Racing History Minute - 1976 Daytona 500

The first of the two 125 mile qualifying races for 1976 began with the pole sitter, Ramo Stott, unable to roll off because the battery in his car was dead. Lap 3 say Dodge 55, driven by John Banks, slip coming through the tri-oval and begin a sixteen roll and flipping display ending in turn one. Banks sustained a concussion and multiple abrasions.

With five laps to go, Dave Marcis, driving the K&K Insurance Dodge, went around leader David Pearson, pulling Buddy Baker with him. Marcis won the event by a car length over Baker as Pearson finished third. Forty thousand fans saw 17 of the 50 laps run under caution as the yellow was displayed 3 times.

Top five finishers were:

1. Dave Marcis, K&K Insurance Dodge

2.Buddy Baker, Bud Moore Ford

3. David Pearson, Wood Brothers Mercury

4. Dick Brooks, Junie Donlavey Ford

5. Lennie Pond, Ronnie Elder Chevrolet

The second 125 miler started with Terry Ryan in a Chevrolet on the pole with Coo Coo Marlin in another Chevy starting second. When the green waved, Richard Petty moved from starting slot 4 and took the lead he would hold for 34 laps before pitting. Bobby Allison would then lead 3 laps before he had to take his Penske Mercury in for gas. It was then that Darrell Waltrip took over in the DiGard Chevrolet. Waltrip had a flat tire on the fourth lap and had to pit to change the tire. During that pit stop, the crew filled the gas tank to capacity and the misfortune of the flat tire turned out to be the winning move as Waltrip did not stop again and was able to win by just over 23 seconds.

During the race, A. J. Foyt, a previous 500 winner, blew the engine in his Hoss Ellington Chevy on lap 9 and was out. Dave Decker lost control of his Chevrolet on lap 4 and hit the back straight wall head on suffering a broken sternum. He was hospitalized in "fair" condition. The resulting caution flag was also the saving grace for the Waltrip pit stop for the flat tire. Everything seemed to fall D.W.'s way in that event.

Top five finishers:

1. Darrell Waltrip, DiGard Chevrolet

2. Richard Petty, Petty Enterprises Dodge

3. Terry Ryan, WAM Chevrolet

4. Bobby Allison, Roger Penske Mercury

5. Coo Coo Marlin, Cunningham-Kelley Chevrolet

The Daytona 500 rolled off on February 15, 1976, with Ramo Stott on the pole by virture of the three fastest qualifiers having been moved to the back of the pack due to rules infractions never quite fully explained by the sanctioning body. Even so, Stott was moved aside on lap on as lead-footed Buddy Baker whipped his Bud Moore Ford from its fifth starting position to the front on the green flag.

A crowd for 125,000 fans watched the lead swapped back and forth lap after lap between Baker, Bobby Allison and A. J. Foyt. Also joining in the battle for the lead were some lesser known names such as Terry Ryan, Jimmy Means, Terry Blevins, Jackie Rogers, andDavid Hobbs. Benny Parsons, the 1975 winner of the event shared in the lead but was not a serious contender for the win.

The final 100 laps were a duel between Pearson, Foyt, and Petty, with Benny Parsons stirring the pot with his L. G. DeWitt Chevrolet. On lap 143, the engine in Foyt's Hoss Ellington Chevy gave it up and A.J. was behind the wall. This left a three way battle between Parsons, Petty, and Pearson. With 25 to go, it was between Petty and Pearson as Parsons was now a lap down. The duo of Petty and Pearson were only inches apart through the remaining 25 laps with Petty leading going under the white flag. Entering turn three on the last lap, Pearson made a move and was ahead in turn three as he slipped up the track, giving Petty room to move under him.

Coming off turn four, Petty's Dodge wiggled ever so slightly as he regained control while running side by side with Pearson's Mercury. Hitting the "short chute" it was Petty by a car length when both cars began to spin and crash into the wall right in front of the full grandstands. Petty's Dodge spun wildly, ending up on the infield grass between the track and pit road. Meanwhile, Pearson had spun around and tagged the Chevrolet of Joe Frasson at the entrance to pit road.

