SKYLAND 200
Weaverville, NC. August 17, 1968
The 15th Grand Touring race of 1968 was held at Asheville-Weaverville Speedway. A 1/2 mile paved oval. Tiny Lund put his Bud Moore Cougar on the pole with a time of 20.67 seconds and led the first 87 laps until the throttle linkage broke costing him to lose 6 laps in the pits for repairs. Lund would return to action and make a charge to the front but would eventually fall 1 1/2 laps short of Donnie Allisons Mustang who led laps 88 thru 200. It was the 5 th win of the season for Allison whose car had been qualified by his brother Bobby on Friday as Donnie had a modified race in Birmingham, which he also won. Bobby went on to finish 3 rd in a 68 Camaro. I dont know for sure but it could have been Stan Starrs car as he would later drive the #9 at Darlington. There were only two cautions for a total of 11 laps. The first was on lap 8 when Buck Baker blew an engine in turn 4 and the last was on lap 116 when Jack Ryans Porsche lost its right rear wheel . Twenty cars started the race with 15 running at the finish but I dont have a complete run down. Marty Robbins drove a 66 Dodge Dart in the event but I dont know where he finished. The crowd was estimated at 2,500 and the purse was $5,625 with Donnie getting $1,100 of it.
Buck Baker still held the point lead but his engine problems allowed Lund to pull from 3 rd to second only 11 points behind Baker.
After the race Bud Moore was asked how much the broken throttle linkage cost. Having overheard the question Mario Rossi pulled a nickel from his pocket and gave it to the reporter. Moore agreed, thats about right.
Fin Srt Car # Driver Car Laps Status
1 27 Donnie Allison 68 Mustang 200 Running
2 1 16 Tiny Lund 68 Cougar 198 Running
3 Bobby Allison 68 Camaro 196 Running
4 33 Bob Burcham 68 Javelin 195 Running
5 88 T. C. Hunt 68 Camaro 194 Running
Donnie Allison and car owner Jerri Huggins
I believe this is the Paul Conners Javelin Bob Burcham drove at Asheville-Weaverville
updated by @dennis-andrews: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
