1973 National 500

Last updated
1973 National 500
Race details [1] [2]
Race 27 of 28 in the 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1973 National 500 program cover and logo.png
1973 National 500 program cover
Date October 7, 1973 (1973-October-07)
Official name National 500
Location Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina
Course 1.500 mi (2.414 km)
Distance 334 laps, 500 mi (804 km)
Weather Mild with temperatures of 75.9 °F (24.4 °C); wind speeds of 15 miles per hour (24 km/h)
Average speed 145.240 miles per hour (233.741 km/h)
Attendance 64,000 [3]
Pole position
Driver
 Wood Brothers Racing
Most laps led
Driver Cale Yarborough Howard & Egerton Racing
Laps 257
Winner
No. 11Cale YarboroughHoward & Egerton Racing
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth Announcers Ken Squier, Marvin Panch
Turn Announcers Hill Overton, Barney Hall

The 1973 National 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on October 7, 1973, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.

Contents

The Yom Kippur war between Israel and the Arabs broke out the day before. The Arab oil embargo soon went into effect and resulted in cancellation of the Texas race and shortening of 1974 races by 10%. Charlotte Motor Speedway was undergoing a leadership shakeup as original owner Bruton Smith was purchasing stock from holders looking to cash out; by 1973 he’d amassed nearly half the 1.4 million shares accounted for by the Speedway and despite public denials was seeking to usurp Richard Howard, the Speedway president appointed as such by bankruptcy court in 1963. [4]

Qualifying

The first driver to qualify for pole, Charlie Glotzbach, was found in a post qualifying inspection to have modified his restrictor plate in an illegal fashion. Glotsbach's team was fined $500 and the $1,000 pole bonus he was to receive was rescinded. Glotsbach was forced to re-qualify after changes were made to the car to make it legal, and qualified 34th. Pole was then awarded to David Pearson, who had qualified second.

Dean Dalton, whose performance on Saturday did not qualify him for the race, was allowed into the race 41st on the grid, because of the above. [5]

Race report

334 laps took place on a paved track spanning 1.500 miles (2.414 km) with two cautions given out for sixteen laps. [3] [2] However, the race took three hours and twenty-six minutes to finish with Cale Yarborough defeating Richard Petty by a time of 1.4 seconds. [3] [2] Yarborough and Petty would lap the field three times before retrieving the checkered flag. [6] David Pearson won the official pole position with a speed of 158.315 miles per hour (254.783 km/h) - which was equivalent to 34.109 seconds. [3] [2] Sixty-four thousand people attended this live racing event. [3] [2] The race had a mobile home (driven by Tim Flock) to accompany the drivers and their vehicles on the opening parade lap; which was unusual back then by NASCAR standards and is still considered to be unusual in today's NASCAR.

Harry Gant would make his racing debut here; ultimately finishing in 11th place. [3] [2] Dick Trickle also made his debut here, finishing an impressive fifth. Wendell Scott would retire after this race; making a 12th-place finish in this event. Johnny Barnes' 15th-place run was his best in Cup competition. Wayne Andrews would pull out of the race on lap 5 due to engine problems. [3] [2]

Buddy Baker retired his car on lap 228, and team owner Nord Krauskopf refused to allow NASCAR to inspect the car after this was done. NASCAR disqualified the team, and therefore, Buddy Baker officially finished 41st. [3] [2] [7] Baker was the last driver to be disqualified for technical infractions until 1992 (when Bobby Hillin Jr. was disqualified from the 1992 Mello Yello 500), after which NASCAR stopped disqualifying drivers until a 2019 rule change. [8]

What made this race extra important to drivers was that $100 was given out for every lap that a driver led ($610.42 when adjusted for inflation). Yarborough and Petty were said to have engines in their cars that exceeded the horsepower permitted by NASCAR during that era. Bobby Allison filed a complaint with Bill France, Jr. which resulted in a 6-hour meeting and "satisfactory restitution."

Wind speeds at this race would reach an average of 6.9 miles per hour (11.1 km/h). [1] The race was held on a dry circuit; with no precipitation recorded around the speedway. [9]

Qualifying

Grid [3] No.DriverManufacturer
121David Pearson'71 Mercury
211Cale Yarborough'73 Chevrolet
312Bobby Allison'73 Chevrolet
443Richard Petty'73 Dodge
571Buddy Baker'73 Dodge
615Darrell Waltrip'73 Ford
772Benny Parsons'73 Chevrolet
81Dick Trickle'73 Chevrolet
988Donnie Allison'73 Chevrolet
1048James Hylton'73 Chevrolet
1124Cecil Gordon'72 Chevrolet
1254Lennie Pond'73 Chevrolet
1367Buddy Arrington'72 Plymouth
1431Jim Vandiver'72 Dodge
1502L.D. Ottinger'73 Chevrolet
1679Frank Warren'73 Dodge
1790Harry Gant'72 Ford
182Dave Marcis'73 Matador
1949G.C. Spencer'72 Dodge
2030Walter Ballard'71 Mercury

