August 13, 1954: Lee Petty wins the first Grand National race run at Southern States Fairgrounds in Charlotte, N.C. He takes the 200-lap race by two laps over Dick Rathmann. Bob Welborn finishes third, four laps back. The half-mile dirt track is the site of 17 Grand National races, the last in November 1960, which is actually the first race of the 1961 season.
