Racing History Minute - 1973 Winston-Western 500

The 1973 Grand National season began on January 21, 1973, on the 2.62 mile road course at Riverside, California. A crowd of 51,000 fans watched the starting line up roll to the green flag with David Pearson on the pole. Pearson had qualified his Wood Brothers Mercury at a speed of 110.856 mph. Pearson would leave the race on lap 95 with a blown engine and, in fact, would never lead a lap in the event.

Bobby Allison started his Allison Chevrolet in second, and Hershel McGriff would start the Beryl Jackson Plymouth third. Fourth place starter was Mark Donohue in a Matador in the second attempt by Roger Penske to get that make into a NASCAR Victory Lane. Fifth place starter was Richard Petty in the Petty Enterprises Dodge.

Bobby Allison took the lead on the green and held on for 10 laps before that Matador went around to lead the next 20 laps. Petty took over on lap 32 but could only stay out front for 3 laps before Donohue went back to the point. Petty passed Donohue on lap 63 and was moving away with the lead when the red and blue Dodge limped to the pits trailing a cloud of smoke from a blown engine.

With Petty behind the wall, Donohue put the spunky little Matador back in front, giving up the lead to Allison on lap 113 on a pit stop.When Allison stopped on lap 116, Donohue took over at the front of the pack again and he would not be shaken from the spot for the remainder of the race. The Matador would win the race by more than a lap over second place Bobby Allison. This was Donohue's fifth start in NASCAR Grand National competition and his first win.

The car Donohue was driving was equiped with four wheel disc brakes, an anomoly in NASCAR at the time, and Mark credited that innovation with the ability to drive deeper into the turns which allowed him to keep the competition in the rear view mirror. Roger Penske praised the ability of Donohue, however, over and above the disc brakes. Roger said "One of the reasons Mark is so good is that he can evaluate what we're doing on the drawing board"........"He is the most consistent driver in the business. He's not driving 102 per cent over his head, he's driving more like 98 percent. There is always something in reserve".

Bobby Isaac was making his first start in the Bud Moore Ford, which would be his ride for the 1973 season. Unfortunately, the Ford lost the engine on lap 61 and was out of the race.

Finishing order:

1. Mark Donohue, Roger Penskey AMC Matador, winning $15,170.00

2. Bobby Allison, Allison Chevrolet, winning $10,770.00 (1 lap down)

3. Ray Elder, Fred Elder Dodge, winning $6,120.00 (2 laps down)

4. Bobby Unser, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $4,520.00 (4 laps down)

5. Jimmy Insolo, Roger Paquette Chevrolet, winning $3,070.00 (7 laps down)

6. Jack McCoy

7. Elmo Langley

8. Richard White

9. J. C. Danielson

10. Henley Gray

11. Charlie Roberts

12. James Hylton

13. Carl Adams

14. Benny Parsons

15. Gerald Thompson

16.Bill Champion

17. Dick Bown

18.Jim Whitt

19. Walter Ballard

20. Cecil Gordon

21. Richard Petty

22. David Pearson

23. Hershel McGriff

24. Cale Yarborough

25. Sonny Easley

26. John Soares, Jr.

27.Bobby Isaac

28. Johnny Anderson

29. Chuck Bown

30. John Hren

31. Glenn Francis

32. J. D. McDuffie

33. Carl Joiner

34. Harry Jefferson

35. Buddy Baker

36. Hugh Pearson

37. Bob Kauf

38. Clem Proctor

39. Jerry Grant

40. Dave Marcis

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

Its clear the caption writer for the Reading Eagle didn't know his race personalities. I find it funny Linda Vaughn is referred to as "unidentified young girl".

At least the Gadsden Times knew who she was.

Here is clearer pic of the 2 of them in victory lane.

Race program from  Motor Racing Programme Covers

Race report from  Gadsden Times

Hershel McGriff may have been entered under the name of Beryl Jackson. But make no mistake about it. He was in a Petty Plymouth.

He is show here racing eventual winner Donohue. From Mike Shaub collection.

And here is the 04 with the Petty Enterprises logo clearly on the back.

Article re: Pearson's top qualifying effort from Gadsden Times

The only highlight of Donohue's otherwise very humbling stock car experience.

In his book The Unfair Advantage, he talks about how his headstrong ways of doing things instead of listening to the old hands' advice made his life very difficult. But at a road course, equipped with the 'unfair' advantage of the disc brakes, he was in his element.

It's still the case today that you have guys that won in everything all over the world being completely lost in a 'nascar' and going away humbled.

I really like Donohue. I think he would have been a real great guy to have a few beers with and talk racing of many different flavors.

Jack Jeffrey won the preliminary Permatex 200 LMS race on January 20, 1973.

From Northwest Racing History's Facebook page.

The Penske Matador intoduced disc brakes to Nascar.

Bump