Racing History Minute - May 9, 1964

Yes, today, again, we return to Darlington Raceway. This time it is 1964 and it is the 21st race of the 1964 season. The annual "Rebel 300" was always anticipated by fans because it showcased the drivers on the tough Darlington track. No longer in convertibles for this event, and not broken into segments as was the 1963 edition of the 300, but this was 300 flat out miles.

Fred Lorenzen would start from the pole in his Holman-Moody Ford with Fireball Roberts to his outside. Unbelieveably, Richard Petty, starting 10th in his Hemi powered Plymouth, would take the lead on lap one with sheer speed and capability. Richard would lead the first 57 laps, then Lorenzen would take the point until lap 74. Petty was back in front on lap 75 and then for the next 55 laps or so, it was a door-to-door, nose-to-tail battle between the blue Plymouth of Petty and the white Ford of Lorenzen. The battle was quite entertaining, especially on the Darlington track as the lead would sometimes change hands two or three times a lap.

On lap 133, or shortly before, a rock apparently flew through the raditor of the swift Petty Plymouth forcing him to the pits with overheating problems and the race was then in control of Lorenzen, although by no means handed to him as he had Fireball Roberts in hot pursuit on the same lap. Lorenzen took the checkered flag at an average speed of 130.013 mph as the race was slowed by caution only once when Jim Paschal blew the engine in his Petty Plymouth on lap 214 while running 6th.

Immediately after the race, John Holman, the big boss for Holman-Moody Fords, which finished one-two, fired Herb Nab who was crew chief for Lorenzen. Holman wanted Nab to call Lorenzen to pit for tires late in the going but Nab refused saying Freddie didn't need tires. Stopping for tires would have put Lorenzen second and Nab said "I came here to win the race. None of us on this entire team came here to run second". After a two day cooling off period, Nab was rehired by Holman-Moody.

For the record books, this was Fred Lorenzen's fourth consecutive win in the 1964 season having already won at North Wilkesboro, Martinsville and Savannah. Fred was having a good year he hoped "wouldn't end".

Top five finishers were:

1. Fred Lorenzen, LaFayette Ford, winning $10,265.00

2. Fireball Robers, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $5,990.00

3. Junior Johnson, Banjo Matthews Ford, winning $4,510.00

4. Ned Jarrett, Bondy Long Ford, winning $2,995.00

5. Jimmy Pardue, Burton-Robinson Plymouth, winning $2,170.00

Sixth through tenth were David Pearson, Billy Wade, LeeRoy Yarbrough, Paul Goldsmith and Richard Petty.

Marvin Panch, Jim Paschal, Johnny Allent, Larry Thomas and Bunkie Blackburn were 11th through 15th. G.C. Spencer was 16th, J.T. Putney 17th, Cale Yarborough 19th, Tiny Lund 20th, Rex White 21st,Roy Mayne 24th, Darel Dieringer wth, Buck Baker 26th Bobby Isaac 27th, Neil Castles 30th, Buddy Arrington 31st, and Jimmy Helms 31nd.

An interesting note to this race is that Bobby Allison, who was then a modified champ from Miami, was slated to drive one of the Ray Fox Dodges in the event, with Buck Baker driving the other Fox entry. After a practice session on the Darlington track, Bobby admitted he did not have the experience necessary to tackle Darlington so LeeRoy Yarbrough was assigned to drive the team car to Buck Baker. LeeRoy finished 8th while Buck Baker finished 26th after dropping out on the 59th lap with ignition problems.

Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.

Race program.

Thanks for posting this very interesting article, Tim. In 1964 I was a new RN working in the operating room at McLeod's. At that time we could see (and hear) all the traffic going by as we had WINDOWS in the O.R.!! I remember after the race that the traffic was WILD flying down Hwy 52/Irby St/301. Also remember working day and night on injuries from wrecks!!!

From Spartanburg Herald Journal .

And I just know there has to be better resolution of his photo than what remains in the archives of the newspaper.

That top-10 is a who's who. Just imagine what you'd be willing to pay to see those ten drivers in their prime hash it out. Thanks, Tim, for another great look back. And we thought a buck for a program was highway robbery!!!

You are right about that. But think about how differently things looked by June, by the end of 1965, and by the end of the 1960s.

1. Fred Lorenzen - He won a few more races from 64-67, but then walked away seemingly in his prime. His attempt to return to Cup in the early 70s just never really panned out.

2. Fireball Roberts - The next race, the World 600, would be last. Roughly 2 months after his 2nd place finish, Roberts was gone.

3. Junior Johnson - Tangled with Roberts at Charlotte, and his driving career pretty well ended after the 1965 season. He did run a handful of races in 1966, but he was pretty much a full-time car owner by then.

4. Ned Jarrett - Also tangled with Roberts, stayed with driving and won his 2nd GN title in 1965. But he then retired from driving after about a 1/2 season in 1966. How interesting the 3 individuals from the W600 crash finished 2-3-4 just a couple of weeks earlier at Darlington.

5. Jimmy Pardue - Died in a tire test September 1964.

6. David Pearson - His career took off, he picked up 3 titles in the next 5 seasons from 65-69, and just killed the competition on superspeedways with the Wood Brothers in the mid 70s.

7. Billy Wade - Died in a tire test January 1965.

8. LeeRoy Yarbrough - Phenomenal season in 1969. But suffered head injuries - including one in a tire test. Was gone from racing by early the next decade after moving from Junior Johnson's team to many uncompetitive rides.

9. Paul Goldsmith - Steady driver but whose career was done by 1969.

10. Richard Petty - Nuff said. Driving career lasted longer than any of the rest of them.

You paint a nice, vivid painting through your "History Minutes".

Thanks Tim!

Thankyou Dr. Woodberry. Those are some truly great memories you added to this post!

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Wow, Chase, that is putting things in perspective. Those thoughts had not even crossed my mind. I've never told my Paul Goldsmith story on here so here goes. In 1964 and 1966, I chased after him to add his autograph to my collection but could NEVER get near him. He just disappeared after every race. The day RacersReunion held their first Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, we were at the restaurant for breakfast and I was standing outside waiting on friends to arrive. Someone tapped me on the shoulder to ask if "this is where the RacersReunion breakfast is"? It was Paul Goldsmith. He and I chatted and laughed for 10 minutes before going inside. Although we were together with the rest of the crowd for most of that day, I never did ask for his autograph. Have no idea why. But even after all those years, he still awed me just being around him.

Thank you Cody. I appreciate you reading and commenting. I did NOT include personal notes on that race, although it was one I yelled myself hoarse over with the Petty-Lorenzen battle. Seems someone does not like me to include my personal notes on these History Minutes. I am having a ball doing them though.

I will warn you, however, that this Sunday's History Minute WILL include personal reflections because that will represent the anniversary of my first visit to Darlington for the 1957 Rebel 300. Can't talk about that one without getting personal.

Fast Freddy taking the checkers

And the H&M Ford in victory lane bearing the mark of the Darlington Stripe

From Florence Morning News

Darlington stripe bump