By Zane Miller
On Sunday, November 18th, 1956, the 1956 NASCAR Cup Series season concluded with Buck Baker defeating Herb Thomas by 704 points to win the eighth championship in Cup Series history. It was the first Cup Series championship for Baker. These are the top five points finishers for the season.
5. #75 Jim Paschal (-1394 points)
Paschal claimed the fifth spot with one win, 17 top-fives and 27 top-10 finishes as he had an average finish of 10.5.
4. #42 Lee Petty (-948)
Petty got fourth in points as he took a pair of wins with 17 top-fives and 28 top-10s as he took an average finish of 10.2. Petty also led the most laps in one race that year.
3. #500 Speedy Thompson (-944)
Thompson earned the third spot as he scored eight wins, 24 top-fives and 29 top-10s with an average finish of 9.7, as well as leading the most laps in 12 races that season.
2. #92 Herb Thomas (-704)
Thomas finished second with five victories, 22 top-fives and 36 top-10s and an average finish of 8.4. Thomas led the most laps twice.
1. #300 Buck Baker
Baker took the championship, as he took 14 wins, 31 top-fives and 39 top-10s for an average finish of 6.8. Baker also led the most laps in nine races.
Race Winners (left) & Lap Leaders (right)
Link to stats database: https://www.racing-reference.info/yeardet/1956/W
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