In the Goddess we trust - Two Citroën ID 19 class winners in USA NASCAR races
08/29/2021
Front-wheel drive, four-cylinder engines and hydropneumatic suspension are not necessarily the design features associated with American NASCAR racing cars. But on June 1, 1958, this unique marriage of French comfort and American Southern folklore came to fruition when two Citroën ID 19s not only competed in the "Crown American 500" in Riverside, California, but also took the first two places in their class. In the overall classification, Bill Jones with starting number 100 and Ralph Roberts with number 101 finished 18th and 19th - 30 laps behind the winner Eddie Gray in a '57 Ford Sedan. Nevertheless, the two Citroëns left seven V8 Amis behind them. The next European competitor in the two-liter class followed in 27th place: a Goliath 1100. According to a small report in the magazine "Motor Racing", the sedans, which were standard except for the roll bar and missing rear seat, reached 162 km/h on the long straight and only needed two pit stops over the entire 800 kilometers.
Unfortunately, it is highly unlikely that Stellantis will dare to return to the oval with the current DS 9.
