The 1965 Southern 500 contained tragedy, survivial from an amazing accident, 44 laps of caution flags, and a surprising winner by a long shot.
Junior Johnson recorded a qualifying speed of 137.571 mph to put his number 26 Ford on the pole. Sadly, on the first lap of the race, he is out for the day with ignition problems. No "start and park" there, just a misfortune for the North Carolina hard charger. Fred Lorenzen would start his Ford second, and Marvin Panch would start his Ford third. Earl Balmer in a Mercury would start fourth, and Darel Dieringer in another Mercury would start fifth. All of these cars were factory teams of Ford Motor Company, the only manufacturer activitely involved in the 1965 season as NASCAR had outlawed the Chrysler Corporation Hemi engine except for in the big Plymouth Furys and Dodge Polaras. General Motors was not "actively" involved in the sport in 1965.
Action started early as on the second lap, young driver, Buren Skeen, driving Reid Shaw's independant Ford entry, slid in turn three and was hit broadside by Reb Wickersham. Wickersham's Ford connected with the driver's door of the Skeen vehicle with such force it pushed the driver's seat to the right side of the car. Rescue workers took more than 20 minutes to remove an unconcious Skeen from the wreck. He was transported to the hospital in Florence where he would pass away 9 days later from internal injuries and the basal skull fracture received. Wickersham was badly shaken in the accident and spent the night in the hospital.
On lap 118, Sam McQuagg, in an independant Ford entry was battling Cale Yarborough for the lead as the pair entered turn one with Sam on the outside, Cale attempting the pass on the inside. For several laps prior, Cale had faked outside, then inside, then back to the inside setting up McQuagg for the pass. Part of that issue was the tricky passing at Darlington, and the other part was that McQuagg, in his Ford could outrun Cale in the Factory Banjo Matthews Ford. Cale sideswiped McQuagg, who refused to yeild to Cale merely because Cale was "factory material" and as the result of the sideswipe, Cale's Ford turned toward the guard rail (no concrete walls then) and the number 27 literally became airborne and sailed OVER the rail without ever touching it. Cale rolled and tumbled down the enbankment, coming to rest against a power pole. That accident has made more high reels than can be counted, and was included in the move "Red Line 7000" which was being made at the time.
Curtis Turner had been reinstated by NASCAR, not so much out of graciousness by the sanctioning body, but moreso to inspire the return of fans who were staying home in droves because of the Chrysler Corporation boycott and missing such drivers as Richard Petty and David Pearson. Turner entered the Southern 500 in Sam Fletcher '65 Plymouth Fury. The Fury was not made for racing and although the Hemi was allowed, the match of that engine with that car was not exactly race worthy. Turner would be out of the race by lap 51 with wheel bearing issues. However, another 1965 Fury, driven by three time Southern 500 winner, Buck Baker, would finish second, although 14 laps behind the winner.
Lorenzen led the first 32 laps, then Dieringer for 12 laps, then Balmer, Bobby Johns, Jim Paschal and Cale Yarborough. It was a close contest between those guys until Sam McQuagg took over on lap 88 and he would stay in front, in spite of Cale's best efforts, until Sam served as the launcher for Cale's short flight. The damage done by the encounter with Cale's car put McQuagg out.
The race then became a see-saw battle between Fred Lorenzen in his factory Ford and Darel Dieringer in his factory Mercury. Ned Jarrett stayed close but his factory Ford was experiencing overheating issues and he was nursing it along just to stay in the race. On lap 326 of the 364 lap race, leader Lorenzen headed for the garage with a blown engine. Even as Freddie was parking his Ford, smoke began to follow Dieringer's Mercury, smoke from the rear end as the differential was failing. He had a sizeable lead on then second place Jarrett and tried to limp the remaining laps until the Merc finally gave it up for good with 39 laps to go. That left Ned Jarrett in his Bondy Long Ford, in the lead, with an overheating engine, but with a 14 lap lead over second place.
Ned slowed to try to cool his car. The last 20 laps of the race, Ned was barely managing to average 117 mph per lap and by his own admission he was worried about NASCAR black flagging him for being too slow. Nevertheless, the blue Ford made the distance and it was very happy Ned Jarrett who celebrated with his family in Victory Lane that afternoon. Ned was the ONLY factory driver to finish the race.
