HARRISON-HENDERSON
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Jack Harrison first visited Dayton Speedway in September, 1952, when he entered a NASCAR race. He finished 13th in a 1950 Ford.
Jack brought a 1953 Ford to Dayton for a MARC race in 1954 and finished seventh. Later, In September, 1954, Harrison returned for the running of the Dayton 500, and won! He drove a 1954 Ford and beat the likes of Jim Romine, Fonty Flock, Briar Johnson, and Dick Dunlevy.
In April, 1956, Harrison took the checkers again in a MARC event. He won from the pole that day, posting a record time of 22.98. Iggy Katona was second and Dick Linder was third. All of them drove 1956 Fords.
Jack came back to Dayton in June, 1956, only to see Iggy Katona break Harrison's record set earlier in the year with a new world record for a half-mile track. Harrison lasted just 77 laps in the event that was won by Katona.
Harrison returned to the Dayton track again on July 22nd and led for 19 laps until engine troubles forced him out at lap 123. (George Henderson finished 22nd that day.)
The 1956 Dayton 500 was Jack Harrison's last Dayton Speedway appearance. He led 19 laps again and finally finished fifth in a 1956 Ford convertible. It appears that this was the first race for the convertible. It's likely that Jack gave up the hardtop in an effort to save weight.
Harrison's last win was at Salem in August, 1956. It was his eleventh win of his short career. In the off-season Harrison underwent surgery to try to find some relief from his ulcers. We believe that he died from complications.
We think that this is the car that Harrison drove to his MARC win in April, 1956:
Based on information available to us, we believe that George Henderson, who usually drove cars #41, purchased this car either before Jack's death or from Jack's estate, repainted it, and was driving it on June 22, 1958, when he crashed out of the Dayton Speedway. Here's what the car looked like after the crash.
