Junie Donlavey / Bill Dennis 3rd Consecutive Daytona Permatex 300 Win - Feb. 16, 1974
Stock Car Racing History
In the draft.
On the grid.
Forum Activity for @dennis-andrews
Stock Car Racing History
1972 Inver House Bama 200
Stock Car Racing History
Thanks Dave. Mom and Dad's house was broken into last year and they made off with some jewelry that included his Championship ring. If anyone sees it on the old inter web let me know.
1972 Inver House Bama 200
Stock Car Racing History
Inver House Bama 200
Talladega International Motor Speedway
Saturday, August 5, 1972
The fourth race of the 1972 season for the Grand American Challenge Series brought the cars to Talladega for the 3 rd edition of the Bama 200 on the 4 mile road course and was the 5 th points race of the year. The event was sanctioned by both NASCAR and IMSA. Four classes of IMSA cars and the Grand American cars would compete on the road course at the same time for separate purses. The Grand American cars were inspected by NASCAR and the Camel GT cars were inspected by IMSA with both groups having separate garages and pit areas. The four classes of IMSA Camel GT cars were GTO, GTU, TO and TU with engine size being the primary difference in the classes. There were 37 Camel GT cars and 15 GA cars. The events title sponsor was Inver House Distillers Limited, makers of Scottish Malt Wiskey.
Paul Tyler earned the pole position for the GA cars in a Camaro. Dr. Wilbur Pickett was the first car across the finish line in a Camel GT Corvette a little over a lap ahead of Tiny Lund who was the first GA car across the line. H.B. Bailey and Lund had battled for the GA lead early but Bailey faded and Lund went on to put a lap on the second GA car of Paul Tyler. The GA purse was a little over $15,000 and the IMSA purse was $12,000.
Grand American Results
Fin. St. Driver # Car Laps Status
1 Tiny Lund 55 ’72 Firebird 49 Running
2 1 Paul Tyler 79 ’69 Camaro 48 Running
3 Roy Stamey 25 ’69 Camaro 48 Running
4 Wayne Andrews 97 ’70 Mustang 46 Running
5 Randy Bannister 26 ’69 Camaro 44 Running
6 Ernie Shaw 17 ’70 Mustang 42 Engine
7 Rick Newsom 07 ’69 Cougar 42 Running
8 H. B. Bailey 36 ’72 Firebird 33
9 Gary Myers 41 ’70 Mustang 32 Engine
10 Billy Hagan 52 ’70 Mustang 29 Running
11 Glenn Brewer 19 ’69 Camaro 19 Engine
12 Jimmy Lee Capps 90 ‘69 Camaro 5 Engine
13 Richard Childress ’69 Camaro 4
14 Herb Kanady 23 ’69 Camaro 1
15 Joe Hollingsworth 16 ’70 Mustang 0
Tiny Lund Pontiac Firebird
When the Grand American competitors left Talladega the only thing they knew about the future of the series was that there were no more GA races on the schedule. No announcements from the governing body came out. Most all of them had plenty of races to prepare for though in the Grand National East, Late Model Sportsman, USAC, ARCA and even Winston Cup series.
Point Standings after Talladega
- Wayne Andrews 655.50
- Ernie Shaw 511.75
- H.B. Bailey 467.50
- Jimmy Capps 432.25
- Tiny Lund 408.25
- Bobby Allison 341.00
- Baxter Price 329.00
- Glenn Brewer 323.50
- Paul Tyler 322.75
- Buck Baker 285.25
- AL Straub 246.00
- Max Berrier 243.25
- Stick Elliott 238.00
- Billy Hagan 214.00
- Bob Williams 209.50
- David Boggs 208.25
- Jim Hailey 203.25
- Jeff Haar 198.25
- Herb Kanady 173.00
- James Hylton 156.25
- Pee Wee Wentz 144.75
- Jim Paschal 143.50
- Jerry Hufflin 142.00
- Rick Newsom 140.50
- Gary Myers 130.75
- Bill Chevalier 123.50
- Roy Stamey 91.25
- Richard Childress 81.00
- Bob Jusola 68.75
- Bobby Watson 68.00
- T. C. Hunt 67.75
- Pete Hamilton 66.75
- Don Miller 64.75
- T.C. Hunt 62.75
- Tommy Andrews 60.75
- Jimmy Vaughn 59.50
At the end of the season the point standings after Talladega became the final standings and Wayne Andrews was named the 1972 Grand American Champion. Wayne was the only driver to earn points in all five events and the only driver to have three top five finishes. The new point system was designed to place an emphasis on miles completed in competition and even though Wayne did not win a race he did that better than any other GA driver. Superspeedways awarded more points than short tracks and bonus points were awarded for each lap of competition with longer tracks giving more bonus points than short tracks. Bob Williams of Jackson, Miss. was named the 1972 GA Rookie of the Year and Tiny Lund was voted Most Popular GA Driver.