Petty sat in the stalled Dodge, trying desperately to restart the car as Pearson, who had kept his Mercury running by pushing in the clutch as the car was spinning, began to literally plow the infield grass with the crumbled Mercury as he moved toward the finish line at 10 mph. Meanwhile, the Petty crew was rushing to the scene of Richard's stopped Dodge to push the 43 across the line. As it was, NASCAR's rule was that the car could not be pushed across the line so they penalized the 43 team a lap but he was credited with second place.

Interviewed immediately after the race, Richard said "My car broke loose. The first time we hit it was my fault. I told David I was sorry it happened". After seeing the taped replay, however, Petty said "You know, I think we were in control when we went through the fourth turn. Then David tapped me and that started us spinning". No matter who was to blame, the finish was certainly one of the most exciting Daytona 500 finished during the history of the race to that point.

Johnny Ray, driving a Chevrolet, was hit squarely in the driver's doorby Skip Manning on lap 117 which resulted in Ray suffering a broken neck, several broken ribs and a punctured lung. Pole sitter Ramo Stott had blown the engine in his car which resulted in the Manning-Ray accident. Also falling by the wayside were Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Buddy Baker, A. J. Foyt and Bobby Allison for different mechanical issues.

Finishing order:

1. David Pearson, Wood Brothers Mercury, winning $46,800.00

2. Richard Petty, Petty Enterprises Dodge, winning $35,750.00 (1 lap down)

3. Benny Parsons, L.G. DeWitt Chevrolet, winning $23,680.00 (1 lap down)

4. Lennie Pond, Ronnie Elder Chevrolet, winning $16,800.00 (2 laps down)

5. Neil Bonnett, Bonnett Chevrolet, winning $14,000.00 (3 laps down)

6. Terry Ryan

7. J.D. McDuffie

8. Terry Blevins

9. Richard Childress

10.Frank Warren

11.Buddy Arrington

12.Salt Walther

13.Ed Negre

14.Joe Frasson

15.Jackie Rogers

16.Jim Hurtubise

17.Joe Mihalic

18.Cecil Gordon

19.D. K. Ulrich

20.Roy Smith

21. Coo Coo Marlin

22. A. J. Foyt

23.James Hylton

24.Jimmy Lee Crapps

25.Bobby Allison

26.Ramo Stott

27.Dave Marcis

28.Johnny Ray

29 David Sisco

30.Skip Manning

31.Dick Skillen

32.Darrell Waltrip

33.Buddy Baker

34.David Hobbs

35.Tighe Scott

36.Bruce Hill

37.Tom Williams

38.Dick May

39.Earl Ross

40.Jimmy Means

41.Dick Brooks

42.Cale Yarborough

PERSONAL MEMORIES: My little group of four friends and I returned to the Caravelle Motel in St. Augustine in my same silver Dodge Charger that was just over a year old, yet already showing over 70,000 miles. Seems we stayed on the road in 1975. The big thing about our trip this year was that one of those good friends had been involved in an auto accident two weeks before the race and spent a week in the hospital with a severely broken leg. He was determined he would not miss that race. So, as we loaded up to go, we literally lifted him into the passenger front bucket seat pushed back as far as it would go. Looking back, I will never know how he survived that long ride in the position in which he had to sit, but he did it.

When we got the track Sunday morning, we signed in for press credentials and then parked in the infield press parking area. We took a chair next to the fence for our friend with the broken leg and sat around and talked until about an hour before race time when I went into the pits for a couple of interviews for the radio show. To say things were really different back then is a full blown understatement. It was easy to approach almost any driver as he came down off the stand from introductions and they all had time to talk with you.

I spent most of the race watching with my friends against the fence near turn one as that was the best vantage point for my friend who had to sit. With about 30 to go, I walked into the pits and took up position in the same place I had been for the previous year's 500, right at the first turn end of pit road. The last 30 laps were thrilling as we could all tell it was going to be the classic Petty-Pearson duel 'til the end.

