# Speedy Thompson

Alfred Bruce "Speedy" Thompson (April 3, 1926, in Monroe, North Carolina – April 2, 1972, in Charlotte, North Carolina) was an American stock car racer in the NASCAR Grand National series from 1950 to 1971, capturing 20 wins along the way.

## Racing career

He made his debut in 1950 and won two of the seven races he competed in 1953 in the #46 Buckshot Morris Oldsmobile (including the 1953 Wilkes 160). Thompson made 15 starts in 1955 and made a serious attack on the Championship the next year, competing in 42 races in Carl Kiekhaefer's factory-backed Chryslers and Dodges, winning eight times and finishing third in points. 1957 saw a switch to Hugh Babb's and his own Chevrolet's and another third-place result, capturing only two victories that year. Speedy drove his own Chevy for the entire 1958 season, and another third place was the reward for his four victories in 38 starts.
In 1957, he set the 500-mile speed record for stock cars with an average speed of 100.1 mph. This record was quickly broken by other drivers and by Speedy himself. In 1959 he became a charter member of the "Pure Record Club" along with Fireball Roberts, Elmo Langley, and Richard Petty who set the fastest qualifying speed in each make of automobile competing.
Another third place in points came in 1959 from 29 starts in a variety of different cars, this time with no wins. 1959 would be his last full-time effort in the series (participating in 24 different racing events including the 1959 Hickory 250) and he left Grand National after the 1962 season, choosing to race at late models at local North Carolina short tracks. He returned to NASCAR's top series, then called the Winston Cup, in 1971 for the World 600 where he finished 16th.

## Death

During a late model race on Easter Sunday, April 2, 1972, at Metrolina Fairgrounds in Charlotte, Thompson had a seizure on the 21st lap, causing him to crash into a rail. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital, one day before his 46th birthday. The medical examiner said that he died of natural causes, an acute coronary occlusion.

## Awards

He was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame and the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame.

