NASCAR's short-lived Grand National East ran the second annual Hickory 276 at Hickory Speedway. The Cup series had an open date, and several of the regulars headed to Hickory's short track - most likely for fun and a bit of pocket change show money.
As the ad noted, several of the big dogs from Cup were expected including the 1972 winner Bobby Allison, Buddy Baker, and Cale Yarborough. But the Gaffney Ledger was more interested in the local angle of noting Gaffney's Charlie Blanton planned to join the fray.
Buddy Baker won the pole in the Harry Hyde prepared #71 K&K Dodge. Late model hot shoe Harry Gant qualified second driving Junie Donlavey's #90 Mercury.
After winning the pole, Baker was about as cool as can be as he awaited the start of the race.
Blanton was no slouch. He jumped right in there amongst 'em and gave 'em hell. He raced against legend Buck Baker in the mid-stages of the race. Blanton eventually notched a P5 while Baker finished 8th.
Baker and Bobby Allison were the only lap leaders. Baker led about 2/3 of the laps, and Allison led the remainder while racing in Cecil Gordon's #24 Chevrolet.
Based on the black hood of the 24, my guess is the car Allison drove was the same one Cecil Gordon drove in the Daytona 500. It was also around this time Will Cronkrite began working for Cecil. If he was with Cecil then, I'm curious if he worked the 24 for Allison that day at Hickory.
Baker finally seized the lead for good just past the halfway point and led the rest of the way to the checkers.
| Fin | Driver | Sponsor / Owner | Car |
| 1 | Buddy Baker | Nord Krauskopf | '73 Dodge |
| 2 | Bobby Allison | Cecil Gordon | '73 Chevrolet |
| 3 | Vic Parsons | Bill Seifert | '71 Ford |
| 4 | Harry Gant | Junie Donlavey | '71 Mercury |
| 5 | Charlie Blanton | Toy Bolton | '73 Chevrolet |
| 6 | Cale Yarborough | Richard Howard | '73 Chevrolet |
| 7 | Neil Castles | Neil Castles | '73 Dodge |
| 8 | Buck Baker | Buck Baker | '72 Pontiac |
| 9 | Wayne Andrews | Jack St. Clair | '70 Ford |
| 10 | Tiny Lund | Toy Bolton | '72 Chevrolet |
| 11 | Richie Panch | '71 Mercury | |
| 12 | Richard D. Brown | William Strong | '71 Chevrolet |
| 13 | Dave Marcis | '70 Dodge | |
| 14 | David Ray Boggs | R.L. Boggs | '70 Dodge |
| 15 | Bobby Fleming | Bobby Fleming | '73 Chevrolet |
| 16 | Ernie Shaw | Ernie Shaw | '70 Ford |
| 17 | Eddie Yarboro | Eddie Yarboro | '70 Plymouth |
| 18 | Rick Newsom | '71 Ford | |
| 19 | Max Berrier | '70 Mercury | |
| 20 | Wendell Scott | William Scott | '71 Ford |
| 21 | Elmo Langley | '73 Dodge | |
| 22 | Bill Shirey | Bill Shirey | '71 Plymouth |
| 23 | Richard Childress | '73 Chevrolet | |
| 24 | Bill Dennis | Bill Dennis | '72 Chevrolet |
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Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
