Oh, and for the record, the weather forecast for this morning was rain until early afternoon. If the sun was any brighter, even my wrap around sun glasses wouldn't protect me. Another weather forecast gone awry.
The 1963 Daytona 500 was quite the event. The twin qualifiers were proving grounds for the new Chevrolet teams of Ray Fox and Smokey Yunick. Johnny Rutherford was driving black and gold Yunick entry and the Ray Fox cars were piloted by Junior Johnson and G. C. Spencer. It seemed those Chevys were untouchable in the qualifying races.
The first 100 miler saw lead swapping between Junior, G.C., and pole starter Fireball Roberts before the Johnson Chevrolet set the pace for the last 16 laps with his teammate tucked right in behind him. The two Fox Chevrolets crossed the line literally together, but second place G. C. Spencer was assessed a two lap penalty for ignoring the black flag because his gas cap was missing. The race ended with an average speed of 163.681 as a wild pack of drafting cars set records from the fall of the green flag. After the penalty on G. C. Spencer, the top five finishers were:
1. Junior Johnson, Ray Fox Chevrolet
2. Paul Goldsmith, Ray Nichels Pontiac
3. A. J. Foyt, Ray Nichels Pontiac
4. Larry Frank, Holman-Moody Ford
5. Dan Gurney, Holman-Moody Ford
Fireball Roberts, who had dominated Daytona the year before, finished sixth in a Banjo Matthews Pontiac which Fireball labeled as "woefully short on power".
The second 100 miler got underway with a USAC Rookie, Johnny Rutherford, driving the Yunick Chevy. While Rutherford was not expected to be a real threat to the NASCAR regulars, the end result was that he blasted around Rex White with a handful of laps to go and beat White to the line by 3 car lengths, winning the first NASCAR Grand National race in which he competed. Rutherford averaged 162.969 mph before some 27,000 fans.
Race day Sunday dawned cool and with a light mist falling. Soon after daybreak, the mist turned into showers which became a steady rain. It was looking doubtful that the race would get underway that day, but NASCAR kept the faith and waited out the rain. The race took the green almost 2 hours late.
Before we get into the race details, we need to talk about what happened at Daytona 10 days before the 500. Marvin Panch, set to drive the Wood Brothers number 21 Ford was checking out a Maserati sports car when it went out of control, flipped and caught fire, trapping Marvin inside. Five men standing near where the car was burning rushed to his aid and saved Marvin's life, although he was severely burned and would not be able to compete in the 500. One of the men who risked their own life to save "Pancho" was Tiny Lund. Tiny had come to Daytona without a ride but his actions caused Marvin to ask the Wood Brothers to allow Tiny to drive the car in the 500. So, with a strip of silver duct tape, the name on the door changed from "Marvin Panch" to "Tiny Lund".
Fireball Roberts was starting on the pole by virtue of the Daytona qualifying rules as he had recorded the fastest time before the Twin 100s. He immediately took the lead in the Banjo Matthews Pontiac and was able to hold on for 10 laps before Bobby Johns, in another Pontiac, slipped by and took over. Johns led 10 laps and then Paul Goldsmith in yet another Pontiac went out front on lap 23 and was leading on lap 33 when the Pontiac began to lose power . Goldsmith hit the pits on lap 39 and went behind the wall with a burned piston, out of the race. A. J. Foyt, G. C. Spencer, Rex White and Larry Frank traded the lead back and forth through lap 70 when, for the first time, a Ford took the lead with Fred Lorenzen driving. Lorenzen would hold the lead through lap 105 before Bobby Johns swept by to lead a lap. Johns and Lorenzen were battling it out when Fireball slipped out front to lead 115. Bobby Johns took his Pontiac back to the point and stayed there through lap 118 before Gentleman Ned Jarrett took his Ford to the first spot. Ned would lead through lap 141 before Lorenzen worked his way back out front. The rest of the race was a lead swapping event between Lorenzen, Jarrett and Tiny Lund.
There were more than 70,700 fans in the stands, a record at the time, watching the lead swapping between 11 drivers for more than 30 lead changes. Although those notorious Chevys were hot in the qualifying races, durability was not their forte. Both Johnson and Spencer in the Fox cars were out by the half way point. Rutherford, in Yunick's Chevy was riding along saving his car for the end when he says a wind gust caused him to scrap the wall just enough to lose 4 laps in the pits repairing the damage.
With less that 10 laps to go, Ned Jarrett was leading when his Ford started to sputter just a little, letting Ned know he HAD to make a pit stop for gas. With Ned rolling down pit road, Tiny Lund in the number 21 swept by to take the lead he would hold the rest of the way. In a common Wood Brothers situation, they had out-smarted the competition, making one less pit stop than the other teams and running the entire 500 miles without a tire change. The fact there were only 2 caution flags for a total of 10 laps played into the Wood Brothers plans perfectly.
It was, indeed, a perfect ending to a script that could only have been written in Hollywood (and from a Daytona hospital bed) when Tiny Lund won the race. Emotions in Victory Lane overflowed into excitement for the fans in attendance who had just witnessed a great race and a great outcome.
