The most successful Super team ever? I’d have to say “Yes.” Actually it was a 1,2,3,9 finish……. say what?
Oh, did you think I was talking about Hendrick? Nope, I’m talking about Carl Kiekhaefer’s Mercury Outboard team. Carl was an engineer by training. A mechanical genius, a millionaire and a racing visionary from Wisconsin. He was a visionary, in that he was the first to recognize that racing was a very good way to advertise non-automotive products. In this case, his Kiekhaefer Marine Mercury outboard motors.
Kiekhaefer was not the first owner to field multiple cars, but he was the one who invented the the concept of the “Super Team” for those who came after to follow. Carl entered cars in the Carrera Pan-American road race in Mexico in 1952 and ‘53. In 1954 he entered a pair of Chryslers in the three AAA races at the Milwaukee Mile, winning all three.
In 1955, Kiekhaefer entered separate teams in both the AAA Stock Car division as well as NASCAR. His NASCAR team set the standard for race teams.He was so far ahead of his time that it’s taken today’s super teams 25 years to catch up. Carl did it right out of the box.
In the days when most people drove their cars to the track, 
he was the first to have special haulers to move his cars. Kiekhafer’s haulers were specially designed so that the cars were moved on jacks built into the floor keeping the cars from having to ride on the floor, to save wear on the suspension and wheel bearings. They were also painted up with the Mercury Outboard logos.
We take this for granted today, but until Carl, this hadn’t been done. For the ‘55 season, Kiekhaefer had purchased limited edition Chrysler 300’s. He ran them with no help from Chrysler, so as to have no interference from the factory. Carl was a man who wanted to do things his way, and he did.
Among the innovations that he brought to NASCAR, in addition to his haulers, were paper air filters, (his own patents). Until then, everyone ran the stock oil bath filters. Plus they wore sharp looking uniforms with prominent Mercury logos for all his team members.
What I’m trying to say is that many of the touches that we take for granted today were first introduced to NASCAR by Kiekhaefer, and he was hands on. A little too hands on to suit some of his drivers. He demanded perfection and professionalism, and would settle for nothing less.
His record in NASCAR for the 1955 season was 54 races entered, 22 wins, and the championship with Tim Flock. Plus, Kiekhaefer won the Championship in the AAA Stock Car division. In those days, AAA sanctioned the Indy 500, as well as Sprint, Midget, and Stock Car divisions, so it was no small deal.
For the ‘56 season, he tired of having two separate teams, so he elected to only run NASCAR. Kiekhaefer’s record for 1956 was 126 races entered, 30 wins, and his second championship with Buck Baker. His cars finished first, second, third, and ninth in the final standings. At one point they won 16 races in a row. If you’re keeping score at home, that’s two championships in two years.
During that season- because of his success- he was constantly bombarded with allegations of cheating by the other owners and drivers.
Big Bill France issued instructions to his technical inspectors to go over his cars with a fine tooth comb. No infractions were ever found. He was just that far ahead of the competition. If you have seen the movie Thunder In Carolina, (if you haven’t, your NASCAR experience isn’t complete) the owner that no one liked, who only cared about the trophies was referring to Carl Kiekhaefer.
Regardless, for the ‘57 season, new rules were put in place, especially to handicap the big Chryslers, and give the other owners a better chance. During the 1956 season, the fans had turned against him. Kiekheifer’s cars were booed, and things were showered on the track (including full beers) when his cars won. When NASCAR fans start throwing FULL beers, things are serious. The fact that he was a Yankee, in a “Good ‘Ol Boys” sport didn’t help either.
In large part because he didn’t want a backlash against Mercury outboards, Kiekhaefer elected to pull his cars out, and never ran another NASCAR race after the 1956 season.
Kiekhaefer’s team set the bar for success in NASCAR. No other team in the long history of the sport has ever had, nor ever will have 100% Championship results. His NASCAR record is 190 races, 52 wins, 116 top 5 finishes, 139 top 10 finishes, 51 poles, 2 Championships.
