FLORIDA CITRUS 250 1970
Daytona International Speedway
Friday, Feb. 20, 1970
The 1970 season opened with an expanded schedule and a new name. What was formally the NASCAR Grand Touring division will now be the Grand American Challenge Series.
Also new for 1970 is the Camaro team of Tiny Lund and master mechanic Ronnie Hopkins that carried the familiar Pepsi colors. The 1969 model was used in the Citrus 250 because Chevrolet did not get the 70 version released in time. Jim Paschal and Warren Prout worked together in 69 for Huggins Tire Sales but formed a new company, American Performance Center Inc., and were signed by American motors to again field red, white and blue Javelins. Blue Oval fans again saw Wayne Andrews in Shaw Racing Enterprises Cougars even though there was no factory or corporate support. One of the Cougars soon carried 1970 sheet metal.
The second annual Florida Citrus 250 took place on the 3.81 mile road course at Daytona International Speedway and was an FIA sanctioned event which meant the NASCAR rule that Grand National drivers cannot compete in Grand American races did not apply. This allowed Grand National regulars David Pearson, Bobby Allison, James Hylton and Jim Hurtubise to enter as well as SCCA regular Don Yenko and Japanese champion Seiichi Suzuki. FIA rules also meant the race would be run rain or shine. Tire suppliers stood ready but clear skies kept the rain tires in the trucks.
Tiny Lund qualified on the pole with a speed of 105.8 MPH followed by Grand National regular James Hylton in a Camaro. Charlie Blanton started 3 rd also in a Camaro. The first non Chevy on the grid was Wayne Andrews in a 68 Mercury Cougar fourth. Fifth through 10 th were Jim Vandiver, Randy Hutchison, Gene Felton, Bobby Wilson, Bob Burcham and Buck Baker in a Pontiac Firebird. Grand National regular Bobby Allison started 11 th with 1969 Grand Touring Champion Ken Rush 12 th . 1969 Citrus 250 winner Don Yenko started 15 th with Dr. Wilbur Pickett 17 th and Seiichi Suzuki 18 th in a Tiger Tom Pistone prepared Cougar that was reported to be the same Bud Moore car he drove in 1969 with new 70 sheet metal. David Pearson turned in the second fastest time in a Holman-Moody Mustang but started 20 th as his run was made on the second day of qualifying.
Thirty eight cars took the green flag on the back stretch before a crowd of 12,500. Starting the race on the back stretch brings the event in at an even 250 miles. By the time the field reached the flag stand Tiny had a 15 car length lead but was passed by Hylton in the infield on lap 2 but was back out front by the time the lap was completed. Within the first 7 laps 5 cars dropped out with engine failure that included David Pearson and Jim Hurtubise who barely made one lap. The Lund- Hylton battle picked up steam as the two traded the lead dozens of times with James having the advantage on the road course and Tiny getting the edge on the speedway.
Don Yenko was making a charge through the field from 15 th starting spot and was 7 th by lap 4. On lap 8 he passed Wayne Andrews to take over 4 th position but 2 laps later pitted with the temperature gauge pegged. After several more pit stops he retired with a blown head gasket.
Randy Hutchison got by Andrews for 3 rd and swapped second with Hylton a couple of times as both made short trips through the grass. On lap 17 Randy headed down pit road trailing smoke and pulled behind the wall with a blown engine.
By lap 23 the track was so littered with debris from mechanical failures a yellow had to be displayed to allow track crews to collect all the pieces. The caution was a blessing for Jim Paschal who had made an unscheduled pit stop from 5 th place as it allowed him to close back up on the leaders. The caution was only out for two laps and by lap 26 Paschal had slipped by Andrews for 3 rd .
Lap 29 saw Hylton pass Lund for the lead in front of the grandstand with Lund taking it back the next lap. The crossed flags signaling the halfway point (34 laps) saw Lund and Hylton door handle to door handle. Two laps later Lund headed down pit road to a 2 and a half minute stop. As he came back on the track it was clear he was having transmission trouble, only 3 rd and 4 th gears left.
Hylton pitted from the lead on lap 43 which allowed Paschal to take over the lead for one lap until he came to pit road with Andrews right behind. Both cars left the pits together and over the next 10 laps put on quite a show as they sometimes passed each other as many as 3 times in one trip through the 1.3 mile infield course. On lap 53 Jim started to lose power and soon was on and off pit road eventually losing two laps.
When Paschal faded Andrews was 20 seconds behind the leader Hylton. By lap 65 he had closed to 12.5 seconds as Hyltons Camaro began to trail smoke. With oil pressure fluctuating the car lasted the remaining 2 laps giving James Hylton his first NASCAR touring division victory. In his first road course event Wayne Andrews, the 69 Grand Touring Rookie of the Year, was second for the 8 th time. Tiny Lund recovered for a 3 rd place finish the last car on the lead lap. 17 of the 38 starters were running at the finish. Hylton picked up $5,850 of the $28,600 purse and led 34 laps. Lund led 32 laps and Paschal led one lap with only 7 lead changes be recorded as most of the passing occurred during the laps.
James Hylton #48
Wayne Andrews #15 and Charlie Blanton #42
Seiichi Suzuki
updated by @dennis-andrews: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