Finishing order:
1. Tiny Lund, Wood Brothers Ford, winning $24,550.00
2. Fred Lorenzen, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $15,450.00 (24 seconds back)
3. Ned Jarrett, Burton-Robinson Ford, winning $8,700.00
4. Nelson Stacy, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $8,275.00 (1 lap back)
5. Dan Gurney, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $3,550.00 (1 lap back)
6. Richard Petty
7. Bobby Johns
8. Joe Weatherly
9. Johnny Rutherford
10. Tommy Irwin
11. Larry Frank
12. Troy Ruttman
13. LeeRoy Yarbrough
14. Rex White
15. Parnelli Jones
16. Darel Dieringer
17. Sal Tovella
18. Bob James
19. H. B. Bailey
20. Stick Elliott
21. Fireball Roberts
22. Ed Livingston
23. Jim Cushman
24. Herman Beam
25. Jimmy Pardue
26. Wendell Scott
27. A. J. Foyt
28. Jim Hurtubise
29. Red Foote
30. Johnny Allen
31. Len Sutton
32. G. C. Spencer
33. Floyd Powell
34. Jack Graham
35. John Rogers
36. Jim Paschal
37. Dick Goode
38. Jim McGuirk
39. Bob Cooper
40. Paul Goldsmith
41. Billy Wade
42. Junior Johnson
43. Bubba Farr
44. Jack Smith
45. Bunkie Blackburn
46. Reb Wickersham
47. Ralph Earnhardt
48. David Pearson
49. Ted Hairfield
50. Curtis Crider
PERSONAL MEMORIES: My Uncle Bobby had been planning our second trip to Daytona for about a month prior, which was unusual for him as he was usually a "let's do this" kind of guy. There were many times in my youth when I would be helping Bobby wash a car or something and he would say something like "let's go to Greenville Pickens Speedway tonight. 30 minutes later we were in the car and off to the track. That was what it was like growing up with him. I sort of got used to that life style although in my later years I sort of give myself a day or two to plan things.
I do remember that the Friday before the 500 weekend I woke up not feeling too well and could tell I had a slight fever. I don't recall anytime you would have seen a 15 year old get ready for school faster, making sure Mama never got a chance to get a good look at me. She could always tell when I was sick by just looking at me. I also recall suffering through school that day, not only because I wasn't feeling well, but because the next day we would be on the way to Daytona. Somehow I made it.
When I got off the school bus, I headed straight to my room with the excuse I had "a lot of homework to do" so I could avoid Mama. I accomplished that well and by supper time I think I was feeling better and did not seem to have a fever. Sleep did not come easy that night as I was so excited about my second trip to Daytona.
The next day, Uncle Bobby called me over to his house and as I walked across the street I could only dread that something had happened and we weren't going. When he met me in the driveway, he told me to look behind the house. Parked back there was a brand NEW 1963 Plymouth Belvedere, blue, but not Petty blue. He had bought the car the day before and had hidden it from me to surprise me with the Daytona trip in that new car.
Saturday afternoon we headed out. Uncle Bobby, Aunt Mary, Cousin Debbie, me, and the new Plymouth! It was quite a trip to Daytona in that shiny new car. I got to ride up front most of the trip and I thought it was really cool to look across the hood and see that Plymouth emblem sitting up tall in the center of the hood. I still like that emblem.
We arrived at Daytona after dark and pulled into the track infield. The first turn area where we had parked the year before was pretty well filled so we drove across to the banks of Lake Lloyd and parked by the fence overlooking the lake. It was too dark to see much but it looked like a good spot.
When daylight broke in the misty rain, I wasn't feeling too well, but we could see from turn one all the way down into turn three and, if we stood up in the trunk, we could see the high part of the tri-oval. Now, that was a view to see. I can almost see that through my imagination right now.
Mid morning the rain stopped and it looked like just a cloudy day. I put on my jacket and hat (yes a cowboy hat but sans the feathers) and walked over to the pit fence. Several of the drivers could be seen in the garage area and some would even walk over to the fence and talk to fans. Suddenly, with no warning, it began to rain pretty hard. I had no cover under which to hide so I ran back to the car. By the time I got back I was soaked through and through. I sat inside the car and shivered while Aunt Mary wrapped a blanket around me. Uncle Bobby was debating whether or not to leave and head back to Columbia so I put in my two cents worth saying we were in Daytona so we may as well stay. I remember saying "they are going to race today". A little later that afternoon, as the cars roared around the track, I briefly considered a future in weather forecasting but quickly dismissed that to return to my dream of racing. Had I ever imagined that weather forecasters could make such good money for being consistently wrong, I may have reconsidered. Oh well, too late now.
So, the story of the race is written above. The story of me and the race is here for you to read. Hope you readers don't mind my personal touches to these History Minutes but it is the history of me as well as the racing. I can go on to say that when we got home about 4:00 a.m., my mother was waiting for her boy to come in. As soon as I walked in the door, she said "you're sick" and she did that mother thing of feeling my forehead and said "you have a fever". She got the thermometer and, indeed, 102 was the score. I was in bed the rest of the week with what they first thought may have been pneumonia but turned out it was only a bad cold (or maybe the flu). I remember Mama saying "you're never going back to Daytona". I didn't really take that threat seriously as Uncle Bobby was her "little brother" and he could pretty much get his way with her when he needed to. Oh, those were the days!
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
In 1962, Daytona continued with the twin 100 mile qualifying races. Let's begin with the first one where Fireball Roberts was able to run 100 miles in just over 38 minutes and beat Junior Johnson when Johnson's Pontiac began to sputter with an empty fuel tank. When the green dropped on this race, it was a Roberts and Johnson show. The two traded the lead back and forth as the "drafting" effect was still being perfected. After the race Fireball said Johnson was ticking him off because Johnson chose to follow more than lead and Fireball wanted the benefit of the draft to save some fuel. As it worked out, it was Johnson who had the fuel issues. Fireball was driving for Smokey Yunick and Smokey's cars were known to get excellent fuel "mileage" at Daytona. "Mileage" is quoted because the story is well known about the time NASCAR took the fuel tank from a Yunick car only to have Yunick drive off with the fuel left in all the hidden places he had constructed.
Fireball averaged 156.999 mph for the 100 miles to win over Jack Smith. Top Five finishers were:
1. Fireball Roberts, Smokey Yunick Pontiac
2. Jack Smith, Smith Pontiac
3. Cotton Owens, Owens Pontiac
4. Dan Gurney, Lafayette Ford
5. Junior Johnson, Holly Farms Pontiac
The Second 100 miler started with a bang as pole winner, Darel Dieringer, by virtue of his victory in a 25 lap qualifying race for the 100 milers held five days before this event, was involved in a spectacular 6 car melee on lap three that eliminated him as well as Marvin Panch, Speedy Thompson and Bobby Johns.
