A couple of years ago, Dave Fulton posted a NASCAR.com column written by Mark Aumann about NASCAR races held over the years on Easter Sunday.
http://racersreunion.com/community/forum/stock-car-racing-history/12949/history-of-easter-weekend-nascar-points-races
One of those races was held April 17, 1960 at Wilson Speedway in NC.
Emanuel Zervakis of Virginia won the pole for the 200-lap, 100-mile race. Buck Baker qualified alongside him on the front row. Ned Jarrett and Rex White made up row 2, and Joe Weatherly and Lee Petty timed 5th and 6th.
Zervakis set sail from the pole and was apparently the class of the field that day. He didn't need a pit stop during the race and took the checkers 3 seconds ahead of second-place Weatherly.
Lee Petty races Tiger Tom Pistone and Joe Lee Johnson.
A tired but happy Zervakis looks happily at the trophy he is to be presented.
Zervakis is pleased as punch about winning the race - but hold on just a sec...
Following the race, NASCAR officials wanted to take a look at the size of Zervakis' gas tank. I'm unsure if NASCAR took it upon themselves to do the post-race inspection as was reported - or if Weatherly's Holman-Moody team protested Zervakis #85 Chevrolet.
Zerkavis' tank was indeed found to have a higher-than-normal fuel capacity though fuel mileage never really was an issue for the race. On one website I read: When asked later how Weatherly knew Zerkavis' tank was illegal, Little Joe grinned and said "...because I was running the same tank he was." Classic.
As a result, Zervakis was disqualified and placed dead last. Weatherly was promoted from second to the win and credited with leading one lap.
Race report from Spartanburg Herald
| Fin | Driver | Car |
| 1 | Joe Weatherly | '60 Ford |
| 2 | Lee Petty | '60 Plymouth |
| 3 | Tom Pistone | '60 Chevrolet |
| 4 | Rex White | '60 Chevrolet |
| 5 | Buck Baker | '60 Chevrolet |
| 6 | Joe Lee Johnson | '60 Chevrolet |
| 7 | Richard Petty | '59 Plymouth |
| 8 | Bob Welborn | '60 Chevrolet |
| 9 | Neil Castles | '58 Ford |
| 10 | Junior Johnson | '59 Chevrolet |
| 11 | Bunkie Blackburn | '58 Ford |
| 12 | Al Tasnady | '58 Ford |
| 13 | Ned Jarrett | '60 Ford |
| 14 | Buddy Baker | '60 Chevrolet |
| 15 | Paul Lewis | '58 Chevrolet |
| 16 | L.D. Austin | '58 Chevrolet |
| 17 | Roy Tyner | '58 Mercury |
| 18 | Bob Roberts | '59 Oldsmobile |
| 19 | Emanuel Zervakis (DQd) | '60 Chevrolet |
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Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
updated by @tmc-chase: 02/04/19 04:05:57PM