Ken Piper presents Wayne Andrews with Championship trophy
And now the other part of the Inver House Bama 200
Camel GT Results
Fin. St. Driver # Car Laps Group
1 Wilbur Pickett 2 Corvette 50 1. GTO
2 Tony DeLorenzo 78 Corvette 49 2. GTO
3 Dan Daughtry 94 Corvette 49 3. GTO
4 Gene Felton 95 Camaro 49 4. GTO
5 Tom Hehl 47 Camaro 48 1. TO
6 Hurley Haywood 59 Porsche 48 1. GTU
7 Michael Keyser 1 Porsche 48 2. GTU
8 John O’Steen 43 Porsche 46 3. GTU
9 Phil Currin 99 Corvette 46 5. GTO
10 Pete Harrison 0 Porsche 46 4. GTU
11 John Floyd 18 Corvette 45 6. GTO
12 Vince Gimondo 27 Camaro 45 2. TO
Bill Dingman
13 Robert Stoddard 6 Porsche 44 5. GTU
Frank Harmstad
14 John Elliot 80 Camaro 41 3. TO
15 Dennis Shaw 88 Opel 40 1. TU
Steve Coleman
16 Pat McIntyre 85 Camaro 39 4. TO
Dave Perelle
17 Bob Christiansen 72 Camaro 38 5. TO
18 Clay Young 7 Camaro 37 6. TO
19 John Diamanti 86 Alfa Romeo 37 2. TU
20 Robert Henning 21 Javelin 34 7. TO
Russ Norburn
21 Garrett Waddell 15 Corvette 33 7. GTO
22 Bert Gafford 89 Camaro 25 8. TO
23 Lynn South 34 Corvette 22 8. GTO
24 Don Duplass 84 Escort 14 3. TU
25 Ralston Long 9 Corvette 9 9. GTO
26 Richard Presnell 77 Shelby GT 1 10. GTO
Bill Shaw
27 H.W. Alexander 30 Pinto 1 4. TU
1972 PAUL REVERE 250
Stock Car Racing History
Dennis, Tommy Andrews is from Alabama if I remember correctly and no kin to us, at least not close kin. Here is a picture of Tommy in 1969.
updated by @dennis-andrews: 12/21/17 02:57:43PM
1972 PAUL REVERE 250
Stock Car Racing History
PAUL REVERE 250
Daytona International Speedway
Friday, July 3, 1972
The third stand alone race of the 1972 season for the Grand American Challenge Series brought the cars back to Daytona Beach Florida for the 6 th edition of the Paul Revere 250 on the 3.81 mile road course and the 4 th points race of the year. The event was opened for GN drivers to enter and IMSA drivers. Bobby Allison signed on to drive the Melvin Joseph Mustang. Dr. Wilbur Pickett would team up with H.B. Bailey in one of Bailey’s Firebirds. SCCA and IMSA regulars Javier Garcia, Tom Nehl and Vince Gimondo also fielded entries.