Top ten finishers:
1. Ned Jarrett, Bondy Long Ford, winning $21,060.00
2. Buck Baker, Baker Plymouth, winning $9,170.0 (14 laps behind)
3. Darel Dieringer, Bud Moore Mercury, winning $7,200.00(out on lap 345)
4. Roy Mayne, Tom Hunter Chevrolet, winning $3,225.00 (19 laps behind)
5. Buddy Arrington, Arrington Dodge, winning $2,400.00 (20 laps behind)
6. H. B. Bailey, Bailey Pontiac, winning $1,750.00 (24 laps behind)
7. Stick Elliott, Toy Boltin Chevrolet, winning $1,500.00 (28 laps behind)
8. Frank Warren, Harold Rhodes Chevrolet, winning $1,250.00 (30 laps behind)
9. J. T. Putney, Herman Beam Chevrolet, winning $1,000.00 (34 laps behind)
10.Wendell Scott, Clay Esteridge Ford, winning $900.00 (44 laps behind)
Fred Lorenzen was credited with 11th although falling out on lap 319. PAUL LEWIS finished 14th, Wayne Smith 15th, G.C. Spencer 20th, Jim Paschal 22nd, Neil Castles 25th, Elmo Langley 26th, LeeRoy Yarbrough 27th, Buddy Baker 28th, Sam McQuagg 28th, and Cale Yarborough 29th. Marvin Panch was 37th, Tiny Lund 39th, and Lil Bud Moore 40th.
PERSONAL NOTES on this Southern 500:
During the 1965 season I observed the boycott of the races in respect for my affinity for Mopars and because my favorite, Richard Petty was not racing. I didn't even listen to the races on the radio with the exception of the Darlington races because Darlington was very special to me. Also, I did attend the two Grand National races at Columbia Speedway because that was MY track. I used to joke that there was law preventing the green flag from waving at Columbia Speedway unless I was in the infield. Many, many years later, as I became friends with one of our South Carolina Legislators, we joked about that and he offered to introduce a bill in the House to make that a law but Columbia Speedway had long since ceased to operate by then. BUT, the April race at Columbia Speedway played a big part in my pulling for Ned Jarrett in the 1965 Southern 500. Allow me to explain.
When Ned started driving for Bondy Long, his shop and home were in Camden, SC, about a 30 minute jaunt up highway 1 from my house. My cousin, Eddie, who would later help me on my own race car was a big fan of Ned. We often made the drive over to the shop where we were always treated great. Not many, if any fans, stopped race shops in those days. If Ned was there, he would spend all the time with us. We would go watch his sons play little league ball from time to time (although I cannot stand baseball). Ned was always so good to us and it was nice to have him just 30 minutes aways.
So, back to the Columbia Speedway race in April, 1965. We had all gone to the race in my 1965 Plymouth Belvedere (actually my Daddy's but I claimed it). As always, after the race, we hung around until almost the last to leave. We walked back to the car to find BOTH left side tired flat. I had run over something to flatten them. With only one spare and it now close to midnight, I was in trouble. Looking around, there were no cars left in the infield. The Firestone Tire truck was all loaded up and the guy who drove it was standing there talking to Ned. Ned had run second to Tiny Lund that night. When we walked up Ned asked what was wrong and when I told him, he pondered the thought for a minute and then saying his spare, being a Ford, would not fit my Plymouth. He turned to the Firestone guy and talked to him and before I could even think, the Firestone guy was headed to the infield with a jack. In short order, both tires were full of air and back on the car. The Firestone guy said there was "no charge" but I often wondered if Ned had taken care of it. I mentioned that to Ned about a year ago at the RacersReunion Hall of Fame induction where he was inducted and he really does not remember it although I think that is more along the lines of he doesn't want to remember it the way we did.
After the race, my cousin Eddie, who had gone to Darlington, called when he got home about 9:00 p.m. and wanted to know if I wanted to ride over to Camden and welcome Ned home. I declined because I had to go to work early the next day (parts department at the local Dodge dealer waiting on my Naval assignment to start). I have had a thousand regrets for not making that trip because Eddie told me how the reception was in Camden when Ned got there. Wish I could have been a part of that.
One final Ned Jarrett-Tim Leeming story. I was on active duty when Ned retired in 1967 and I wrote him a letter from my ship pretty much saying "thanks for the memories". About three weeks after that, I got a big brown envelope from Ned which included a program from the last Rockingham race he ran and one of the nicest letters I've ever gotten. Ned is quite a guy and was one awesome race driver.
OTHER SOUTHERN 500s run on September 6th.
1954:
1. Herb Thomas, Hudson
2. Curtis Turner, Oldsmobile
3. Marvin Panch, Dodge
4. Johnny Patterson, Mercury
5. Jim Paschal, Oldsmobile
1971:
1. Bobby Allison, Mercury
2. Richard Petty, Plymouth
3. Buddy Baker, Dodge
4. Bobby Isaac, Dodge
5. Dave Marcis, Plymouth
1976:
1. David Pearson, Mercury
2. Richard Petty, Dodge
3. Darrell Waltrip, Chevrolet
4. Dave Marcis, Dodge
5. Lennie Pond, Chevrolet
1982:
1. Cale Yarborough, Buick
2. Richard Petty, Pontiac
3. Dale Earnhardt, Ford
4. Bill Elliott, Ford
5. Buddy Baker, Pontiac
I have only included Southern 500s run on LABOR DAY in this series. The last Labor Day Southern 500 was September 5, 1983. I have my ticket stub under the glass here on my desk in The Lair. The ticket was for Grandstand B on Row 6, and cost $15.00
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
