Blue Hen 200
Dover International Speedway
Dover, Delaware
Sunday, August 9, 1970
Grand American race #26 of 1970 was the second one held at Dover International Speedway, a 1 mile paved oval. Cars were timed during Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning practice sessions with fastest cars starting in the rear of two ten lap qualifying races held just past noon before the 2:00 PM start time. David Pearson driving the Melvin Joseph owned Holman-Moody prepared Mustang won the fastest heat race and started from the pole position. Grand American rules prohibited Grand National drivers from competing in GA races except when they were FIA sanctioned events so the three time Grand National Champion had to get permission from NASCAR. NASCAR News Bureau Chief Phil Homer stated This is one of those very rare instances when NASCAR allows a GN driver to compete in a Grand American Challenge Series event. This is the first time a reigning GN Champion has ever been granted such permission. Neither Pearson nor the car were strangers to the speedway. David had won the pole for the 1st annual Mason-Dixon 300 won by Richard Petty after Pearson blew a tire and hit the wall. The Rollins Leasing sponsored Mustang had been driven to a second place finish in the Diamond State 250 by Sonny Hutchins earlier in the year and had been driven by Bobby Unser in a USAC Late Model stock car race in July. It was reported that nearly 40 drivers would attempt to make the field but only 25 cars started the race. Ken Rush the winner of the Diamond State 250 on May 31 st was recuperating at home after spending 5 days in the hospital because of injuries from a crash at Flemington, N.J. on Jully 22 nd .
Pearson battled Jim Paschal in the early part of the race as the two swapped the lead several times before Paschal wheeled his Javelin to victory after leading 133 of the 200 laps. Point leader Tiny Lund had been a contender until just past half way when he spun and pitted for tires. But after one lap he retired with a broken A-frame and finished 18 th . Second in points Wayne Andrews had blown another engine in his Shaw Racing Enterprises Cougar in practice but was able to get a ride in A.J. Coxs Mustang that he drove to a 4 th place finish and gained a few points.
Paschal collected $2,850 of the $15,565 purse for his 4 th win of the year. There were 4 cautions for 37 laps.
Fin Srt Car # Driver Car Laps Status
1 14 Jim Paschal 70 Javelin 200 Running
2 1 49 David Pearson 70 Mustang 199 Running
3 48 Bob Glass 69 Camaro 193 Running
4 65 Wayne Andrews 70 Mustang 192 Running
5 92 Paul Tyler 69 Camaro 189 Running
6 54 Bobby Fleming 68 Camaro 185 Running
7 33 Joe Dean Huss 69 Camaro 182 Running
8 31 Earle Canavan 69 Javelin 182 Running
9 61 Tommy Lechlider 69 Camaro 182 Running
10 34 Phil Gibson 68 Camaro 177 Running
11 88 T. C. Hunt 68 Camaro 173 Running
12 27 Jerry Hufflin 68 Camaro 173 Running
13 26 Richard Childress 68 Camaro 172 Running
14 19 Bobby Brewer 69 Camaro 165 Running
15 24 Bobby Wilson 68 Camaro 162 Running
16 87 Buck Baker 70 Firebird 160 Wreck
17 21 Frank Sessoms 68 Camaro 142 Running
18 55 Tiny Lund 70 Camaro 104 A-frame
19 17 Ernie Shaw 68 Mustang 96
20 16 Max Berrier 70 Javelin 91
21 7 Jimmy Vaughn 69 Camaro 81
22 86 David Boggs 69 Firebird 74
23 97 Johnny Allen 70 Mustang 34
24 64 Joe Phipps 70 Mustang 1
25 4 Jay Black 68 Camaro 1
Jim Paschal in the Warren Prout prepared Javelin.
David Pearson with the Melvin Joseph Mustang.
updated by @dennis-andrews: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