Bobby Allison averaged a speed of 108.066 mph to earn the pole position with H.B. Bailey along side in a Firebird at a speed of 107.380 mph. Wilbur Pickett started third at 105.790 mph with Wayne Andrews in a Mustang fourth at 105.390 mph. Jimmy Lee Capps at 104.103 mph in a Camaro was fifth with Havier Garcia sixth at 102.929 mph. Randy Bannister was seventh at 102.378 mph and Ernie Shaw eighth at 98.875 mph. Baxter Price was ninth at 98.013 mph and Jerry Huflin tenth at 97.087 mph. Billy Hagan was eleventh with Jimmy Vaughn the next fastest but did not make the grid. Jim Paschal started 12 th after posting a speed of 107.952 mph in a Camaro that would have been good enough for a front row position but it came in the second round of qualifying.
At the drop of the green on the back stretch it was Allison taking the lead until his brakes began to fade giving Bailey the chance to move to the front. After 13 laps Allison was in the garage with no brakes. Early mechanical trouble also side lined Jim Paschal and Tiny Lund. By this time Vince Gimondo had moved from the 21 st starting spot to second behind Bailey. Vince had posted a qualifying speed of 104.293 mph which would have been good enough to put him in the fifth starting spot but because he had to remove an electric fuel pump, move the battery and obtain steel wheels to meet NASCAR rules he missed the first qualifying session. By lap 44 Andrews had dropped a valve leaving only Bailey and Gimondo to challenge for the win. Bailey led a total of 45 laps and had the advantage on the big track but Gimondo was better on the road course, they dueled for the lead until Bailey spun and when he spun the second time he tore out the transmission ending his day after 58 laps. 61 laps was the total for last years winner, Buck Baker, as he watched the end of the race from pit road. Gimondo cruised to victory by over a lap on second place finisher Tom Nehl and four laps ahead of third place finisher Jimmy Capps. Baker placed fourth.
Gimondo collected $4,750 of the $19,550 purse and was his second win at Daytona that year.
Fin. St. Driver # Car Laps Status
1 21 Vince Gimondo 38 ’71 Camaro 67 Running
2 Tom Nehl 41 ’71 Camaro 66 Running
3 5 Jimmy Lee Capps 90 ‘69 Camaro 63 Running
4 Buck Baker 87 ’72 Firebird 61 DNF
5 9 Baxter Price 3 ’69 Camaro 61 Running
6 8 Ernie Shaw 17 ’70 Mustang 60 Running
7 3 Wilbur Pickett 96 ’72 Firebird 59 Running
8 2 H. B. Bailey 36 ’72 Firebird 58 Tranny
9 6 Javier Garcia 42 ’71 Camaro 56 Running
10 Pee Wee Wentz 5 ’69 Camaro 55 Running
11 Joe Hollingsworth 16 ’70 Mustang
12 4 Wayne Andrews 97 ’70 Mustang 43 Engine
13 7 Randy Bannister 26 ’69 Camaro
14 Herb Kanady 23 ’69 Camaro 19
15 Billy Hagan 52 ’70 Mustang 19
16 1 Bobby Allison 49 ’70 Mustang 13 Brakes
17 10 Jerry Hufflin 75 ’69 Camaro
18 12 Jim Paschal 14 ’72 Camaro 2
19 Tiny Lund 55 ’72 Firebird 2
20 Jim Hailey 4 ’71 Javelin 1
21 Bobby Fleming 54 ’70 Camaro 0
Bobby Allison first on the starting grid.
Orlando Porsche dealer Vince Gimondo, easy to see why they called him Vince Kojack.
Wayne Andrews with the Jack StClair Pipeline Special
Point Standings after Daytona
- Wayne Andrews 504
- Ernie Shaw 369.25
- Jimmy Capps 348
- Bobby Allison 341
- H.B. Bailey 340.25
- Baxter Price 329
- Buck Baker 285.25
- Tiny Lund 247
- AL Straub 246
- Max Berrier 243.25
- Stick Elliott 238
- Glenn Brewer 219.75
- Bob Williams 209.50
- David Boggs 208.25
- Jim Hailey 203.25
- Jeff Haar 198.25
- Paul Tyler 164.75
- James Hylton 156.25
- Pee Wee Wentz 144.75
- Jim Paschal 143.5
- Jerry Hufflin 142
- Gary Myers 130.75
- Bill Chevalier 123.50
- Herb Kanady 97.75
- Billy Hagan 95.75
- David Boggs 83
- Bob Jusola 68.75
- Bobby Watson 68
- T. C. Hunt 67.75
- Pete Hamilton 66.75
- Don Miller 64.75
- Tommy Andrews 60.75
- Jimmy Vaughn 59.50
updated by @dennis-andrews: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM
Racing History Minute - October 31, 1965
Stock Car Racing History
If memory serves me correctly dad was at this race and told me that Curtis stopped on pit road after the race, got out, sat on the car and downed 2 beers before climbing back in the car and going to victory lane. No wasting of a beverage then like they do today by spraying it all over the place.