As the two flashed by my position on the white flag lap, I watched them as far as I could see them going through turns 1 and 2. Then I immediately turned my attention to turn four to wait for them to come back around. I was leaning as far over the pit wall as I could. I jumped off the ground when I saw the red and blue Dodge coming first but something was big time wrong. Petty and Pearson were both sliding and spinning and then Richard went nose first into the wall.

For a few seconds I think I was in shock trying to figure out what happened. Then I saw some of the Petty crew running towards the car so I jumped the wall and started to sprint in that direction to help push. About the time I hit the grass between the pit road and the track, the biggest man I have ever seen (still a true statement even all these years later) grabbed me and let me know in no uncertain terms that I was NOT going out there to push Petty. It was about that time Pearson made it across the line so the point for the win was moot anyway. Looking back on that incident, I wonder if that huge guy was a Pearson fan? Bet he was!!!!

We made it back home early in the morning Monday. Even as I sit here now I wonder how my friend survived that wild weekend with his leg in a cast from his toes to his thigh. Guess we were stronger back then but he did it. His only problem was how to keep the cast dry while taking a shower. One of my friends who now builds rockets for NASA (joke) decided a large trash bag would do the trick. So, with leg in a garbage bag, off to the shower he went. We kept listening for the fall, but it never happened. After an extended time monopolizing the bathroom, out he comes, towel around his waist, and a dripping garbage bag on his leg. I'm not sure the carpet in that room was dry even when we checked out the next morning.

I'm sure glad I have these memories of a part of life that was so exciting, yet so simple in reality. The world was sure a different place in the 70s.

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

Though I don't remember how much of the race was aired on ABC, I do remember watching the finish. I was only about a year and a half into being a race fan - but I was a dedicated Petty fan. The 43 won a ton in 1975, but I don't recall seeing any of them on TV. My heart was pounding as I watched the last couple of laps in my parents' living room on our little Zenith 19" TV. I was standing as I saw Petty take the lead and presumably the win. But then it happened. I really don't remember how I reacted - other than being stunned and deflated.

John Betts has a treasure trove of pics from the 1976 race. I'll embed some of them here and hope he'll add some of his memories as well.

The King rolled into town sporting a beard as our country entered its bicentennial year. He kept it until shaving it in the spring. - Steve Coffer

Some teams and drivers arrive in Daytona with an expectation of nabbing the pole. Others are competitive but end up as mildly surprised when they actually post the quickest time. Yet others are like Ramo Stott who likely had NO idea he could end up as the pole winner. - Bumpertag

Though the King had to settle for a spectacular second in the 500, the Petty team didn't go home empty handed. Shop employee and part-time driver, Joe Millikan, piloted the Petty Enterprises Hayes Jewelers #04 Dodge Charger to the win in the Permatex 300 late model sportsman race.

Ray Lamm

Ray Lamm

Most remember how the race ended. But I for one can't really recall how it started. - Stott and Terry Ryan on front row. Marcis and Waltrip on row 2. Buddy Baker and the King on row 3. - John Betts

For 1976, Bobby Allison parked his Matador after the season opener at Riverside. He switched to a Mercury for Penske's CAM2 team. He lost an engine and ended up way down in the finishing order. Things went from bad to worse for Bobby a week later when he took a bad tumble at Rockingham. - John Brown

Jim Hurtubise was back for another go in the 500. Instead of his traditional number 56, he belted into Junior Miller's #95 Chevelle. - John Betts

The crumpled 21 Mercury arrives in Victory Lane. - Ray Lamm

The Wood Brothers team celebrate with Pearson in Victory Lane. - Harlow Reynolds

Meanwhile, the Petty crew pushes the 43 to garage area as they wondered what might have been. Joe Frasson who also spun during the melee waits as the 43 crew gets Richard through the pit wall opening first. - John Betts

Benny Parsons is the answer to the trivia question of who finished behind the wrecked Pearson and Petty cars in third place in the 1976 Daytona 500. Parsons was in the L.G. DeWitt #72 King's Row Fireplace Chevy.