When the race resumed, Banjo Matthews was leading in his Pontiac until lap 12 when Joe Weatherly pushed his Bud Moore Pontiac to the front. Weatherly would lead the rest of the way to win with an average speed of 145.395 mph. Top five finishers were:
1. Joe Weathery, Bud Moore Pontiac
2. Nelson Stacy, Holman Moody Ford
3. Rex White, Louis Clements Chevrolet
4. Richard Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth
5. Johnny Allen, B. G. Holloway Chevrolet
The Sunday of the 500 dawned clear and bright, although a little chilly. As the cars lined up for the start, the black and gold of Fireball's Pontiac seemed to add a luster to the field as it sparkled in the sun. The cars rolled off pit road behind the pace car and the earth shook, literally, as the parade and then pace laps allowed the cars to warm up to race temps.
It was the plan of Smokey and Fireball to run "flat out" the entire race. Roberts had been a major factor in all three previous 500s only to be denied by mechanical failures. This year he had won everything Daytona had to offer and was prepared to take home that trophy as well.
On the green flag, Joe Weatherly slipped his Pontiac to the point before losing the lead on lap 2 to Fireball. On lap 4, Junior Johnson, always the lead-foot, took over but could only maintain that lead for 1 lap before Fireball went back out front. From lap 16 to lap 41, Johnson and Roberts swapped the lead back and forth as the draft and the slingshot were being put to the test. On lap 42, a young Richard Petty in the bright blue Plymouth took over and was able to lead 4 laps before the swift Pontiac brigade of Roberts and Johnson went back to the battle for the top spot.
As the Pontiacs flexed their superior horsepower, Petty managed to tuck his smaller Plymouth behind the brutes with the Indian head emblems and hung on for dear life. The last 100 laps of the race were between Fireball and Johnson, for sure, with Fireball dominating, but Petty would slip into the lead on occasion. Petty would last lead on lap 150 before Fireball went to the front on lap 151 to lead the remaining 49 laps in fine fashion.
The checkered flag was waving for Fireball as he roared off turn four, 27 seconds ahead of Petty, and finally, after such heartbreak in the previous 500s, this one was his, all his. He had virtually dominated Daytona during Speedweeks of 1962.
Buck Baker had crashed on lap 83, putting his Chrysler hard into the wall. Buck was taken to the hospital but was released with only minor injuries. Darel Dieringer who was supposed to start a Ray Fox Pontiac, was left without a ride at the last minute when NASCAR allowed only one Fox Pontiac to start. Darel took over for Banjo Matthews and was able to finish 8th in the Matthews Pontiac. This was also the race that saw a young, brash, Cale Yarborough make his first Daytona 500 start. Cale was driving for Julian Buesink in a Ford that made only four laps before ignition wires burned and parked the car, giving Cale a last place finish in his first Daytona 500.
After the race. the Petty team filed an official protest with NASCAR, alleging the Yunick crew pitting Fireball, had more men over the wall on pit stops than the allowed six. Three days later NASCAR issued it's ruling that the protest was based on "hearsay" and had no "merit" and was therefore dismissed.
Finishing order:
1. Fireball Roberts, Smokey Yunick Pontiac, winning $24,190.00
2. Richard Petty,Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $10,250.00 (27 seconds back)
3. Joe Weatherly, Bud Moore Pontiac, winning $7,100.00 (1 lap back)
4. Jack Smith, Smith Pontiac, winning $4,025.00 (1 lap back)
5. Fred Lorenzen, Lafayette Ford, winning $2,975.00 (1 lap back)
6. David Pearson
7. Rex White
8. Banjo Matthews with relief from Darel Dieringer
9. Ned Jarrett
10. Bob Welborn
11. Bill Wimble
12. Ernie Gahan
13. Bunkie Blackburn
14.Jim Paschal
15. Jim Cushman
16. Johnny Allen
17.Speedy Thompson
18. Billy Wade
19. Paul Burrow
20. Thomas Cox
21. Art Brady
22. Herman Beam
23. Curtis Crider
24. Jim McGuirk
25. Gerald Duke
26. George Alsobrook
27. Dan Gurney
28. Buck Baker
29. Buddy Baker
30. Bobby Johns
31. Larry Thomas
32. Ed Livingston
33. Cotton Owens
34. Junior Johnson
36. Bob Burdick
37. Ralph Earnhardt
38. Charlie Griffith
39. Sal Tovella
40. Red Farmer
41. Jim Bennett
42. Tommy Irwin
43. Nelson Stacy
44. Marvin Panch
45. G. C. Spencer
46. Larry Frank
47. Elmo Langley
48. Cale Yarborough
PERSONAL MEMORIES: This was my first trip to Daytona. Uncle Bobby had decided, about two weeks before, that we would go. His wife, my Aunt Mary, their daughter Debbie, Uncle Bobby and I would head south for the race. Uncle Bobby said we also needed to be there Saturday for the Modified-Sportsman race so the plan was to leave Friday. Enter my Aunt Mary's love for Rod Serling's "Twilight Zone" (which I shared by the way) that came on at 10:00 p.m. on Friday night. It was decided we would watch "Twilight Zone" and then head south.
As soon as the show was over, we climbed in Uncle Bobby's 1957 Plymouth and began what would turn out to be a "Twilight Zone" type trip. It was one very foggy night. By the time we were on Highway 17 through Georgia (maybe 17A) the fog was so thick we could barely see the chrome fender markers on the front of that Plymouth. Fortunately, traffic was almost non-existant as we made the trip.
We arrived at the track just as the sun was coming up and went through the tunnel into an infield the likes of which my imagination had never envisioned. It seemed endless. Uncle Bobby secured us a spot up next to the fence in turn one and that is where we would spend the next two days. The modified sportsman race was exciting but what I remember most is those early 50s Studebakers coming by like rockets. Not sure but maybe it was LeeRoy Yarbrough winning that day.