updated by @dennis-andrews: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM
1972 Bowman Gray 100
Stock Car Racing History
BOWMAN GRAY 100
Bowman Gray Stadium
Saturday, April 8, 1972
The second stand alone race for the Grand American Challenge Series in 1972 was the Bowman Gray 100 at the historic Bowman Gray Stadium ¼ mile paved track in Winston-Salem. It was the 3 rd race where drivers could earn championship points.
The event was broadcast live nation-wide, with a 100 mile radius black out, by ABC’s Wide World of Sports hosted by Jim McKay and sportscaster Bill Flemming. Commentary was provided by the editor of National Speed Sport News Chris Economaki. The 40 lap modified race was videotaped.
42 drivers filed entries for 24 starting spots. In addition to the GA drivers GN drivers Bobby Allison, David Pearson, Buddy Baker (in his dad’s Firebird), Lee Roy Yarbrough (in #10 Camaro) and Pete Hamilton (in the #92 Camaro, I think the same one Hylton drove at Daytona) made qualifying runs. Stadium standouts Max Berrier drove Reid Shaws Mustang and Don Miller drove a Camaro. Stick Elliott and Mike Humphries also landed rides for the event. Former GT Champ and stadium regular Ken Rush returned to action as well. Track manager Joe Hawkins expected a large crowd designating it “Ladies Day” with women getting in free but the cold weather hurt the attendance with an estimated gate of 8,000 but the stands did not appear to be half full.
Time trials set the starting grid for three 10 lap heat races. The top seven finishers in each heat moved on the 100 lap feature. The final 3 spots were determined by qualifying times of those finishing outside to top seven in the heat races. David Pearson sat on the pole with a record time of 16.49 sec. in one of H.B. Bailey’s Firebirds and won the first heat. Ken Rush won the second heat and started on the outside front row and Bobby Allison started third by winning the last heat in the Melvin Joseph Mustang.
Racing at the Stadium has always been an up close affair involving contact like the game played inside the bull ring and it became apparent at the drop of the green. Ken Rush started on the outside of the front row but did not make it out of the first corner when contact from H.B. Bailey sent him into the guard rail ending his day. “Bailey just plowed right through me, he was driving like he had lost his mind.” Rush commented later. Third place starter Bobby Allison was also involved but was able to continue after going to the back of the field. When they went back under the green it was Pearson out front soon to be followed by Jim Paschal who had avoided the opening lap crash and moved up from the 9 th place starting position. As the leaders came off turn four to complete lap 40 Randy Bannister was in the outside lane passing slower traffic when his Camaro blew the engine going down the front stretch. Bannister ended up in the turn one fence as the outside lane got jammed up, Pearson could not get to the inside because of traffic but Paschal just behind him found a hole and jumped to the inside and clipped a little grass getting past the crash and taking the lead. Pearson ended up at the tail end of the lead lap cars and Paschal built up a good lead on the restart. By lap 81 Pearson had made his way to second when Lee Roy Yarbrough spun in turn 2 bringing out the yellow for the fourth time allowing Pearson to make up the gap on Paschal. They only ran a few laps under green before turn 2 was again the site of a spinning car, this time it was Pete Hamilton. Hamilton’s Camaro stalled bringing out the 5 th and final caution which set up a duel to the finish between Paschal and Pearson. Paschal kept his Firebird in the groove and never gave Pearson a chance to make a move and they finished bumper to bumper. Gary Myers was third in a Mustang and Max Berrier brought his Mustang home in 4 th on 7 cylinders. Bobby Allison recovered from the first lap mishap to finish 5 th with a lot of wrinkled sheet metal but not before rubbing Tiny Lund the wrong way. Allison had no comment on Lund saying he had one coming. On a lighter note Yarbrough joked “I didn’t know whether to run or pass so I just punted. They should play football here and forget the racing.” Pearson may have enjoyed the race more than Paschal as he commented “I had a ball. I could have won by spinning him out but I did not want to be dirty. I did bump him a time or two to make sure he knew I was there. It was a lot of fun.” Paschal said “I wasn’t too worried about him. It is hard to pass at this place, I figured I could keep him behind me.”