## Motorsports career results
### NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

#### Grand National Series

NASCAR Grand National Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | NGNC | Pts | Ref |
| 1950 | Bruce Thompson | | Plymouth | DAB | CLT | LAN | MAR | CAN | VER | DSP | MCF | CLT | HBO | DSP | HAM | DAR | LAN | NWS | VER 21 | MAR | WIN | HBO | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | – | |
| 1951 | Leland Colvin | 25 | Olds | DAB 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 75th | 120 | |
| 1951 | Leland Colvin | 25 | Plymouth | | CLT 30 | NMO | GAR | HBO | ASF | NWS | MAR | CAN | CLS | CLB | DSP | GAR | GRS | BAI | HEI | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 75th | 120 | |
| 1951 | | | Studebaker | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | AWS 5 | MCF | ALS | MSF | FMS | MOR | ABS | DAR | CLB | CCS | LAN | CLT | DSP | WIL | HBO | TPN | PGS | MAR | OAK | NWS | HMS | JSP | ATL | GAR | NMO | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 75th | 120 | |
| 1952 | Bruce Root | 21 | Ford | PBS | DAB | JSP | NWS | MAR | CLB | ATL | CCS | LAN | DAR 19 | DSP | CAN | HAY | FMS | HBO | CLT | MSF | NIF | OSW | MON | MOR | PPS | MCF | AWS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 37th | 656 | |
| 1952 | Sam Knox | 51 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 14 | CCS | LAN | DSP | WIL | HBO | MAR | NWS | ATL | PBS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 37th | 656 | |
| 1953 | Buckshot Morris | 12 | Olds | PBS | DAB | HAR | NWS | CLT | RCH | CCS | LAN | CLB | HCY | MAR | PMS | RSP 2 | LOU | FIF | LAN | TCS | WIL 6 | MCF | PIF | MOR | ATL | RVS | LCF | DAV | HBO | AWS | PAS | HCY | | CCS 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11th | 2958 | |
| 1953 | Bob Pronger | 46 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11th | 2958 |
| 1953 | Buckshot Morris | 46 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | LAN 3 | BLF | WIL 2 | NWS 1 | MAR | ATL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11th | 2958 | |
| 1954 | Buckshot Morris | 12 | Olds | PBS | DAB 20 | JSP | ATL | OSP | OAK | NWS | HBO | CCS | LAN | WIL | MAR | SHA | RSP 27 | CLT | GAR | CLB 4 | LND | HCY 9 | MCF | WGS | PIF 21 | AWS 18 | SFS | GRS | MOR | OAK | CLT | SAN | COR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 23rd | 1480 | |
| 1954 | Buckshot Morris | 12 | Buick | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 10 | CCS | CLT | LAN | MAS | MAR | NWS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 23rd | 1480 | |
| 1955 | Griffin Motors Racing | 87 | Olds | TCS | PBS | JSP | DAB | OSP | CLB | HBO | NWS | MGY | LAN | CLT 17 | HCY | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MAS 2 | RSP 11 | DAR 45 | MGY | LAN 23 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | 2452 | |
| 1955 | Don Oliver | 5 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | ASF 6 | TUS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | 2452 | |
| 1955 | Frank Christian | 14 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MAR 18 | RCH | NCF 24 | FOR | LIN | MCF | FON | AIR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | 2452 | |
| 1955 | | 71 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | 2452 | |
| 1955 | Thomas Racing | 92 | Buick | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PIF 13 | CLB | AWS | MOR | ALS | NYF | SAN | CLT | FOR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | 2452 | |
| 1955 | Ike Kiser | 34 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RSP 17 | GPS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | 2452 | |
| 1955 | DePaolo Engineering | 297 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MAS 1* | CLB | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | 2452 | |
| 1955 | Carl Kiekhaefer | 30 | Chrysler | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MAR 1 | LVP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | 2452 | |
| 1955 | Carl Kiekhaefer | 20 | Chrysler | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NWS 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | 2452 | |
| 1955 | DePaolo Engineering | 297 | Hudson | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | HBO 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | 2452 | |
| 1956 | Mauri Rose | 25 | Chevy | HCY 30 | CLT 17 | WSS | PBS | ASF | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 8328 | |
| 1956 | Carl Kiekhaefer | 500 | Dodge | | | | | | DAB 71 | PBS | WIL 10 | | | | | CLB 1* | | GPS 15 | | | MAR 2* | LIN 11 | | | | | | | | | | | RSP 2 | | | CHI 4 | CCF 1 | MGY 4 | OKL 11 | ROA 18 | OBS | SAN | NOR | | | POR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 8328 | |
| 1956 | Carl Kiekhaefer | 500 | Chrysler | | | | | | | | | ATL 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 8328 | |
| 1956 | Carl Kiekhaefer | 501 | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | NWS 18* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MYB 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 8328 | |
| 1956 | Carl Kiekhaefer | 00 | Chrysler | | | | | | | | | | | LAN 37 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 8328 | |
| 1956 | Carl Kiekhaefer | 300 | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | | | RCH 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 8328 | |
| 1956 | Carl Kiekhaefer | 300C | Chrysler | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CON 1* | | HCY 1** | HBO 2* | | | CLT 1* | POR | EUR | NYF 7 | MER | MAS 19 | CLT 1* | MCF 1* | POR | AWS 26 | | PIF 7 | CSF | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 8328 | |
| 1956 | DePaolo Engineering | 296 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PIF 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 8328 | |
| 1956 | Carl Kiekhaefer | 57 | Chrysler | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 2 | CSH 19 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 8328 | |
| 1956 | Carl Kiekhaefer | 57 | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 8328 | |
| 1956 | Carl Kiekhaefer | 67 | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | LAN 3 | POR | CLB | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 8328 | |