After sleeping in the spacious Plymouth (back when I was much smaller) I was up against the fence, sitting in a lawn chair we had packed, long before the race was due to start. I think I was absolutely in awe of what I was seeing but I was not prepared for the sound of those cars when the "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines" command was given. All my years around the short tracks and every those trips to Darlington since 1957 had not prepared me for the guttural sound of that much horsepower. When the green flag waved and those cars came by me at speed on the first lap my eyes must have been as big a Chevrolet Hubcaps!!
To wrap up my feelings from that day, I was excited to see my driver, Richard Petty, lead the laps he did, and to be able to draft so closely to the black and gold Pontiac of Roberts. I was disappointed Petty didn't win but I figured, at that time, that running second at Daytona and that second being to Fireball Roberts was a pretty good outing. I do recall that watching Fireball that day I realized that he was the epitome of a race driver for a track like Daytona. I can still see that Pontiac roaring around those turns as smooth as a silk sheet. Fireball was awesome that day, as he was so many days at Daytona. He came back to win the 250 in July to totally rule Daytona in 1962.
As the memories of that race are so vivid in my mind this morning, I have a lot to smile about. It was as awesome a race as has ever been run at Daytona. It was inconceivable to me that day in 1962, that 52 years later I would be invited to attend the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony by the grandson of Fireball Roberts. Matty McDaniel, said grandson, invited me to the banquet and the ceremony and during that event, videos of that race were shown several times. Watching that number 22 again really took me back to that infield fence on that cool Daytona Sunday in 1962. It was a great feeling!
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
When reviewing the first three Daytona events, it seems strange that the first Daytona 500 in 1959 was run without a single caution flag. Maybe the drivers were being extra careful because of the new track and the fast speeds, but we have already discussed that 1960 was under caution for 32 laps. The 1961 Daytona 500 was, once again, run without a caution flag but the qualifying races proved disaster for several drivers.
The first 100 miler run on February 24th was led to the green by Fireball Roberts in the Smokey Yunick Pontiac. Jim Paschal in the Daytona Kennel Pontiac flanked Roberts and battled him throughout the race for the lead. A crowd of 17,500 fans watched what turned out to be more of a "last man standing" event as 13 cars were wiped out in accident after accident resulting in five drivers being transported to the local hospital. In fact, the race was stopped on the 39th of 40 laps when Junior Johnson ran over some debris while racing side by side with Fireball. Junior's spinning Pontiac clipped the Plymouth of Richard Petty and Petty sailed over the guard rail and crashed far below the track nose first, driving the engine into the cockpit with Petty. Richard suffered injury to both eyes and a cut on his hand. Johnson suffered a lacerated chin and a possible injury to his jaw.
Pete Boland had already severely cut both hands when he hit the wall hard on lap 32. Wes Morgan was transported to the hospital spinal injuries after a tangle with Dave Mader, causing Morgan's car to flip several times. Mader was treated for neck injuries. There were 10 of the 39 laps run under caution when the caution flew five times.
Fireball Roberts would take the victory under yellow and red flags. Average speed for the event was 129.711.
Top Five Finishers:
1. Fireball Roberts, Smokey Yunick Pontiac
2. Jim Paschal, Daytona Kennel Pontiac
3. Jack Smith, Smith Pontia
4. Buck Baker, Baker Chrysler
5. Ned Jarrett, B. G. Holloway Chevrolet
Second 100 mile qualifying race:
Joe Weatherly in Bud Moore's Pontiac, would start on the pole for this second qualifying race of 1961. Fans were still trying to resolve the destruction they had witnessed in the first 100 miler as the green flag waved and Weatherly stormed into the lead. On the second lap, fourth place starter, Banjo Matthews in a Ford, blew by to lead for 2 laps before Curtis Turner flexed the muscles of his Ford and moved out front. Matthews took over again on Lap 8 but would only stay there for 2 laps before Turner went back to the point. Banjo Matthews and Joe Weatherly swapped the lead back and forth. Banjo was actually leading on the final lap but briefly lost control of his Ford coming off turn four and bounced off Weatherly's Pontiac and clipped the wall. He was not injured and accepted full blame for the accident.
With Matthews eliminated from a chance to win, Marvin Panch moved up to challenge Weatherly, but lost out by 3 car lengths at the line.
Remember the first Daytona 500 and the two principals involved, Lee Petty and Johnny Beauchamp? Well, these two drivers were racing for position on the last lap when the Plymouth of Petty and the Chevy of Beauchamp hooked bumpers at 150 mph. Both cars crashed through the turn three guard rail, sailing into the air as though catapulted by a huge machine. Rescue squads rushed to the scene and could hardly believe the carnage.
Speedway Medical Director, Dr. A. A. Monaco reported that Petty suffered a punctured lung, multiple fractures to the left chest area, a fractured collar bone and multiple internal injuries. Beauchamp suffered head injuries. Even spectator A. B. Kelly from Nashville Tennessee, one of the first people on the scene, was injured when the car of Lee Petty rolled over on Kelly's hand, severely lacerating the hand, as Kelly was attempting to do what he could for Petty.
Top Five Finishers:
1. Joe Weatherly, Bud Moore Pontiac
2. Marvin Panch, Smokey Yunick Pontiac
3. Cotton Owens, Owens Pontiac
4. Banjo Matthews, Warrior Motel Ford
5. Darel Dieringer, Ray Nichels Pontiac
So, the field was set for the 500 with Fireball Roberts in the number 22 Pontiac on the pole, Joe Weatherly in the Bud Moore Pontiac starting to his outside, Jim Paschal in the Daytona Kennel Pontiac in third, Marvin Panch in a year old Yunick Pontiac fourth and Jack Smith in his own Pontiac fifth.