However, Benny's #72 was just one of THREE cars fielded that day by DeWitt, the Ellerbe, North Carolina peach purveyor.

Going out early with engine failure and finishing 39th in a #52 Coke sponsored, DeWitt-owned Chevy was Canadian, Earl Ross :

Earl Ross and the L.G. DeWitt #52 - Photo from Dave Westerman's Florida Stock Cars

And for those of us who remember the British accent of David Hobbs playing color commentator to Ken Squier on the later CBS stock car telecasts, it should be noted that he made his first of two career NASCAR starts in this race, also driving a Coke sponsored L.G. DeWitt Chevy #73 that crashed out on lap 68 finishing 39th.

David Hobbs' #73 - Photo from Dave Westerman's Florida Stock Cars

The lettering is completed on this shot of Hobbs posted at the Randy Ayers site by Bernie427

Hobbs would make one more start before his NASCAR career behind the wheel ended. He'd wheel another Coke sponsored entry at the second Michigan race of 1976. Member, Cody Dinsmore might recognize the car number. This time Hobbs' ride was a Ford #9 out of the Dawsonville, Georgia area owned by George Elliott !

David Hobbs at Michigan in 1976 wheeling the Coke sponsored #9 Ford for owner George Elliott. From the site ABEFRL.

Member Craig Bontrager has a much better shot of the #9 Elliott-owned David Hobbs Ford from M.I.S. posted right here in our own RR photo archives:

Interesting that the Associated Press account of qualifying for the 1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 at Michigan stated the Hobbs Ford was a Junie Donlavey car, rather than a George Elliott Ford. RR member, John Betts captured a photo of the Dick Brooks/Junie Donlavey #90 pitting in a box adjoining the Hobbs #9 at M.I.S.

Interesting to see the 52 in use before it became the go-to number for Jimmy Means.

Permatex 300

NASCAR Late Model Sportsman race
Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL
February 14, 1976
120 laps on 2.5 mile paved oval; 300 miles

Fin St Driver # Owner Car Laps Money Status Laps Led
1 7 Joe Millikan 04 Dodge 120 14,950 running 16
2 15 Ray Hendrick 01 Chevrolet 120 running 55
3 38 L.D. Ottinger 28 Chevrolet 120 running 24
4 2 Darrell Waltrip 88 Chevrolet 120 running 0
5 11 Johnny Allen 94 Ford 119 running 0
6 24 Bob Burcham 02 Dodge 116 running 0
7 30 Red Farmer 97 Ford 115 running 0
8 16 Tommy Houston 95 Chevrolet 115 running 0
9 22 Ron Bouchard 17 Chevrolet 114 running 0
10 40 Joe Thurman 19 Chevrolet 113 running 0
11 29 Brad Teague 3 Chevrolet 113 running 0
12 13 Morgan Shepherd 50 Mercury 107 engine 0
13 21 Dale Earnhardt 8 Pontiac 107 running 0
14 37 A.C. York 59 Mercury 107 running 0
15 3 Willson Mishoe 84 Mercury 107 running 0
16 23 Connie Saylor 96 Chevrolet 105 running 0
17 35 Tommy Raab 83 Mercury 99 ignition 0
18 17 Wayne Shugart 71 Mercury 78 engine 0
19 10 Wayne Andrews 15 Mercury 78 overheating 0
20 18 Bub Strickler 58 Mercury 76 engine 0
21 27 Junior Crouch 24 Mercury 73 push rod 0
22 6 Sam Ard 00 Chevrolet 70 accident 0
23 5 Jack Bland 41 Chevrolet 68 oil pressure 0
24 20 Chet Williams 65 Ford 65 accident 0
25 39 Terry Mock 44 Ford 63 accident 0
26 4 Lennie Pond 54 1974 Chevrolet Malibu 59 engine 25
27 1 Jack Ingram 11 Chevrolet 50 overheating 0
28 12 Monk Tate 86 Chevrolet 48 valve 0
29 14 Richie Evans 61 Chevrolet 46 oil leak 0
30 19 Skip Pannell 45 Chevrolet 33 rocker arm 0
31 9 Larry Schild 7 Chevrolet 31 accident 0
32 26 Jim Walker 47 Chevrolet 30 accident 0
33 34 Jack Nolan 76 Plymouth 25 overheating 0
34 25 Mike Duvall 43 Chevrolet 15 transmission 0
35 28 Larry Utsman 23 Chevrolet 10 engine 0
36 33 Randy Bethea 37 Ford 8 oil leak 0
37 36 Horace Vineyard 6 Chevrolet 7 engine 0
38 31 Harry Gant 77 Pontiac 5 engine 0
39 8 Sam Sommers 27 Chevrolet 4 engine 0
40 32 Bill Dennis 35 Ford 4 overheating 0