| 1956 | Carl Kiekhaefer | 300 | Chrysler | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | HBO 3 | NWP 18 | CLT 6 | | MAR 4 | HCY 1* | WIL 3* | 3rd | 8328 | | |
| 1956 | Carl Kiekhaefer | 500B | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CCF 4 | | | | | | | 3rd | 8328 |
| 1957 | Hugh Babb | 46 | Chevy | WSS | CON | TIC | DAB 8 | CON 3 | WIL 3 | HBO 2 | AWS 2 | NWS 16 | LAN 3 | CLT 20 | PIF 15 | GBF 14 | POR | CCF 9 | RCH 17 | MAR 11 | POR | EUR | LIN 5 | LCS 5 | ASP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 8580 | |
| 1957 | Speedy Thompson | 46 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NWP 8 | CLB 5 | CPS | PIF 4 | | RSP 4 | CLT 4 | MAS 22 | POR | HCY 23 | NOR 9 | LCS 1** | GLN | KPC | LIN 2 | OBS | | DAR 1* | NYF | AWS 18 | CSF | SCF | LAN 31 | CLB 19 | | CLT 17 | MAR 28 | NBR 6 | CON 6 | NWS 4 | GBF 2 | | | | | | 3rd | 8580 | |
| 1957 | Whitey Norman | 1A | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | JAC 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 8580 |
| 1957 | Bobby Keck | 96 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MYB 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 8580 | |
| 1957 | Dick Beaty | 34 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CCF 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 8580 | |
| 1958 | Speedy Thompson | 46 | Chevy | FAY 9 | DAB 48 | CON 3 | FAY 19 | WIL 20 | HBO 3 | FAY 3 | CLB 1 | PIF 1 | ATL 19 | CLT | MAR | ODS | OBS | GPS 17 | GBF 4 | STR | NWS 14 | BGS | TRN 9 | RSD | CLB 11 | NBS 6 | REF 5 | LIN 26 | HCY 3 | AWS 3 | RSP 5 | MCC | SLS | TOR | BUF | MCF 3 | BEL 7 | BRR 7 | CLB 1 | NSV 16 | AWS 4 | BGS | MBS 15 | | CLT 2 | BIR | CSF | GAF 5 | RCH 1* | HBO 19 | SAS 29 | MAR 2 | NWS 3 | ATL 29 | | | | | | 3rd | 8792 | |
| 1958 | Steve Pierce | 1 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 8792 | |
| 1959 | Steve Pierce | 1 | Chevy | FAY | DAY 16 | DAY 10 | HBO 13 | CON 5 | ATL 4 | WIL 21 | | | NWS 17* | REF 2 | HCY 6* | MAR 19 | TRN | | | | PIF 14 | GPS 15 | ATL 26 | CLB | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 7684 | |
| 1959 | Don Angel | 3 | Ford | | | | | | | | BGS 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 7684 |
| 1959 | Bruce Thompson | 2 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | CLB 13 | | | | | | CLT 4 | NSV | ASP | | | | | | RCH 10 | BGS | AWS 14 | | | CLT 24 | MBS 22 | CLT | NSV | | | | | | | | | | | | | CON 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 7684 | |
| 1959 | | 12 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | WIL 24 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 7684 | |
| 1959 | Doc White | 41 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAY 11 | HEI | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 7684 |
| 1959 | Gerald Duke | 92 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | AWS 37 | BGS | GPS | CLB | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 7684 | |
| 1959 | W. J. Ridgeway | 22 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 14 | HCY | RCH | CSF | | MAR 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 7684 | |
| 1959 | W. H. Watson | 61 | Pontiac | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | HBO 18 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 7684 | |
| 1959 | Beau Morgan | 15 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | AWS 13 | NWS 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 7684 | |
| 1960 | Bruce Thompson | 2 | Chevy | CLT 5 | CLB | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 25th | 5658 | |
| 1960 | Matthews Racing | 94 | Ford | | | DAY 9 | DAY | DAY 62 | CLT | NWS | PHO | CLB | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 25th | 5658 | |
| 1960 | Wood Brothers Racing | 20 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | MAR DNQ | HCY | WIL | BGS | GPS | AWS | DAR | PIF | HBO | RCH | HMS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 25th | 5658 |
| 1960 | Donlavey Racing | 90 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 25 | BGS | DAY | HEI | MAB | MBS | ATL 12 | BIR | NSV | AWS | PIF | CLB | SBO | BGS | DAR 39 | HCY | CSF | GSP | HBO | MAR | NWS | CLT DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 25th | 5658 | |
| 1960 | Wood Brothers Racing | 21 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 1 | RCH 1* | ATL 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 25th | 5658 | |
| 1961 | Beau Morgan | 16 | Ford | CLT | JSP | DAY | DAY | DAY | PIF | AWS | HMS | ATL | GPS | HBO | BGS | MAR | NWS | CLB | HCY | RCH | MAR | DAR | CLT | CLT 17 | RSD | ASP | CLT 41 | PIF | BIR | GPS | BGS | NOR | HAS | STR | DAY | ATL | CLB | MBS | BRI | NSV | BGS | AWS | RCH | SBO | DAR | HCY | RCH | CSF | ATL | MAR | NWS | | | | | | | | | 62nd | 1564 | |
| 1961 | Wood Brothers Racing | 21 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 11 | BRI | GPS | HBO | | | | | | | | 62nd | 1564 |
| 1962 | Holman-Moody | 15 | Ford | CON | AWS | DAY | DAY 23 | DAY 17 | CON | AWS | SVH | HBO | RCH | CLB | NWS | GPS | MBS | MAR | BGS | BRI | RCH | HCY | CON | DAR | PIF | CLT | ATL | BGS | AUG | RCH | SBO | DAY | CLB | ASH | GPS | AUG | SVH | MBS | BRI | CHT | NSV | HUN | AWS | STR | BGS | PIF | VAL | DAR | HCY | RCH | DTS | AUG | MAR | NWS | | | | | | 42nd | 2522 | |
| 1962 | Petty Enterprises | 41 | Plymouth | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 9 | ATL | | | | | | 42nd | 2522 | |
| 1971 | Junior Fields | 91 | Chevy | RSD | DAY | DAY | DAY | ONT | RCH | CAR | HCY | BRI | ATL | CLB | GPS | SMR | NWS | MAR | DAR | SBO | TAL | ASH | KPT | CLT 16 | DOV | MCH | RSD | HOU | GPS | DAY | BRI | AST | ISP | TRN | NSV | ATL | BGS | ONA | MCH | TAL | CLB | HCY | DAR | MAR | CLT | DOV | CAR | MGR | RCH | NWS | TWS | | | | | | | | | – | – | |

##### Daytona 500

| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
| 1959 | Steve Pierce | Chevrolet | 31 | 10 |
| 1960 | Matthews Racing | Ford | 17 | 62 |
| 1962 | Holman-Moody | Ford | 33 | 17 |

#### Convertible Division

NASCAR Convertible Division results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | NCC | Pts | Ref |
| 1959 | Bruce Thompson | 2 | Chevy | DAY | FAY | RCH | HCY | MRL | CLT | HBO | DAR | CLB | AWS | BGS | MAR | CLB 5 | GPS | CLT | 69th | 168 | |