Fireball led the first 12 laps before giving way to Banjo Matthews for 2 laps. Nelson Stacy would put his Ford out front on lap 16 and lead 2 laps before it was once more Fireball out front. Stacy slipped back out front on lap 31 and stayed there for two laps until Junior Johnson ran him down and put the Holly Farms Pontiac in the lead. Johnson stayed there fore 3 laps and then Stacy again assumed the front spot. Johnson went back out front on lap 40 but on lap 42 the engine in the Pontiac began to sputter and 2 laps after that, Johnson was out of the race with a blown engine.
With Junior's departure, Fireball blasted out front and he led from lap 43 to lap 187 of the 200 scheduled laps. With 13 laps left, holding almost a full lap lead over second place, the sour luck of Fireball in the Daytona 500 slapped him again as the black and gold Pontiac came off turn four and headed into the pits trailing smoke from the tailpipes. Fireball was done for the day.
Fireball climbed out of the smoking car and headed into the infield while the second Smokey Yunick car, wheeled by Marvin Panch, found itself in the lead. With 13 laps left, Marvin cruised on to victory with a new record speed of 149.619 in a caution free race.
Two notes of interest here include Fred Lorenzen, a USAC driver of note, came to Daytona without a ride but was able to talk Tubby Gonzales into having him (Fred) drive the Tubby Gonzales Ford. Fred would take the ride to a fourth place finish. The other note of interest concerns giant Buddy Baker who ran the entire race, finishing 55 laps off the pace in 40th position out of 58 starters. Buddy was driving one of the 1961 Chryslers fielded by his father Buck.
Finishing Order:
1. Marvin Panch, Smokey Yunick Pontiac, winning $21,050.00
2. Joe Weatherly, Bud Moore Pontiac, winning $9,150.00 (16 seconds back)
3. Paul Goldsmith, Ray Nichels Pontiac, winning $5,900.00
4. Fred Lorenzen, Tubby Gonzales Ford, winning $3,825.00 (2 laps down)
5. Cotton Owens, Owens Pontiac, winning $2,975.00 (2 laps down)
6. Jack Smith
7. Ned Jarrett
8. Johnny Allen
9. Buck Baker
10. Tom Pistone
11. Bob Welborn
12. Rex White
13. Jim Reed
14. Sal Tovella
15. Charlie Glotzbach
16. Darel Dieringer
17. Tom Dill
18.Emanuel Zervakis
19. Joe Kelly
20. Fireball Roberts
21. David Pearson
22. Friday Hassler
23. Elmo Henderson
24. Tim Flock
25. Elmo Langley
26. Harlan Richardson
27.Banjo Matthews
28. Bob Roeber
29. Ed Livingston
30. Jimmy Pardue
31. Bobby Allison
32. Paul Parks
33. Roscoe Thompson
34. Herman Beam
35. Reb Wickersham
36. Bob Burdick
37. Joe Lee Johnson
38.Larry Frank
39. PAUL LEWIS
40.Buddy Baker
41. Marshall Sargent
42. Brian Naylor
43. Ed Markstellar
44. Nelson Stacy
45. Tommy Irwin
46. Darrell Drake
47. Junior Johnson
48. Red Hollingsworth
49. Jim Paschal
50. Bobby Johns
51. George Tet
52. T. C. Hunt
53. Curtis Crider
54. Don Odell
55. Curtis Turner
56. Wilbur Rakestraw
57. Ernie Gahan
58. Ken Johnson
PERSONAL MEMORIES: This was one race Uncle Bobby and I did not listen to together. He was very upset about the injuries to Lee Petty and was genuinely concerned that the injuries Lee had suffered would take his life. That entire weekend Bobby would listen to anything on the radio and actually waited for both the morning and afternoon newspapers (yes those did exist back then) to arrive and he would rip right to the sports sections to see if there was any news. Coverage of racing back then nowhere nearly approached what it is today, of course. As time dragged on, Uncle Bobby would put me up to calling the hospital in Daytona to see how Lee was doing. This was before the days of HIPPA, and the hospital staff would actually tell you what was going on. The first couple of weeks, we were calling like every other day. I wish I could remember the name of the young lady who always seemed to answer the switchboard. She was very nice and very patient with this young kid calling to check on a race driver.
When the afternoon of the 500 came up, Uncle Bobby refused to listen as neither Lee nor Richard were in the race. I walked back across the street and turned on the rather sizeable black plastic radio with the white knobs and found the race. I listened to the entire thing and felt sorry for Fireball having dominated for so long and then losing when the engine blew. Little did I know that the following year I would be in the infield at Daytona pulling AGAINST Fireball in the latter stages as he was leading and my man was running second. We'll cover that event in the next Racing History Minute.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
One could only hope. However, it appears that this time he will be helping out two deserving guys. I am a big Cole Whitt fan.
Thanks for posting Andy. I like this. Now if they just enforce it properly.
For today's History Minute, we will cut directly to "the chase" (get that one?) and offer a brief recap of the two qualifying races run on February 12, 1960. In the first 40 lap/100 mile race, Cotton Owens was on the pole with a qualifying speed of 149.992 but Fireball Roberts was the fastest qualifier with a speed of 151.556. Both drove Pontiacs. Fireball took the lead on lap one and was never passed.
The "excitement" of the race was a lap one crash which sent Tommy Irwin's T-Bird into Lake Lloyd nose first. Three cars, Gene White, Dave Hirshfield and Irwin hooked together coming off turn two on the first lap and Irwin's car flew across the infield grass, jumped the dirt embankment and dove head first into the lake. He exited the partially submerged car and swam to shore uninjured.
The race ended with Fireball Roberts absolutely dominating the field, winning by one second over Cotton Owens. Top five finishers were:
1. Fireball Roberts, John Hines Pontiac
2. Cotton Owens, Owens Pontiac
3. Fred Lorenzen, Lorenzen Ford
4. Joe Weatherly, Holman Moody Ford
5. Junior Johnson, Daytona Kennel Chevrolet
Average speed for the race was 137.614 which was slowed by 2 caution flags for five laps.
