The transition to purpose-built racecars began in the early 1960s and occurred gradually over that decade. Changes made to the sport by the late 1960s brought an end to the "strictly stock" vehicles of the 1950s.
Background
Martinsville Speedway is one of five short tracks to hold NASCAR races.[2] The standard track at Martinsville Speedway is a four-turn short track oval that is 0.526 miles (0.847km) long.[3] The track's turns are banked at eleven degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at zero degrees. The back stretch also has a zero degree banking.[3]
Race report
Fred Lorenzen defeated Richard Petty by 1⁄3 of a second in front of a live audience of 18,214 spectators; becoming the first recipient of the now-famous Martinsville Grandfather Clock.[4][5] Lorenzen would also pick up his third win in a row at Martinsville.
Typical qualifying times for the race ranged from 24.2 seconds to 25.2 seconds with vehicles driving between 71.2 miles per hour (114.6km/h) and 74.1 miles per hour (119.3km/h).[6] In addition to six changes in the lead driver, there were also six caution flags given out for 28 laps.[4] The entire race took three hours and twenty-four minutes to go from green flag to the checkered flag. Top prize at the race was $4,715 ($46,320 when adjusted for inflation).[4]Doug Yates and Buddy Arrington both qualified for the race but failed to start in it.[4] Major Melton would make his final NASCAR Grand National Cup Series appearance in this race.[4] The majority of the entries belonged to the Ford Motor Company. Model years for each vehicle ranged from 1962 to 1964; complying with the NASCAR rules and regulations for that era.[4]
NASCAR was authorized to hand out a grand total of $17,580 to each of the drivers who participated in this event ($172,707 when adjusted for inflation).[7] Even with his second-place finish, Petty clinched his first NASCAR championship after this race.[4]Bill Whitley was credited as the actual last-place driver after acquiring a transmission problem on lap 6; bringing home a paycheck of $150 ($1,474 when adjusted for inflation).[7]
A non-championship race determined the final 20 starters in the Old Dominion 500. Only Richard Petty and Doug Yates managed to lead laps in the event; Petty would go on to win the qualifying race.[9]
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