Finishing order

Section reference: [10]

FinSt#DriverSponsorMakeLapsLedStatus
1211Cale YarboroughKar-Kare'73 Chevrolet334257running
2443Richard PettySTP'73 Dodge33452running
3312Bobby AllisonCoca-Cola'73 Chevrolet3319running
4772Benny ParsonsDeWitt Racing'73 Chevrolet3300running
581Dick TrickleA&W Root Beer'73 Chevrolet3272running
61254Lennie PondMaster Chevy Sales'73 Chevrolet3251running
71367Buddy ArringtonCherokee Construction'72 Plymouth3190running
83964Elmo LangleyLangley Racing'72 Ford3180running
91124Cecil GordonGordon Racing'72 Chevrolet3150running
103219Henley GrayWarren Lindsey'71 Mercury3080running
111790Harry GantTruxmore Industries'72 Ford3070running
12385Wendell ScottFaustina Racing, Kmart Special'73 Dodge3050running
131048James HyltonStott Chevrolet'73 Chevrolet3020running
142577Charlie RobertsSunny King'72 Chevrolet2960running
153089Johnny BarnesHopper-Crews'71 Mercury2940running
163522Jimmy CrawfordBlack Part'72 Plymouth2940running
171431Jim VandiverBradford Enterprises'72 Dodge2910running
182496Richard ChildressL.C. Newton Trucking'73 Chevrolet2840engine
192214Coo Coo MarlinCunningham-Kelley'72 Chevrolet2820engine
20360Eddie BondBond Racing'72 Dodge2810engine
213105David SiscoSisco Racing'72 Chevrolet2680driveshaft
222718Joe FrassonPizza Huts of Charlotte'73 Dodge2640engine
232030Walter BallardTextilease'71 Mercury2300engine
24182Dave MarcisMarcis Racing'73 Matador2230engine
254125Jabe ThomasRobertson Racing'73 Dodge2030running
263310Bill ChampionEarl Powell Auto Parts'71 Mercury1980engine
272344Ed NegreBrown Racing'71 Chevrolet1830engine
281502L.D. OttingerLonesome Pine Raceway'73 Chevrolet1370engine
293770J.D. McDuffieMcDuffie Racing'72 Chevrolet1130engine
30407Dean DaltonBelden Asphalt'71 Mercury900engine
312606Neil CastlesHoward Furniture'73 Dodge640suspension
32988Donnie AllisonDiGard Racing'73 Chevrolet610engine
332147Raymond WilliamsWilliams Racing'72 Ford580steering
342932Dick BrooksBrooks Racing'73 Dodge490engine
351679Frank WarrenHinson Construction'73 Dodge470engine
36121David PearsonPurolator'71 Mercury4612crash
373428Charlie GlotzbachPylon Wiper Blades'73 Chevrolet461crash
38615Darrell WaltripSta-Power Industries'73 Ford460crash
391949G.C. SpencerSpencer Racing'72 Dodge130engine
402898Wayne AndrewsHylton Engineering'71 Mercury50engine
41571Buddy BakerK & K Insurance'73 Dodge2280disqualified

Timeline

Section reference: [3]

Related Research Articles

The 1976 NASCAR Grand National Winston Cup Series was the 28th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 5th modern era NASCAR Cup series. The season began on Sunday, January 18 and ended on Sunday, November 21. Cale Yarborough, driving the #11 Junior Johnson Holly Farms Chevrolet scored his first of three consecutive NASCAR Grand National Series Winston Cup Championships. Skip Manning was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year.

The 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 26th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 3rd modern-era NASCAR Cup series. The season began on Sunday January 20 and ended on Sunday November 24. The first 15 races were shortened 10 percent due to the 1973 oil crisis. Following criticism of the 1972 and 1973 points systems that placed emphasis on completed miles, NASCAR implemented a new points system, that took basic purse winnings, multiplied by number of starts, and divided by 1,000; it was designed to more directly reward winning races, a response to Benny Parsons' championship the previous year with just one win. Richard Petty was Winston Cup champion at the end of the season finishing 567.45 points ahead of Cale Yarborough, while David Pearson finished a strong third in points despite only nineteen starts. Earl Ross was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year.

NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway Auto race held in Michigan, United States

The NASCAR Cup Series has held stock car races annually at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan since 1969. Traditionally, the track held two Cup Series races, one in June, around Father's Day weekend and another in August. The August race was not held in 1973 after track owner Roger Penske replaced the race with a Champ Car event. In 2020, both races were held over a single weekend in August due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the June race was dropped from the schedule as part of a realignment, with its place on the schedule being given to Texas Motor Speedway to host the All-Star Race.

