PAUL REVERE 250
Daytona International Speedway
Sunday, July 4, 1971
Race #10 of the 1971 season brought the Grand American Challenge Series to Daytona Beach Florida for the second time that year. This time for the fifth annual Paul Revere 250 scheduled to take the green at mid-night on July 3 rd which means the race actually occurred on the Fourth of July. While not the only night race it was the only night race held with no track lighting, only a few marker lights on top of the outside wall. The cars ran with headlights on the 3.81 mile road course and was a FIA sanctioned event which opened the door for GN and international drivers to enter. Bobby Allison would drive the Melvin Joseph Mustang and 1968 24 Hours of Daytona winner Vic Elford was scheduled to drive Tiger Tom Pistones Mustang. Not sure what happened but Elford was not listed in the results. Dick Brooks drove the same Toy Bolton Camaro he drove to victory at Hickory but finished many laps down after fixing a broken transmission.
There were two International Sedan Manufactures Championship cars in the field, a 1969 BMW 2002 driven by Joe Garrison and Paul Fleming in a 1971 Fiat, but the race results suggest that they were scored as Grand American cars and not in a separate class.
This was the first Grand American race were the use of a two-way radio was reported. Bobby Allison used one in the #49 Mustang to communicate with his pit crew.
Veteran Jim Paschal put his Javelin on the pole with a record speed of 108 mph with H.B. Bailey to his outside. Wayne Andrews started third in a Mustang with Bobby Allison fourth in another Mustang. Buck Baker in a Firebird and Tiny Lund in a Camaro rounded out the top six. Dick Brooks started 7 th in a Camaro with Pete Harrison to his outside. Randy Hutchison rolled off 9 th in a Camaro and Tommy Andrews was 10 th in a Mustang. Jimmy Capps was 11 th in a Camaro and David Boggs started 12 th in a Firebird.
At the drop of the green on the back stretch it was Paschal taking the early lead. Tiny Lund only made two laps before dropping a valve. Paschal took command staying at or near the front thru the half-way point until he too dropped a valve after 33 laps. Bobby Allison developed a skip that slowed his pace until he pitted on lap 42 to change plugs giving the lead to Buck Baker. Allison came out 30 seconds behind Baker but steadily closed on Baker overtaking him on lap 58. On lap 60 Allison returned to pit road for fuel turning the lead over to Baker. After the quick stop Allison trailed Baker by 20 seconds, after one lap it was down to 10 seconds and after another lap it was down to 6 seconds. Baker was trying to hold on with failing brakes as Allison closed in. With two to go Allisons engine started to skip again and he could not muster enough speed to catch Baker who held on for his first win at Daytona and his second Grand American win of 1971. Wayne Andrews finished where he started in third also with failing brakes. Pete Harrison was fourth and H.B. Bailey fifth.
Baker collected $3,900 for the win. The race was run caution free and in record time for the Paul Revere 250.
Fin.St. Driver # Car Laps Status
1 5 Buck Baker 87 71 Firebird 66 Running
2 4 Bobby Allison 49 70 Mustang 66 Running
3 3 Wayne Andrews 15 71 Mustang 66 Running
4 8 Pete Harrison 92 71 Camaro 66 Running
5 2 H. B. Bailey 36 71 Firebird 63 Distributor
6 10 Tommy Andrews 21 69 Mustang 63 Running
7 13 Baxter Price 3 69 Camaro 62 Running
8 12 David Boggs 86 71 Firebird 60 Running
9 27 Gene Parsons 42 68 Camaro 58
10 24 Ron Trout 29 68 Cougar 57
11 29 Richard Moser 32 69 Camaro 56
12 22 Ernie Shaw 17 68 Mustang 56
13 21 Bobby Fleming 54 69 Camaro 56
14 17 Bob Williams 76 70 Mustang 53
15 19 Jimmy Vaughn 7 69 Camaro 49
16 25 Joe Garrison 18 69 BMW 46
17 26 Glen Brewer 6 69 Firebird 43
18 7 Dick Brooks 95 69 Camaro 41 Running
19 18 Mel Larson 98 69 Mustang 34
20 16 Billy Hagan 52 70 Mustang 34
21 1 Jim Paschal 14 70 Javelin 33 Engine
22 9 Randy Hutchison 2 69 Camaro 8
23 11 Jimmy Lee Capps 90 68 Camaro 7
24 15 Paul Fleming 38 71 Fiat 7
25 28 Bobby Wilson 24 68 Camaro 5
26 23 Jim Hailey 4 69 Camaro 3
27 6 Tiny Lund 55 71 Camaro 2 Engine
28 20 Bobby Brewer 19 69 Camaro 2
29 14 Al Straub 74 71 Mustang 0
30 30 Tony Lily 91 69 Camaro 0
Personal note: The Shaw Racing Enterprises Mustang had the newer and better, Raybestos brake linings this time but still had brake problems during the race. They had something else that was new, one of Bud Moores mini-plenum intake manifolds. It was making a difference too, in an early practice dad caught Allison and motored right past him going down the backstretch. After practice Eddie Allison was looking to see what was under the hood of the #15 and wanted one of those intakes for Bobbys ride. Bud had given Reid Shaw several of the intakes with strict instructions that only those with the cash could get one, no credit. Well, Bobby came up with the cash so they had to sell him one.
Buck Baker celebrates in victory lane
Getty Images Photo
updated by @dennis-andrews: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