Notes: Bobby Allison qualified tenth, but withdrew the day before the race due to engine problems.
Time of race: 02:03:26
Average Speed: 145.828 MPH
3 cautions for 19 laps
Attendance: 80,000

Ultimate Racing History

A few more nuggets

Tom Williams made four Cup starts from 75-76 and about a dozen USAC stock car starts from 76-79. His 37th place finish in the 76 500 was the worst of his 4 starts. His sponsor Lone Star Beer is now owned by Pabst Brewing, who also brews... yep, Schaefer. - John Betts

Terry Bivins started 28 Cup races from 75-77. The 76 500 was only his 3rd career Cup start, and he finished a very respectable 8th. - John Betts

USAC stock car regular Terry Ryan's Speedweeks was remarkable. Qualified 2nd, finished 3rd in his twin, and finished 6th in the 500. But he made only 11 more starts over the the next 2 seasons. All accomplished in his first time in Cup and at Daytona. (He also finished 14th in the 1976 ARCA 200 race.)- John Betts

Gary Myers attempted his only Daytona 500 in 1976. He finished 25th in his twin and didn't make the 500 starting line-up. - Randy Myers

How hard was the racing on the last lap of the 500? Here they come through turn 4. Looks like Pearson is right on the ragged edge as he starts to turn down on the 43. - John Betts

Johnny Ray's accident and injuries ended his driving career. He then turned to fielding cars for others in 10 Cup races. His first start as an owner was back at Daytona for the 1976 Firecracker 400 with USAC veteran Johnny Rutherford behind the wheel. - J.C. Hayes

He also put a raw Dale Earnhardt in his car. Unfortunately, Earnhardt did a pretty good number on Ray's Chevrolet in the 1976 Dixie 500 at Atlanta - though fortunately he didn't suffer the injuries Ray did at Daytona. - J.C. Hayes

In the Racing History Minute for the 1975 Daytona 500, I referenced Dick Trickle's car owned by Delbert and Diane Puro. The car was wrecked on lap 3.

The Mercury was supposedly rebuilt and lived to race another day - at least according to Ray Evernham's new show AmeriCarna. The episode left me perplexed though because the Puros only entered 2 more races but in a Ford brand vs. the Mercury. So what happened to the car?

I think I've found part of the answer. Here is a picture of the Puros with what is apparently the rebuilt car - now a numbered 99 Ford and with Hanna on the right rear quarter panel.

Driver Bill Polich raced in the first 1976 qualifying twin but failed to transfer to the 500. His car owner is listed as Hershel McGriff. Looks like McGriff may have initially intended to race the car himself based on this photo. McGriff - the long-time Mopar Man in a Ford?? The connection between the Puros and McGriff? I don't yet know. Perhaps the car was leased to Hershel, fielded in his name, but then returned to the Puros.- Jim WIlmore

Then I found this car on gwadagone's Fotki page. Looks like same car to me but without the Hanna sponsorship. This may be Trickle's ride in the 1978 National 500 at Charlotte in what would be the Puros' final entry as owners.

Lennie Pond in victory lane following his victory in the ARCA 200 a week before the 500.

Benny Parsons won the IROC race, and A.J. Foyt captured the 1975-76 season title that ended at Daytona.

And a great story about the tenacity of independent driver Dave Sisco from Nashville.

Ah, my kinda people.