Jack Smith was on the pole for the second 100 miler, driving the Boomershine Pontiac. Bobby Johns would start second in the Stephens Pontiac. Jack Smith was never headed and led all 40 laps. There were two caution flags, one lap for each, the first when John Rostek spun on lap six and the second when Johnny Dodd, Jr. crashed into the wall on lap 15. Curtis Turner and Johnny Beauchamp, both driving Holman Moody Fords, crashed in separate incidents, neither of which brought out the caution flag.
The very first black flag ever waved at Daytona International Speedway was for Herman Beam. That's right, the proverbial NASCAR turtle had run 8 laps WITHOUT his helmet before NASCAR realized the helmet was in the pits and Herman was up to speed (for him) out on the track.
Jack Smith set a blazing speed of 146.520 mph for the 100 miles in spite of the two caution flags. That Pontiac was flying for those 40 laps.
Top five finishers:
1. Jack Smith, Boomershine Pontiac
2. Bobby Johns, Jim Stephens Pontia
3. Jim Reed, Reed Chevrolet
4. Rex White, Piedmont/Friendly Chevrolet
5. Bob Welborn, Welborn Chevrolet
Jack Smith was 2 seconds ahead of second place Bobby Johns when the checkers waved.
It was a windy, cool, but sunny Sunday afternoon when 68 cars and drivers took the green flag for the second Daytona 500, which was actually the fifth race of the 1960season. Cotton Owens started on the pole, but would be sidelined on lap 149 when his transmission failed. Fireball wasted no time, however, taking over in his Pontiac as he led laps 1 through 19 before Jack Smith in the Boomershine machine took over for 8 laps. Junior Johnson in the year old Chevrolet led laps 29 through 36 then it was Smith again. Laps 37 through 134 saw the lead swap hands between Smith, Johnson, Roberts, Tiger Tom Pistone, Rex White and Lee Petty. On lap 135, a young Richard Petty took over and he stayed out front until yielding that position to his Daddy on lap 164. Bobby Johns stormed around Lee on lap 170 and appeared on his way to a win when a freak occurrence took place coming off turn two on lap 192. For reasons explained only as a "wind pocket", the rear window was sucked out of the Pontiac and the resulting in-rushing of air at that speed caused Bobby to lose control and spin. The car was not damaged, other than the loss of the rear window, so Bobby righted the car and took off. His seven second lead was gone, but not his desire to win as he tried without success to run down Junior Johnson. Such was not to be as Junior Johnson went under the checkered flag with a 23 second lead over Johns at the line.
It is said that it was at this race that Junior Johnson discovered "drafting". Some say it was in the first race at Daytona that Junior discovered the principle. Either way, whether or not drafting, or the freak wind event with Bobby Johns' rear window helped him win, Junior was certainly one very happy country boy that afternoon. Junior averaged 124.740 mph for the event which was slowed by caution after caution flag for a total of 32 laps. There were, in fact, so many demolished race cars littering the garage area at the track, that NASCAR decided then and there to cancel the next two races on the schedule. Tracks at Palmetto Speedway in Miami, and Hollywood Speedway in Hallandale, Fla, were both scheduled for 100 mile events over the next two weeks, but NASCAR was afraid there would be few cars available to race. With that thought, the races were cancelled.
Somewhat odd by today's standards, the car owner for Junior Johnson donated his entire portion of the winnings to charity. That's right, owner John Masoni of Cleveland, Ohio, stated "we're in this racing game for fun, not profit". These days you can't imagine there being a profit from race winnings to begin with but I think that one statement speaks volumes for racing the way it was in those early days.
Tiger Tom Pistone was injured when he crashed into the turn four wall with four laps to go. He suffered a broken collar bone, a concussion, and internal injuries.
Finishing order:
1. Junior Johnson, Daytona KennelChevrolet, winning $19,600.00
2. Bobby Johns, Jim Stephens Pontiac, winning $8,600.00 (23 seconds back)
3. Richard Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $6,450.00
4. Lee Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $3,650.00
5. Johnny Allen, HanleyDawson Chevy, winning $3,300.00 (1 lap down)
6. Ned Jarrett
7. Curtis Turner
8. Fred Lorenzen
9. Rex White
10. Emanuel Zervakis
11. Bud Burdick
12. Tom Pistone
13. Bob Welborn
14. Jim Reed
15. Bob Potter
16. Darrell Dake
17. Whitey Gerkin
18. Buck Baker
19. Banjo Matthews
20. Shep Langdon
21. Jimmy Pardue
22.Larry Frank
23. Jack Smith
24. Wilbur Rakestraw
25. Joe Caspolich
26. Gene White
27. Ken Johnson
28. David Pearson
29. Gene Marmor
30. Brownie King
31. G.C. Spencer
32. Herman Beam
33. Reb Wickersham
34.L. D. Austin
35. Dick Joslin
36.Mel Larson
37. Paul Parks
38. Arnold Gardner
39. Herb Tillman
40. Cotton Owens
41. JoeWeatherly
42. Dick Dixon
43. Roy Tyner
44. Bob Kosiske
45. Tommy Herbert
46. Marvin Panch
47.Jim Whitman
48. Johnny Sudderth
49.Harold Smith
50.Pappy Crane
51. Tiny Lund
52. Elmo Langley
53. Bill Lutz
54. Parnelli Jones
55. George Green
56. Red Farmer
57. Fireball Roberts
58. Bob Duell
59. Elmo Henderson
60.Bob Burdick
61. Richard Foley
62. Speedy Thompson
63.Dave Hirschfield
64. Joe Lee Johnson
65. Charlie Griffth
66. Burrhead Nantz
67. Sal Tovella
68. Richard Freeman
PERSONAL MEMORIES: I don't recall the weather in South Carolina that day, but I do recall that, as usual, Uncle Bobby and I were listening to the race together. I can remember how I was whopping and hollering when Richard Petty was leading and I remember Bobby giving me his oft-repeated statement that "Richard Petty would never equal his Daddy". I got the last laugh that day as Richard beat Lee by one position. Gotta applaud Uncle Bobby though. When Lee ended his driving career, Uncle Bobby came right on board with Richard Petty. We were at a lot of races together to see Richard win. I remember a Daytona 500 (1964) when we were parked over by Lake Lloyd on the back straight when Richard was just blowing away the competition. Uncle Bobby told me as we were exiting the infield, that he was thinking that Richard "might just make it as a race driver". Great memories.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
Thanks, Charles Ray. I had heard that story from Brownie King. I appreciate your kind words and enjoy doing those things just for folks like you.