Paschal collected $2,500 of the $16,365 purse.
Fin. St. Driver # Car Laps Status
1 9 Jim Paschal 14 ’71 Firebird 100 Running
2 1 David Pearson 96 ’71 Firebird 100 Running
3 8 Gary Myers 41 ’70 Mustang 100 Running
4 23 Max Berrier 15 ’72 Mustang 100 Running
5 3 Bobby Allison 49 ’70 Mustang 100 Running
6 15 Stick Elliott 57 ’72 Camaro 100 Running
7 4 H. B. Bailey 36 ’71 Firebird 100 Running
8 10 Bobby Watson 11 ’70 Camaro 100 Running
9 22 JaPete Hamilton 92 ’72 Camaro 99 Running
10 20 Mike Humphries 94 ’72 Camaro 99 Running
11 21 Don Miller 99 ’70 Camaro 99 Running
12 17 Pee Wee Wentz 5 ’69 Camaro 99 Running
13 16 T. C. Hunt 88 ’69 Camaro 99 Running
14 7 Buddy Baker 87 ’71 Firebird 99 Running
15 13 Tommy Andrews 21 ’69 Mustang 99 Running
16 5 Jimmy Vaughn 7 ‘69 Camaro 98 Running
17 11 Lee Roy Yarbrough 10 ’69 Camaro 97 Running
18 24 Randy Hutchison 1 ’69 Camaro 96 Running
19 18 Finley Henderson 19 ’69 Camaro 82 Running
20 6 Tiny Lund 55 ’72 Firebird 64 Flat tire
21 14 Randy Bannister 26 ’69 Camaro 37 Engine
22 12 Wayne Andrews 97 ’70 Mustang 30 DNF
23 19 Jeff Haar 67 ’69 Camaro 30 Heating
24 2 Ken Rush 44 ’69 Camaro 0 Wreck
The national exposure brought out some big names but it also cost some GA regulars some points. Al Straub, Bob Williams and Ernie Shaw did not make the field and Glenn Brewer put Finley Henderson in his car.
Personal Note: There were 5 cautions for 29 laps but not all incidents resulted in a yellow flag. Wayne Andrews spun off the bumper of Buddy Baker. The car came to rest on the grass on the inside of the racing surface. The car stalled with a flat tire and would not re-fire. Wayne was a spectator until the next caution putting him so far behind it was not worth continuing.
Randy Bannister watches track clean-up around his race car as Jim Paschal goes by under caution. It was this event that gave Paschal the opening to get by Pearson.
Point Standings after Bowman Gray
- Wayne Andrews 372.25
- Bobby Allison 183.75
- AL Straub 246
- Max Berrier 243.25
- Glenn Brewer 219.75
- Bob Williams 209.50
- David Boggs 208.25
- Ernie Shaw 204.25
- Jeff Haar 198.25
- H.B. Bailey 181.75
- Tiny Lund 180.50
- Joie Chitwood Jr. 175.25
- Jimmy Capps 173.25
- Stick Elliott 168
- Paul Tyler 164.75
- Baxter Price 160.75
- James Hylton 156.25
- Herb Adams 153
- Pee Wee Wentz 144.75
- Jerry Hufflin 142
- Mike Humphries 141
- Jim Hailey 140
- Gary Myers 130.75
- Bill Chevalier 123.50
- Buck Baker 115
- Vic Elford 107
- Randy Bannister 99
- Roy Stamey 91.25
- David Boggs 83
- Jim Paschal 75
- Charlie Blanton 70.75
- Bob Jusola 68.75
- Bobby Watson 68
- Pete Hamilton 66.75
- Don Miller 64.75
- T.C. Hunt 67.75
- Tommy Andrews 60.75
- Jimmy Vaughn 59.50
- Dave Dayton 52
- Tom Lilly 39.25
* Points calculated using written description of 1972 points system for both Daytona races (assuming all drivers were awarded points for their finishing position) and results that included points for the Bowman Gray race. Note that posted result that listed points awarded for the BG race listed no points for David Pearson, Stick Elliott, Mike Humphries, Buddy Baker, Lee Roy Yarbrough, Randy Hutchison, Finley Henderson, Tiny Lund and Ken Rush. They were not listed as a post entry so I don’t know why they got no points.
