1975 Winston 500

Last updated
1975 Winston 500
Race details [1]
Race 10 of 30 in the 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
Talladega Superspeedway.png
Layout of Talladega Superspeedway
Date May 4, 1975 (1975-May-04)
Official name Winston 500
Location Alabama International Motor Speedway, Talladega, Alabama
Course Permanent racing facility
2.660 mi (4.280 km)
Distance 188 laps, 500.1 mi (804.8 km)
Weather Temperatures of 80.1 °F (26.7 °C); wind speeds of 9.9 miles per hour (15.9 km/h)
Average speed 144.948 miles per hour (233.271 km/h)
Attendance 65,000 [2]
Pole position
Driver
 Bud Moore Engineering
Most laps led
DriverBuddy BakerBud Moore Engineering
Laps 99
Winner
No. 15Buddy BakerBud Moore Engineering
Television in the United States
Network CBS
Announcers Ken Squier

The 1975 Winston 500 was an automobile race at the Alabama International Motor Speedway on May 4, 1975.

Contents

The tenth race of 30 in the 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National season, it started 50 cars and ran 500.1 miles. It was the sixth annual late-April/early May running at Talladega and the fifth under Winston cigarettes sponsorship.

Background

Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a Tri-oval and was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in the 1960s. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line - located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the Sprint Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and the Camping World Truck Series. Talladega Superspeedway is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66 miles (4.28 km), and the track at its peak had a seating capacity of 175,000 spectators. [3]

Race report

Five-time Formula One World Driver Champion Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina, 1951, 1954-57) was the honorary starter for the event. Ed Negre drove Dean Dalton's car, and Dean Dalton drove Ed Negre's car.

The pole and race were won by Buddy Baker, driving the 1975 Ford Torino of Bud Moore. Buddy Baker's win the first for Ford in NASCAR's "Modern Era." It snapped a long losing streak for the brand dating back to Bobby Allison's win at Middle Georgia Raceway back in November 1971. [2] This race brought on the best finish of Harry Jefferson who finished in sixth place. [2]

His primary challengers were Bobby Allison, David Pearson, Richard Petty, Dick Brooks, Dave Marcis, and Darrell Waltrip.

The race lead changed 51 times among 11 drivers and was slowed by five cautions for 45 laps. There were several accidents. [2] Baker dominated in terms of laps led, but he didn't have the best car. [2] Cale Yarborough rocketed through the field from 24th starting spot until his windshield kept breaking. Petty was one of the best cars along with Pearson. [2] Cecil "Flash" Gordon led a couple laps early in this race when he stayed out and the leaders pitted. [2] The #24 Chevrolet wasn't upfront for long as Dick Brooks and Darrell Waltrip passed him not long after the restart. [2] Gordon's good run eventually ended in a blown engine that saw him spun in his own oil and slide into the infield off Turn 4. [2]

Donnie Allison blew his engine while leading Lap 12 and a two-car crash ensued; among those involved were Daytona 500 winner Benny Parsons. Later Marty Robbins was involved in a fiery crash with Ramo Stott and James Hylton. The worst accident happened to Richard Petty. On Lap 141 while leading his left-front wheel bearing caught fire. He pitted while his young brother-in-law Randy Owens was fitting a hose to a pressurized water tank; the tank exploded high into the air and landed several yards from Petty, killing Owens. [2] Another unusual event was Darrell Waltrip finishing in the top five despite being put out with engine problems on lap 182. [2] Baker crowded off a last-lap bid by Pearson for the win, his first since 1973 and the first for team owner Bud Moore since 1966. [2]

The winner of the race won $28,275 ($142,389 when adjusted for inflation) while the last-place driver walked away with $905 ($4,557 when adjusted for inflation). [4]

Top 10 finishers

Pos [2] GridNo.DriverManufacturerLapsLaps ledPointsTime/Status
1115 Buddy Baker '75 Ford 188991853:26:59
2421 David Pearson '73 Mercury18827175+1 car length
3790 Dick Brooks '73 Ford 1886170Lead lap under green flag
42217 Darrell Waltrip '75 Chevrolet 1826165Engine failure
52414 Coo Coo Marlin '75 Chevrolet 1828160+6 laps
61595 Harry Jefferson '73 Ford 1810150+7 laps
72341 Grant Adcox '75 Chevrolet 1810146+7 laps
83837 Bruce Jacobi '75 Chevrolet 1800142+8 laps
91460 Joe Mihalic '75 Chevrolet 1790138+9 laps
101896 Richard Childress '75 Chevrolet 1770134+13 laps

Standings after the race

PosDriverPoints [2]
1 1rightarrow.png Richard Petty 1598
2 Increase2.svg Dave Marcis 1359
3 1rightarrow.png James Hylton 1301
4 Decrease2.svg Benny Parsons 1296
5 Increase2.svg Darrell Waltrip 1279
6 Decrease2.svg Cecil Gordon 1276
7 Decrease2.svg Richard Childress 1264
8 1rightarrow.png Dick Brooks 1225
9 Increase2.svg David Pearson 1124
10 Increase2.svg Buddy Baker 1123

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References

  1. ↑ Weather information for the 1975 Winston 500 at The Old Farmers' Almanac
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Complete racing information at Racing Reference
  3. ↑ "Track Facts". talladegasuperspeedway.com. Talladega Superspeedway. November 1, 2012. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  4. ↑ Prize winners' information at Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet
Preceded by NASCAR Winston Cup Season
1975		Succeeded by
Preceded by Talladega spring race
1975		Succeeded by
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