville in 1957, but did not cross the finish line. Lewis "Possum" Jones relieved Welborn half way through the race, but NASCAR always credits the driver who started the car. He had 1 win and 3 Top-10 finished in 5 events. Welborn also won the NASCAR Convertible series championship.
Welborn had four straight wins (and five total), 1 pole, 10 Top-5, and 15 Top-10 finishes in 1958. He raced in 18 of 51 events, all for Petty Enterprises. He only finished 149th in series points that year because he only participated in 18 of 51 races. He won his third straight NASCAR Convertible championship.
Welborn won the pole position for the 1959 Daytona 500 by winning his qualifying race. He had 5 poles and 3 wins during the season.
Welborn amassed 9 total wins in the 1950s and early 1960s driving his own car and one owned by Julian Petty. He made his last NASCAR start in 1964 while driving for Holman-Moody.
Career awards
- Welborn was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.
- He inducted in the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame in 1982.