updated by @dennis-andrews: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM
R.I.P. Thomas Cox - 1962 NASCAR Grand National Rookie of the Year
Stock Car Racing History
PeaHead Cox
News clipping from 1961 and pictures from 1966.
updated by @dennis-andrews: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM
1972 CITRUS 250
Stock Car Racing History
1972 was the year that saw the changes started the year before come to fruition and began what would come to be called the modern area. It was the first year with Bill France Jr. at the helm of NASCAR and it was the first year for what had been called the Grand National series to be called the Winston Cup series with R. J. Reynolds being the title sponsor with their Winston brand. There was also a new point system, designed to place emphasis on mileage completed in competition, for the Winston Cup and Grand American Challenge series. All races on tracks under a ½ mile in length or up to 250 miles in distance were moved to a new Grand National East/West division. Winston Cup, Grand American and Grand National cars back to 1969 were allowed to run Grand National East/West. The Grand National East and Grand National West divisions were also under the new point system.
The Grand American Challenge Series opened the year with only Daytona and Talladega on the schedule. The predictions of the series ending had begun in the middle of 1970 and had seen the schedule greatly reduced in 1971 with close to half of the races being combination events that included Grand National and Grand American cars. The future of the series was in doubt but it was not gone yet.
MIDNIGHT CHALLENGE 200
Daytona International Speedway
Saturday, February 6, 1972
The first race the Grand American cars would be eligible to compete in was the Midnight Challenge 200. It was part of a 3 race package that had been the 24 Hours of Daytona. The first event was the SCCA Brundage Western Hemisphere Formula Vee Trophy race on Saturday followed by the SCCA Midnight Challenge Cup race starting at midnight and then the FIA World Series Sports Car Championship race called the Daytona Six Hour Continental on Sunday. 39 cars were entered but only 24 took the green flag. 9 GA cars were entered with 7 starting. Many of the SCCA cars were co-driven but all the GA cars only had one driver except the #86 Firebird of David Boggs and Paul Fleming. The #57 Corvette started from the pole with Dave Heinz behind the wheel and pulled away from the field for 23 laps before his engine expired. Vince Gimondo then took his #47 Camaro to the front and held on for the win. The #89 Camaro of Tom Fraser and Bert Gafford finished second with Wayne Andrews in the #97 Mustang was third and the first GA car across the line. The other GA finishing were Ernie Shaw 11 th , David Boggs/Paul Fleming 14 th , Al Straub 17 th , Glenn Brewer 20 th , Buck Baker 21 st , Bob Williams 23 rd with Bobby Brewer and Herb Kanady not starting. The GA drivers earned GA points based on their finishing position and calculated on the new system. It was reported that there would be 4 class winners in the event but I only have the overall results. I can tell you that the GA cars were not in a class by themselves but included in one of the SCCA classes as Wayne Andrews was not credited with a class win and did not receive a trophy.