February is here! Cold though it is, it also means things will be warming up in Daytona in just a few days as the teams report to the track to prepare for the running of the Daytona 500. The Cup series is the mainstay of these History Minutes, but we must also remember, ARCA, Camping World Trucks, and Nationwide will all be debuting their new season. There are the Twins, the "specialty race" and a dozen more events to keep fans interested. We have a new season and everyone starts fresh.
As we travel back to 1959, we need to remember that prior to that February in 1959, the boys (and some women) had raced on the beach, a 4.1 mile track consisting of a length of paved highway and a run on the beach sand connected at each end by tights turns in the sand of the beach. Watching videos of those races can only make the blood of the true race fan run through the veins at a more rapid pace as those were truly sporting events of skill, daring, and beauty.
Big Bill France opened his 2.5 facility to the cars for the first annual Daytona 500 to be run on February 22, 1959. He had determined that the race would be better is he had half the field as convertibles and the other half as the standard Grand National Hardtops. When not enough convertibles showed to make an even split, it is said Big Bill paid some of the hardtop drivers $100.00 to cut the tops off their cars and race then as convertibles.
The first order of business for the opportunistic Bill France was to schedule two 100 mile qualifying races for February 20th, one for the convertibles followed by 100 miles of competition for the hardtops. There is very little information available from what I could find about the convertible qualifier, but it is reported that Shorty Rollins passed Glen Wood on the final lap to win by a car length. A crowd of 17,000 was on hand and it is said they shook their heads in disbelief at what they had just witnessed.
Next up that afternoon was the qualifying race, 100 miles, for the Grand National cars. Drivers had to post qualifying speeds for this qualifying race to determine starting positions. Although Cotton Owens was the fastest qualifier in a Pontiac with a speed of 143.148 mph, Fireball Roberts would start on the pole in a Pontiac that would last only 15 laps before distributor problems forced him out of the race.
Joe Weatherly, who had qualified third in a Pontiac, slipped into the lead on lap one, but gave way to Bob Welborn on lap two. Welborn held the lead until lap 6 when Curtis Turner blew by to lead one lap before yielding to Welborn once more. Turner slipped in another lap out front on lap 13 but Welborn went right back in front the next lap.
The remaining laps were a battle between Welborn and Fritz Wilson. Wilson was driving a Thunderbird and giving Welborn a fit for the lead. Welborn beat Wilson to the line for the checkers by less than 3 feet to win at an average speed of 143.148 miles per hour which matched the fastest qualifying speed turned in by Cotton Owens.
After the race, Welborn said the "T-Bird has a 430 cubic inch engine compared to the 348 cubic inch Chevy. But" Welborn, continued "The T-Bird is built like a box"
There was no caution flag in the race although Buck Baker blew a tire midway through the event in turn one and spun into Jack Smith. Both were eliminated from the race. The top five finishers in the qualifying race were:
1. Bob Welborn, Welborn Chevrolet
2. Fritz Wilson, Thunderbird
3. Tom Pistone, Thunderbird
4. Joe Weatherly, Pontiac
5. Eduardo Dibos, Thunderbird
The field for the first Daytona 500 was set. On that bright and sunny Florida Sunday afternoon, 41, 921 fans settled in for 500 miles of unchartered territory in stock car racing. Darlington had been racing 500 miles for 9 years, but not nearly at the speed being reported by newspapers from the qualifying races two days previous. A wide and fast track and 59 starters promised an exciting race.
Hardtops, hereafter referred to as "GN" filled the inside row and the Convertibles, hereafter referred to as "C" filled the outside row. Welborn was on the pole by virtue of his win in the qualifier. The green flag waved sending the cars into a dust-raising pack into turn one. Lap one was led by Bob Welborn before Tiger Tom Pistone took over for the next two laps. Then Joe Weatherly makes a move and takes over position one. The first 22 laps were a battle between Welborn, Weatherly and Pistone, with the lead practically changing hands every lap. Lap 23 saw Fireball Roberts charge into the lead in his Pontiac after starting 46th. Fireball would hold the lead until lap 43 when his swift Pontiac began to experience mechanical problems which put him out of the race 2 laps later. With Roberts behind the wall, Johnny Beauchamp took over in his T-Bird. Beauchamp's lead lasted 5 laps before Tiger Tom Pistone went back in front. Pistone had problems and fell several laps behind and left the up front battle to Jack Smith, Johnny Beauchamp and Lee Petty. There were 33 lead changes during the caution free event between 7 drivers. Fans got to see wheel-to-wheel battles throughout the afternoon but were little prepared for the finish.
Three cars, Beauchamp, Petty, and Joe Weatherly (one lap back) came off turn four running door-to-door. The Checkered Flag fell over the trio with no one able to determine if it were Petty or Beauchamp out front. Weatherly, the lap down driver, was slightly ahead of the pair who finished with an identical speed of 135.521 mph. Beauchamp head to Victory Lane (a spot on the grass between the pits and tri-oval) as did Lee Petty. Many of the pictures show Beauchamp holding the trophy and kissing the beauty queens, but Poppa Lee was boiling over with insistence that it was his race. NASCAR President, Bill France, almost immediately announced that the results were "unofficial" and that photos and film would be examined to determine the winner.
