1968 Southeastern 500

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1968 Southeastern 500
Race details [1]
Race 5 of 49 in the 1968 NASCAR Grand National Series season
Bristol Motor Speedway map.png
Layout of Bristol Motor Speedway
Date March 17, 1968 (1968-03-17)
Official name Southeastern 500
Location Bristol International Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 0.800 km (0.500 miles)
Distance 500 laps, 250.0 mi (400.0 km)
Weather Cold with temperatures of 57 °F (14 °C); wind speeds of 14 miles per hour (23 km/h)
Average speed 77.247 mph (124.317 km/h)
Attendance 19,800 [2]
Pole position
Driver Petty Enterprises
Most laps led
Driver David Pearson Holman-Moody
Laps 176
Winner
No. 17 David Pearson Holman-Moody
Television in the United States
Network CBS
Announcers Bud Lindemann

The 1968 Southeastern 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on March 17, 1968, at Bristol International Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Highlights of this racing event were later shown on the classic Car and Track television show on most CBS stations.

Contents

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.

Race report

A total distance of 500 laps was accomplished at this event; with Bobby Allison acquiring the last-place position due to stock car engine problems on lap 41. Stan Meserve would fall out with engine failure on lap 54. [2] Driveshaft problems would end Paul Goldsmith's day on lap 60 while terminal vehicle damage would end Jerry Grant's day on lap 72. [2] An accident would claim the vehicle of G.C. Spencer on lap 91 while an oil leak would take Roy Tyner out the race on lap 104. [2]

Clyde Lynn's incredibly disappearing tail end of his vehicle eventually stalled his racing hopes on lap 445. [2] While the first 100 laps of this race event were a David Pearson and Richard Petty show, it would be LeeRoy Yarbrough would compete against Pearson in the closing laps of this event. [2] All 36 of the qualifying drivers were born in the United States of America. [2] Henley Gray would become the lowest-finishing driver to actually complete the event; albeit more than 100 laps behind the lead-lap competitors. [2]

David Pearson would best Richard Petty by a distance of three seconds after racing at each other's throats for more than three hours; Petty drove the last 25 laps of the race without any brakes. [2] More than 19,000 ardent NASCAR followers would see a race marred by eleven caution flags for a duration of 81 laps. [2] Richard Petty's qualifying speed of 88.582 miles per hour (142.559 km/h) would see him blaze through the field during solo qualifying runs. [2] Cale Yarborough would spend some time as the leader of the race before an incident involving the back of his vehicle would end his day of racing on lap 237. [2] Roy Trantham would make his introduction into the NASCAR Cup Series scene in this race while Serge Adams would exit stage left from NASCAR racing after the conclusion of this event. [3] Doug Cooper also enjoyed his final NASCAR Grand National Series race at this event before retiring. [2]

Individual race earnings ranged from the winner's share of $25,415 ($222,679 when adjusted for inflation) to the last-place finisher's portion of $500 ($4,381 when adjusted for inflation). NASCAR handed out a grand total of $86,285 to all the competitors who qualified for this racing event ($756,005 when adjusted for inflation). [4]

At least ten notable crew chiefs were recorded as officially attending this race; including Ray Hicks, Jake Elder, Glen Wood, Junior Johnson and Banjo Matthews. [5]

Qualifying

GridNo.DriverManufacturer
143Richard Petty'68 Plymouth
217David Pearson'68 Ford
321Cale Yarborough'68 Ford
426LeeRoy Yarbrough'68 Ford
522Darel Dieringer'68 Plymouth
627Donnie Allison'68 Ford
714Jerry Grant'68 Plymouth
829Bobby Allison'68 Ford
916Tiny Lund'68 Mercury
103Buddy Baker'67 Dodge
1171Bobby Isaac'67 Dodge
124John Sears'67 Ford
1399Paul Goldsmith'68 Plymouth
1449G.C. Spencer'67 Plymouth
1509Jack Ingram'66 Chevrolet
1610Bill Champion'66 Ford
1764Elmo Langley'66 Ford
1839Friday Hassler'66 Chevrolet
1945Bill Seifert'66 Ford
2030Dave Marcis'66 Chevrolet
2125Jabe Thomas'67 Ford
2250Wendell Scott'66 Plymouth
2320Clyde Lynn'67 Mercury
2419Henley Gray'66 Ford
2576Roy Tyner'66 Ford
2631Bill Ervin'66 Ford
2702Bob Cooper'66 Chevrolet
2848James Hylton'67 Dodge
291Bud Moore'68 Dodge
3051Stan Meserve'67 Dodge
3195Doug Cooper'66 Ford
322Earl Brooks'66 Ford
3318Dick Johnson'67 Ford
3401Paul Dean Holt'67 Ford
3593Walson Gardner'67 Ford
3606Neil Castles'67 Plymouth

Top 20 finishers

PosNo.DriverManufacturerLapsLaps ledTime/Status
117 David Pearson Ford5001763:14:11
243 Richard Petty Plymouth500108+3 seconds
326 LeeRoy Yarbrough Ford499168+1 lap [a]
422 Darel Dieringer Plymouth4920+8 laps
571 Bobby Isaac Dodge4910+9 laps
61 Bud Moore Dodge4910+9 laps
709 Jack Ingram Chevrolet4810+19 laps
810 Bill Champion Ford4690+31 laps
964 Elmo Langley Ford4680+32 laps
102 Earl Brooks Ford4670+33 laps
1106 Neil Castles Plymouth4670+33 laps
1245 Bill Seifert Ford4540+46 laps
1330 Dave Marcis Chevrolet4490+51 laps
1420 Clyde Lynn Mercury4450Missing rear end
1550 Wendell Scott Plymouth4360+64 laps
1602 Bob Cooper Chevrolet4300+70 laps
1725 Jabe Thomas Ford4270+73 laps
1801 Paul Dean Holt Ford4120+78 laps
1931 Bill Ervin Ford3960+104 laps
2019 Henley Gray Ford3920+108 laps

References

  1. Weather information for the 1968 Southeastern 500 at The Old Farmers' Almanac
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1968 Southeastern 500 racing information at Racing Reference
  3. Introductions and departures from NASCAR after the 1968 Southeastern 500 at Race-Database
  4. 1968 Southeastern 500 prize winnings information at Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet
  5. 1968 Southeastern 500 crew chiefs at Racing Reference

Notes

  1. With possible late-race mechanical issues
Preceded by NASCAR Grand National Season
1968
Succeeded by