Fin. St. Driver # Car Laps Status
1 Vince Gimondo 47 Camaro 53 Running
2 Burt Gafford 89 Camaro 51 Running
3 Wayne Andrews 97 Mustang 50 Running
4 Ruben Novoa 81 Porsche 49 Running
5 Manuel Garcia 36 Camaro 48 Running
6 James Locke 61 Porsche 48 Running
7 George Stone 76 Porsche 48 Running
8 Guido Levetto 0 Camaro 48 Running
9 Richard Weiss 27 Porsche 47 Running
10 John Elliott 80 Camaro 46 Running
11 Ernie Shaw 37 Mustang 46 Running
12 Bobby Clark 75 Datsun 43 Running
13 Tom Nehl 8 Camaro 42 Tranny
14 Paul Fleming 86 Firebird 41
15 David McClain 19 Porsche 35
16 Robert Whitaker 30 Volvo 34
17 Al Straub 74 Mustang 33
18 Phil Currin 99 Corvette 30
19 1 Dave Heinz 57 Corvette 24 Engine
20 Glenn Brewer 49 Mustang 10
21 Buck Baker 87 Firebird 9
22 Jerry Lustig 77 Fiat 8
23 bob Williams 78 Mustang 3
24 John Prasek 46 Porsche 3
Point Standings Midnight Challenge
- Wayne Andrews 158.5
- Ernie Shaw 137.5
- David Boggs 125.25
- AL Straub 109.25
- Glenn Brewer 74.5
- Buck Baker 71.25
- Bob Williams 59.75
CITRUS 250
Daytona International Speedway
Friday, February 18, 1972
The first stand alone race of the 1972 season for the Grand American Challenge Series brought the cars back to Daytona Beach Florida for the 4 th edition of the Citrus 250, a FIA sanctioned event. The FIA sanction opened the door for GN and international drivers to enter. Bobby Allison signed on to drive the Melvin Joseph Mustang with road course ringers Bob Jusola, Vic Elford, Herb Adams and Peter Gregg ready to mount GA cars. Herb Adams would team up with H.B. Bailey in one of Bailey’s Firebirds. Team Porsche driver Peter Gregg was scheduled to drive Reid Shaw’s Mustang that had been vacated by Wayne Andrews. Gentleman racer Shaw only wanted to race when and where he wanted, Wayne wanted to run for a championship and was given that opportunity by Jack StClair who owned a pipeline construction company in Roanoke, Va.. It was the first time Wayne would be a full time racer. He had worked for Shaw managing one of Shaw’s Tie-Rite neck ware plants during the week and racing on a hand shake on the week ends. They remained friends and when Gregg complained that the Mustang had no brakes and would not handle during practice Reid asked Wayne to drive the car to get a second opinion. Wayne went out and posted one of the quickest times of the day. Reid fired Peter Gregg and made a call to put Max Berrier in the car. When Andrews signed on the drive StClairs’ Pipeline Special there had already been a deal put together for Red Farmer to drive the car in the Citrus 250 so Wayne landed a ride in the Mustang owned by John Chisholm, who owned a construction company in Nova Scotia, Canada and had built a track patterned after Bristol called Riverside International Speedway. Engine problems plagued the team in practice and when the second engine broke it appear Wayne might miss the race but Red Farmer, who was nursing an injured leg that was bothering him when trying to tackle the road course, stepped out of the Pipeline Special and turned it over to Andrews.
H.B. Bailey averaged a speed of 108.999 mph to earn the pole position with James Hylton along side in a Camaro. Bobby Allison started third in a Mustang with Herb Adams in a Firebird fourth. Jeff Haar and Baxter Price in Camaros rounded out the top six. Wayne Andrews had qualified the Chisholm Mustang in 6 th but started in Farmers spot of 18 th when the Chisholm Mustang was scratched. Joie Chitwood Jr., Tommy Andrews and Randy Bannister rounded out the top ten starters but Tommy Andrews did not make the grid.
At the drop of the green on the back stretch it was Bailey taking the lead for 7 laps until Allison moved to the front. On lap 22 Allison spun off the track in turn 2 of the infield road course. He ended up next to turn 4, where he re-entered the race, bypassing a large piece of track. When he pitted with a tire vibration he was held on pit road for 30 sec. to make up for the time he gained during the spin. Wayne Andrews, who had charged through the field, took over the lead holding it for 13 laps until a driving rain storm with 40MPH gust hammered the speedway for about 10 minutes. Several cars spun more than once trying to make it to pit road for rain tires. In Andrews’ pit box when the crew spun the lug nuts off they disappeared under the water collecting there and they had trouble finding them extending their stay on pit road. Tiny Lund, who started 12 th , led several laps during the down pour as Bailey decided to park his car due to lack of rain tires. The rain caused enough havoc with spins and pit stops that the penalty did not hurt Allison much. When the rain stopped Allison drove to the front with Andrews second. With two to go Allison had close to a minute lead when Andrews rolled to a stop on the final infield turn out of gas. Lund, who had been running 3 rd a lap behind the leaders went by the parked Mustang to take second. Even without finishing Andrews claimed 3 rd as he had 2 laps on the rest of the field. Joie Chitwood Jr. and Jimmy Capps rounded out the top five.
