​#26 Curtis Turner 1956 Ford Sunliner

   Starting his racing career in 1946 Curtis Turner was already a legend in racing by 1956. Now, racing a Ford Fairlane convertible Curtis would become the only driver to win 25 major NASCAR races in one season in 1956 — 22 were won as the #26 car in the convertible division, the other three, including the 1956 Southern 500, were won with the #99 Schwam car. Our car is a replica of the original car and it was built by Tom Drummond. Insight from Ralph Moody and racers like Tim Flock helped Tom put the car together to be period correct.

• Early Ford Fairlanes in 56’ could only get the smaller 292 V8 engines and by mid-year all Ford Fairlanes could get the new larger 312 Y-block engines, even with superchargers.
• Early Stock cars were just production vehicles with some suspension upgrades and minor safety improvements.  Other than some sponsors painted on the cars many looked very similar. Curtis Turners first #26 car in 1956 was plain white resembling that of Fireball Roberts #22 car and Joe Weatherly’s #12 1956 convertibles. The same went for their later 56 models which were two toned and sporting the larger 312 Y Block engine.

• Ford Motor Company got serious about racing in 1955. Retaining Indy 500 driver Peter De Paolo as manager, Ford kick off its program and hire Curtis Turner, Joe Weatherly, Ralph Moody, and Marvin Panch for 1956.
• Curtis’s second car in 1956 would be a later version of the Ford Fairlane convertible like you see here with the 312 Y block engine and two-tone paint which was his most successful car.​
• Known as “POPS” Curtis would be known for his popping of the other drivers to warn them. This popping led him to get in a crash with Fred Lorenzen at the Rebel 300 in 1961 placing second.
• Curtis is the only driver to win a major NASCAR race after he was red-flagged because his car was the only one still running at the Asheville, North Carolina track on Sept. 30, 1956.​
• To Turner's credit are over 360 career wins. They include 17 Grand National wins, 38 NASCAR convertible division wins and many wins in other NASCAR, ARCA or non-sanctioned events.
• Curtis Turner conceptualized, secured financing for, and built Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1960 before being forced out by his business partners.
• After trying to organize a union for drivers in 1960 Curtis Turner was banned from NASCAR until 1965 when Bill France needed veteran drivers and their influence after Fireball Roberts was killed in 1964.
• Curtis started racing with Oldsmobiles and switched to driving Fords in 1954 sticking with them until he picked up driving for Smokey Yunick racing in 1967 after Fords withdrawl.