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Racing History Minute - October 22, 1961
Stock Car Racing History
On this date in 1961, there were 38 drivers on the starting grid for the "Southeastern 500" to be contested on the half-mile Bristol International Speedway. The race was 500 laps/250 miles but the Bristrol track of 1961 was far different than the behemoth of a stadium where now 160,000 can watch a race. In 1961, the turns were much less banked and the stands could possibly have handled 20,000, if that. I attended races at Bristol in the 60s and believe me the track was nothing like it is today, but it sure had some good racing.
Bobby Johns, a Miami, Florida driver, qualified his Jack Smith Pontiac at 80.645 mph to win the pole. Joe Weatherly, contesting for the championship, qualified his Bud Moore Pontiac second. Bob Welborn in another Bud Moore Pontiac was third and Fireball Roberts in the Holly Farms Pontiac fourth. Emanuel Zervakis in the Monroe Shook Chevrolet would start fifth.
Bobby Johns led laps 1 through 30 before giving up the lead to Junior Johnson who was hustling another Holly Farms Pontiac from his 7th starting position to go out front. Bobby Johns went back in front on lap 213 but stayed there only until lap 231 when Fireball Roberts took over for 50 laps. Junior went back in front on lap 283 and commenced to run away from the field, building up a five lap lead over second place. On lap 394 of the 500 scheduled, Junior had a differential go bad in his Rex Lovette Pontiac and went behind the wall not to return to competiton. The lead now fell into the lap of Rex White who would hold onto that position until lap 419 when Joe Weatherly, running his Bud Moore Pontiac for all it was worth, flashed by to take over the lead. The last 81 laps of the race belonged to Lil Joe as he gardnered his 12th career win.
Jim Paschal was involved in a hard luck episode when, while running second to the rapid Junior Johnson at the mid point of the race, collected a spinning Tiny Lund, which damaged Paschal's J.H. Petty Pontiac enough that he had to pit for some "body work" and fell five laps behind. Jim was able to make up three of those laps to finish 4th, only two laps in arrears.
Finishing order:
1. Joe Weatherly, Bud Moore Pontiac, winning $3,680.00
2. Rex White, White-Clements Chevrolet, winning $2,365.00
3. Nelson Stacy, Holt-Stacy Ford, winniing $1,525.00
4.Jim Paschal, J. H. Petty Pontiac, winning $1,125.00 (2 laps down)
5.Emanuel Zervakis, Monroe Shook Chevrolet, winning $950.00 (5 laps down)
6. Ned Jarrett
7. Jimmy Pardue
8. Ken Rush
9. Bill Morton
10. Bob Welborn
11.Buck Baker
12. G. C. Spencer
13. L. D. Austin
14.Herman Beam
15.Curtis Crider
16. Wendell Scott
17.Bobby Johns
18. Brownie King
19. Bill Latham
20.Fred Harb
21.Jack Smith
22. Tiny Lund
23.Richard Petty
24. JuniorJohson
25. Joe Lee Johnson
26. Fireball Roberts
27.Bill Morgan
28.George Green
29.Johnny Allen
30.Bunkie Blackburn
31.PAUL LEWIS
32. Larry Thomas
33.Gene Blackburn
34.Friday Hassler
35.Joe Jones
36. Doug Yates
37. Tommy Irwin
38. Allen Franklin
Just a note here that Allen Frankling was driving a 1959 Nash and was blackflagged on lap 3 of the race for being "too slow". I haven't researched this yet, but I'm guessing this is one of the very last times a Nash competed in the NASCAR Cup series. Growing up, I lived not far from a family that would buy nothing but a Nash. I remember the early Ambassadors which had a back seat that would rival a nice sofa in your living room today. Remember the song about the "little Nash Rambler" that gave the Cadillac driver a fit "in second gear"? I don't remember the neighbors' Nash cars being hotrods, but as I sit here this morning I can still see that huge Ambassador. Guess I should have tagged this part as "personal memories".
Thank you for reading our History Minute series. Your memories, comments, and criticism is always welcomed and encouraged.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
For Those Thinking Only Great Stories in NASCAR Winston Racing Were in Southeast... I Offer True Story of Ruben Garcia
Stock Car Racing History
Thanks Dave. I was familiar with the name but definitely not the story of this fine driver. Thanks for educating me.
Racing History Minute - October 21, 1973
Stock Car Racing History
Yep, I loved it. Way to go Lennie.
Racing History Minute - October 21, 1973
Stock Car Racing History
Thanks, Billy B. Very nice addition to the History Minute and your contribution is greatly appreciated.
Racing History Minute - October 21, 1973
Stock Car Racing History
Thanks for adding this information William. I love it when folks like you come in with information my books and my memory can't provide. Thank you so much for adding to this History Minute.
Racing History Minute - October 21, 1973
Stock Car Racing History
Charles, we certainly think alike, don't we? lol
Racing History Minute - October 21, 1973
Stock Car Racing History
Good question William. Hope someone with background knowledge can answer that. lol
Racing History Minute - October 21, 1973
Stock Car Racing History
I did shoot the two Allisons. Sorry if that was not a good thing. Please note, however, there is NO D.W. in the photo.