Allison collected $4,550 of the $23,550 purse.
Fin. St. Driver # Car Laps Status
1 3 Bobby Allison 49 ’70 Mustang 67 Running
2 12 Tiny Lund 55 ’71 Firebird 66 Running
3 18 Wayne Andrews 15 ’70 Mustang 65 DNF
4 8 Joie Chitwood Jr. 77 ’69 Camaro 65 Running
5 Jimmy Lee Capps 90 ‘69 Camaro 65 Running
6 Max Berrier 15 ’71 Mustang 64 Running
7 Stick Elliott 57 ’71 Camaro 63 Running
8 Paul Tyler 79 ’69 Camaro 63 Running
9 5 Jeff Haar 67 ’69 Camaro 63 Running
10 7 Baxter Price 3 ’69 Camaro 63 Running
11 2 James Hylton 92 ’71 Camaro 61 Running
12 4 Herb Adams 96 ’71 Firebird 60 Gearbox
13 Bob Williams 76 ’70 Mustang 59 Off course
14 Glenn Brewer 19 ’69 Camaro 57 Running
15 Jerry Hufflin 60 ’69 Camaro 56 Running
16 Jim Hailey 4 ’69 Javelin 56 Running
17 Al Straub 74 ’71 Mustang 55 Running
18 Bill Chevalier 82 ’71 Camaro 46 Running
19 1 H. B. Bailey 36 ’71 Firebird 39 Tires
20 Vic Elford 00 ’71 Camaro 36 Drive shaft
21 Roy Stamey 25 ’69 Camaro 25 Running
22 David Boggs 86 ’71 Firebird 20 Engine
23 Pee Wee Wentz 5 ’69 Camaro 20 Engine
24 Mike Humphreys 94 ’71 Camaro 17 Tranny
25 Charlie Blanton 95 ’71 Camaro 15 Brakes
26 Bob Jusola 47 ’69 Camaro 15 Battery
27 Ernie Shaw 17 ’70 Mustang 15 Clutch
28 10 Randy Bannister 26 ’69 Camaro 11 Engine
29 Gary Myers 41 ’70 Mustang 11 Engine
30 Dave Dayton 81 ’70 Mustang 8 Engine
31 19 Buck Baker 87 ’71 Firebird 3 Engine
32 Tom Lilly 91 ’70 Camaro 1 Engine
Point Standings after Daytona
- Wayne Andrews 375.75
- AL Straub 246
- Glenn Brewer 219.75
- Bob Williams 209.50
- David Boggs 208.25
- Ernie Shaw 204.25
- Bobby Allison 183.75
- Tiny Lund 180.50
- Jimmy Capps 173.25
- Max Berrier 171.25
- Stick Elliott 168
- Paul Tyler 164.75
- Jeff Haar 162.75
- Baxter Price 160.75
- James Hylton 156.25
- Jerry Hufflin 142
- Jim Hailey 140
- Bill Chevalier 123.50
- Buck Baker 115
- H.B. Bailey 112.75
updated by @dennis-andrews: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM
1971 PAUL REVERE 250
Stock Car Racing History
"Sometimes it happens on the warm up lap"
My brother Keith reminded me of something about this race. The entrance to the road course portion of the track was after the flag stand and before the end of pit road. There were no physical barriers, only cones marking the turn. After taking the checkered flag dad slowed to take the left-hander into the infield. Just as he turned left he was hit from behind by Pete Harrison who had decided not to slow down and take to the infield but was going straight on toward the high banked turn one. Dad was OK but the tail end of the Mustang was crunched.
"Sometimes it happens on the cool down lap".