1978 Old Dominion 500 Auto race held at Martinsville Speedway in 1978

The 1978 Old Dominion 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on September 24, 1978, at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. This race was the 28th to be held as a part of what is now known as the First Data 500.

The 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 25th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 2nd modern-era Cup season. The season began on Sunday January 21 and ended on Sunday October 21. 31 races were scheduled in the 1973 season. 28 were held.

1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Series 27th season of NASCAR stock-car racing

The 1975 NASCAR Grand National Winston Cup Series was the 27th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 4th season in the modern era of the NASCAR Cup series. The season began on Sunday, January 19 and ended on Sunday, November 12. Richard Petty, driving the #43 Petty Enterprises STP Dodge scored his sixth NASCAR Grand National Series Winston Cup Championship. Bruce Hill was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year. NASCAR introduced a new points system for 1975, a system designed by statistician Bob Latford. For the first time, each race on the NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National schedule carried an equal point value, a system that would be used for 36 seasons, from 1975 to 2010. The original points system ran for the first 29 seasons, from 1975 to 2003.

1969 National 500 Auto race held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1969

The 1969 National 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series stock car race that was held on October 12, 1969, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. This race is still being held in today's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series as the 'Bank of America 500'.

1977 Old Dominion 500 Auto race held at Martinsville Speedway in 1977

The 1977 Old Dominion 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on September 25, 1977, at the historic Martinsville Speedway; a race track that has enjoyed the presence of NASCAR since its first sanctioned race on July 4, 1948.

1975 National 500 Auto race held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1975

The 1975 National 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on October 5, 1975, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.

1981 Mason-Dixon 500 Auto race held at Dover Downs International Speedway in 1981

The 1981 Mason-Dixon 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on May 17, 1981, at Dover Downs International Speedway in Dover, Delaware.

1973 Dixie 500 Auto race held at Atlanta International Speedway in 1973

The 1973 Dixie 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on July 22, 1973, at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia.

1967 Atlanta 500 American NASCAR auto race in 1967

The 1967 Atlanta 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on April 2, 1967, at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia.

1969 Dixie 500 Auto race held at Atlanta International Raceway in 1969

The 1969 Dixie 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on August 10, 1969, at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia.

1973 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 Auto race held at Daytona International Speedway in 1973

The 1973 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on July 4, 1973, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

1968 Volunteer 500 Auto race held at Bristol International Speedway in 1968

The 1968 Volunteer 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on July 21, 1968, at Bristol International Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee.

1968 World 600 Auto race held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1968

The 1968 World 600, the ninth running of the event, was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that took place on May 26, 1968, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.

1968 American 500 Auto race held at North Carolina Motor Speedway in 1968

The 1968 American 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on October 27, 1968, at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina.

1970 Alabama 500 Auto race held at Talladega Superspeedway in 1970

The 1970 Alabama 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on April 12, 1970, at Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega, Alabama. As the inaugural running of what is now known as the GEICO 500, it helped to serve as a prime example of Talladega races yet to come.

1970 Rebel 400 Auto race held at Darlington Raceway in 1970

The 1970 Rebel 400 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on May 9, 1970, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. The race is known for a crash involving Richard Petty that inspired NASCAR to implement the window net; a mandatory safety feature in today's NASCAR vehicles.

The Bank of America 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race that is held annually at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, United States, with the other one being the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend, the 600-mile (970 km) race. Beginning in 2018, the race will be moved back to the road course rather than the full oval. The layout utilized is the nicknamed the "Roval" due to the combonation of the Road Course and Oval.

References

  1. 1 2 "1973 National 500 weather information". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved 2011-02-28.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "1973 National 500 information (second reference)". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "1973 National 500 information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  4. ↑ Benyo, Richard, SUPERSPEEDWAY: THE STORY OF NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL RACING (1977), pp. 74-77
  5. ↑ "Classic Races - MRN.com". mrn.com. Archived from the original on 2015-01-11. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
  6. ↑ "Yarborough's and Petty's struggle for the flag". How Stuff Works. Archived from the original on 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  7. ↑ "MRN Flashback: 1973 National 500 - Cale Yarborough Claims Controversial Victory - MRN.com". mrn.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-19. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
  8. ↑ Coburn, Wesley (2019-02-04). "NASCAR Will Take Wins Away from Rule Breakers in 2019". Frontstretch.com.
  9. ↑ "Charlotte NASCAR Climatology" (PDF). SERCC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-09-08. Retrieved 2018-09-12.
  10. ↑ "1973 National 500 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
Listen to this article (2 minutes)
noicon
Sound-icon.svg
This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 25 February 2012 (2012-02-25), and does not reflect subsequent edits.
(Audio help  · More spoken articles)
Preceded by NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season
1973		Succeeded by
Preceded by National 500 races
1973		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.