• Veteran broadcaster Ted Webbe anchors a special 16-day radio program over the Mutual Broadcasting System, filing daily trackside reports from the Speedweek activities in Daytona Beach.

• Veteran publisher and publicity director Don O'Reilly hosts a 15-minute live television program featuring the events at Daytona Beach, Fla., nightly during February. The show, "Beachside Results With Don O'Reilly," airs nightly on WESH-TV in Daytona Beach.

• Purolator places a two-page ad in the April 8 issue of Life Magazine, prominently featuring NASCAR. Purolator estimates that 23,000,000 people in car-owning families read the ad, subtitled "Ask the NASCAR Race Drivers."

• Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. offers contingency awards to the first three finishers in most Grand National races who compete using Goodyear tires.

• NASCAR introduces the "Driver of the Month" award with NASCAR officials and fans casting votes. Paul Goldsmith wins the first award and is presented a new racing helmet.

• On Monday, Nov. 25, ground clearing begins on the new Daytona International Speedway, which is slated to open in February 1959.

• Buck Baker becomes the first driver to win two consecutive Grand National championships on the strength of 10 victories in 40 starts.