After he left NASCAR, Carl remained active in power boat racing. As well as the big outboards, his 16HP Mercury Hurricane outboard, powered about a million B Hydro’s. These things were like racing a wood chip, and were an absolute blast. He designed the famous MercCruser Stern drive units. These used the Chevy II
4 cyl. block. If you raced a Midget in the 1960s and ’70’s, and you wanted to run up front, the MercCruser Marine Head was a must have.
Carl was an owner that most of today’s fans are not familiar with but who left a big mark on the sport in a relatively short time.
This is a guy that deserves to be an early inductee into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
PHOTO CREDITS- Carl Kiekhaefer by Mercury Outboard Motors, 1956 Dodge Coronet by nwmartin. To see more, visit flickr.com.
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Hendrick Motorsports is the best team ever. Look who Rick has the ageless wonder Mark Martin, 4-time defending champ Jimmie Johnson, 4-time champ Jeff Gordon & 7-time most popular driver Dale Jr
Nice article, Dawg (I may be biased). We do well to remember that NASCAR actually existed in the 50s, and there were some pretty incredile drivers then. Speaking for myself, I’d take Flock, Baker, and the rest over the current day HMS anytime. They’d take ‘em to school.
Truly a nice article to read. I learned some more about nascar, which is always a good thing. But Jim, it’s hard to compare the drivers and cars of yesteryear with today’s drivers and equipment, as I’m sure you would agree. So much has changed. And comparing any team to HMS and it’s present group will surely stir up some good “conversation” as well. Those drivers did put up some impressive numbers. However, being that the boys of HMS today have some unfinished business to take care, I have to say that they are stock car racing’s ultimate team.
@gopapa. I wouldn’t disagree. I’m just glad someone is still making a case for Kiekhaefer. I wouldn’t accuse Marybeth- a good loyal reader- of this, but I hink a lot of people think NASCAR started the day they started watching and there are a lot of greats we’re on the verge of forgetting.
Good Point – We should never forget stock car racing’s roots, it’s original greats, or the evolution of the sport and how it has grown to what it is today.
The NASCAR HOF was long over due in the making. Moreover, I feel that the initial induction class should have been larger. At least now that it’s nearly off and running, (most of) the legends will get their due. As for the drivers and the like that don’t get elected into the hall, thanks to writers like yourself, we know that they won’t be totally forgotten.
and Thank You for your feedback..
I was never a fan of Hendrick Motorsports one reason because of my Grandpa. Did not like the team. The other reason is that the team thinks they are and always will be the best out there. Don’t get me wrong here, its a great team, but the team wins way too much. Every race I watch It’s either Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, or Tony Stewart. The only reason I like the team is because of Dale Earnhardt Jr. He is a great guy, works hard to achieve his goals, and I feel sorry for him from the disrespect everyone gives him. Overall, I think Hendrick Motorsports is just too good for this sport and needs to share some of those wins.
Nobody likes to see the same team win week in and week out, unless it’s your team, of course. It gets old. See Jeff Gordon a few years ago. Nowadays he doesn’t get half the boos he used to get. I am a transplanted Roush fan, because I follow Mark Martin. Look at the rule change NASCAR put into effect because Roush put 5 cars in the chase when there were only 10 cars eligible. But there is little that NASCAR can do about the 48 team’s dominance. They’ve been the Yankees of NASCAR. (and I don’t like the Yankees or baseball) I think their run is over anyway, so it’s water under the bridge. I think Roush/Fenway will be back strong, Coach Gibbs’ teams will be contenders for sure, and Petty’s teams will surprise. SHR will be strong as well. But there will be no 5 in a row for the 48 team. At least this fan, and probably countless millions, sure hopes not.
This is the most succint and still comprehensive article I’ve read on Carl Kiekhaefer in many years. We must remember NASCAR’s roots and also not forget that AAA racing is a part of that. Regardless of what area of human history we want to talk about, isn’t it always true that the man or men that motivate and move us forward from where we are currently stuck and languishing are those who get booed at the time and get recognition later? I think so.
Signed: “Proud owner of Kiekhaefer’s ‘57 Chrysler 300C Road America competition coupe”. CK may have quit NASCAR but he certainly had plans!
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