Some 61 hours AFTER the checkered flag waved, Lee Petty was declared the official winner and the first Daytona 500 went to Petty Engineering and a 1959 Oldsmobile. This would start Lee's campaign for a third National Championship. Lee's son Richard managed on 8 laps in his 1957 Oldsmobile convertible to finish 57th out of the 59 starters. Greater days were ahead for the young Randleman racer in the future.
Finishing order:
1. Lee Petty, Petty Engineering Oldsmobile GN winning $19,050.00
2. Johnny Beauchamp, Roy Burdick T-Bird GN, winning $7,650.00 (2 feet back)
3. Charlie Griffith, Red Bank Pontiac GN, winning $4,600.00 (1 lap back)***
*** This was the Pontiac in which Cotton Owens won the last race on the beach
the previous year.
4. Cotton Owens, W.H. Watson Pontiac GN, winning $2,525.00 (1 lap back)
5. Joe Weatherly, E. C. Wilson Chevrolet,GN, winning $1,875. (1 lap back)6. Jim Reed
7. Jack Smith
8. Tom Pistone
9. Tim Flock
10. Speedy Thompson
11. Johnny Allen
12. Raul Gilloniz
13. Curtis Turner
14. Junior Johnson
15. Dick Freeman
16. Joe Lee Johnson (First Convertible finisher in a Chevrolet)
17. Marvin Panch
18. Gene White
19. Roy Tyner
20. Jimmy Thompson
21. Herman Beam
22. Wilbur Rakestraw
23. Jim McGuirk
24. Larry Frank
25. Elmo Langley
26. Rex White
27. Ben Benz
28. Dick Joslin
29. Ken Rush
30. Bobby Rose
31. Harold Smith
32. Dick Foley
33. Brownie King
34. Glen Wood
35. Bob Pronger
36. Billy Carden
37. Bernie Hentges
38.Shorty Rollins
39. Joe Eubanks
40. Tiny Lund
41. Bob Welborn
42. Buck Baker
43. Ken Johnson
44. L. D. Austin
45. Fireball Roberts
46. Paul Bass
47. Bobby Johns
48. Eduardo Dibos
49. Gober Sosebee
50.Bob Said
51. Bob Deull
52. Pete Kelly
53. Bob Potter
54. Carl Tyler
55. George Green
56. Fritz Wilson
57. Richard Petty
58. Larry Odo
59. Ken Marriott
PERSONAL MEMORIES: I can recall sitting around the pot-bellied stove in my Uncle's house (the old homeplace for my Mother's family) on what was a cold day in Columbia. We stayed warm and listened to the race through the crackling of the burning wood and the constant chatter between us as we tried to envision the speeds the announcer was talking about. Race broadcasting was so different then. We were told what was happening on the track, NOT what some "expert" wanted to opine as to how to do it better. I have a very clear memory of the "five to go" signal when my Uncle Bobby raised his hand to indicate it was time for quiet so we could hear the action. We were, of course, pulling for Lee Petty and that Oldsmobile. With less than five to go, Beauchamp was leading but we were still hoping Lee could pull it off.
When they came off turn four with three to go, the announcer was saying Lee was leading and, to quote a saying I've long heard "all hell broke loose" in the kitchen of that old home place as we were sure Lee had it wrapped then. When the checkered flag fell, we were all deathly quiet to hear who had won. To say there was some confusion in the booth was a slight understatement as I recall the dreaded "dead air" of radio broadcast was present for well over 30 seconds. Finally, someone said Beauchamp was the winner. We turned off the radio and I remember walking across the street to my house dejected that Lee had lost.
Next morning, Uncle Bobby let me know there was a protest and they were checking everything. When I got home from school on Wednesday (I think it was Wednesday) Bobby was waiting to tell me they had declared Lee Petty the winner. I remember dancing around on that dirt road we lived on celebrating the win. Uncle Bobby was a huge Lee Petty fan so, of course, I was a Petty fan all the way. I had already met Richard the year before and was now in HIS corner, butI still pulled for Lee. After all, he was the Petty who started it all.
Daytona would come to play an important role in Petty Racing History. Two years after the thrilling victory, Lee Petty and Johnny Beauchamp would once more be involved in the action as the two cars sailed over the guard rail in a crash that ended Lee's career. Beauchamp returned to Iowa from where he came and virtually faded from thescene.
It would be 1962 before I would visit Daytona for the first time to watch Fireball Roberts win in that black and gold Pontiac. From then until 1992 or so, I was there every year. I saw Richard win all his Daytona 500s. I would have many adventures in the infield of that track. Many wonderful memories. May not be the same track these days, may not be the same cars or the same drivers, but I think the spirit of the first Daytona 500 still lives in the hearts and souls of those of us who were a part of the sport back then, if only as a fan. As the 2014 edition of Speed Weeks loom through my windshield of life, I am excited and looking forward to the next chapter.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
I sort of agree with you Jeff, as well as with most of the responses here. I'll take the "wait and see" attitude. As we all know, I would prefer NO Chase but it appears that is what we will have under one plan or another. Having been a NASCAR fan for 60 plus years, I have seen the points system change numerous times and every time that happened, there are those who go back and say "if they hadn't changed it, so-and-so would have won". What they miss, I think, is that all (well most at least) have to play by the same rules. When Daytona kicks off the season in a couple of weeks, everyone is equal. From then on it will be, this year at least, a dog fight to win races. I think that is a good thing. Will help some, hurt others.
Having said that, there are many out there in the cyber world who hate the system just because Brian France announced it. As I've said, I am no Brian France fan but giving "the devil his due" you can't believe he came up with this all on his own. There were many parties with input to this decision I'm sure. Again, I think, it goes back to those young marketing "experts" who think they know what fans want. Part of their problem is that they don't even know who the fans are.
That's my "two cents worth". Ok, maybe a nickel worth.
