where France and Turner used it for a full season's dirt track racing in the Southern states. Mexican driver S. Santoyo was classified 36th in his 1949 Nash, while another 1949 Ambassador driven by Manuel Luz Meneses and José O'Farrill Larranoga finished 39th. In all, four Nashes crashed out, while a fifth retired with engine trouble. NASCAR The Nash Motor Company was the first manufacturer that actively supported NASCAR racing. Direct factory sponsorship was provided for the 1950 and 1951 Sprint Cup seasons. For 1950, Nash recruited and signed dynamic stars Curtis Turner and Johnny Mantz. North Wilkesboro Speedway on September 24, 1950, Ebenezer "Slick" Smith drove a Nash Ambassador, but crashed midway through the race and finished 20th in the field of 26. This was the same car that Bill France had crashed in the Carrera Panamericana. Carrell Speedway (Gardena, California) on April 8, 1951, Johnny Mantz's Nash Ambassador finished the 200-lap race in second place. However, Ebenezer "Slick" Smith was actually driving the car at the checkered flag in relief for Mantz. For the 1951 NASCAR season, other automakers became more involved in sponsorship. Daytona Beach Road Course on February 11 - Bill Holland driving a Nash Ambassador encountered mechanical trouble early in the season-opening event to finish 47th from the 54-cars that started the NASCAR Grand National race. Charlotte Speedway on April 1 - Curtis Turner won the 150-lap NASCAR Grand National race with his Nash Ambassador. This was the only first-place finish for the large-sized Nash Ambassador in the NASCAR Grand National series. The car driven to victory in the 400-lap NASCAR Short Track Grand National race in Lanham, Maryland by Tony Bonadies on July 14, 1951, was the new compact-sized Nash Rambler. Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway on August 12 - The 1951 Nash Ambassador, was the Official Pace Car of the "Motor City 250" stock car race, and was driven by NASCAR's president, Bill France. Tim Flock won the race in a Hudson, earned $7,001 in cash, as well as a new Nash Ambassador. See also AMC Ambassador AMC Matador Notes References External links Nash Car Club Nash Healy History Nash in the UK Ambassador Ambassador Flagship vehicles Convertibles Coupés Sedans Full-size vehicles Streamline Moderne cars Cars introduced in 1927 1930s cars 1940s cars 1950s cars Pininfarina Rear-wheel-drive vehicles Motor vehicles manufactured in the United States