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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
Layout of Bristol Motor Speedway
Layout of Bristol Motor Speedway
Date March 17, 1968 (1968-March-17)
Official name Southeastern 500
Location Bristol International Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee
Course Permanent racing facility
0.500 mi (0.800 km)
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.

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

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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

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Grid No. Driver Manufacturer
1 43 Richard Petty '68 Plymouth
2 17 David Pearson '68 Ford
3 21 Cale Yarborough '68 Ford
4 26 LeeRoy Yarbrough '68 Ford
5 22 Darel Dieringer '68 Plymouth
6 27 Donnie Allison '68 Ford
7 14 Jerry Grant '68 Plymouth
8 29 Bobby Allison '68 Ford
9 16 Tiny Lund '68 Mercury
10 3 Buddy Baker '67 Dodge
11 71 Bobby Isaac '67 Dodge
12 4 John Sears '67 Ford
13 99 Paul Goldsmith '68 Plymouth
14 49 G.C. Spencer '67 Plymouth
15 09 Jack Ingram '66 Chevrolet
16 10 Bill Champion '66 Ford
17 64 Elmo Langley '66 Ford
18 39 Friday Hassler '66 Chevrolet
19 45 Bill Seifert '66 Ford
20 30 Dave Marcis '66 Chevrolet
21 25 Jabe Thomas '67 Ford
22 50 Wendell Scott '66 Plymouth
23 20 Clyde Lynn '67 Mercury
24 19 Henley Gray '66 Ford
25 76 Roy Tyner '66 Ford
26 31 Bill Ervin '66 Ford
27 02 Bob Cooper '66 Chevrolet
28 48 James Hylton '67 Dodge
29 1 Bud Moore '68 Dodge
30 51 Stan Meserve '67 Dodge
31 95 Doug Cooper '66 Ford
32 2 Earl Brooks '66 Ford
33 18 Dick Johnson '67 Ford
34 01 Paul Dean Holt '67 Ford
35 93 Walson Gardner '67 Ford
36 06 Neil Castles '67 Plymouth

Top 20 finishers

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Pos No. Driver Manufacturer Laps Laps led Time/Status
1 17 David Pearson Ford 500 176 3:14:11
2 43 Richard Petty Plymouth 500 108 +3 seconds
3 26 LeeRoy Yarbrough Ford 499 168 +1 lap[a]
4 22 Darel Dieringer Plymouth 492 0 +8 laps
5 71 Bobby Isaac Dodge 491 0 +9 laps
6 1 Bud Moore Dodge 491 0 +9 laps
7 09 Jack Ingram Chevrolet 481 0 +19 laps
8 10 Bill Champion Ford 469 0 +31 laps
9 64 Elmo Langley Ford 468 0 +32 laps
10 2 Earl Brooks Ford 467 0 +33 laps
11 06 Neil Castles Plymouth 467 0 +33 laps
12 45 Bill Seifert Ford 454 0 +46 laps
13 30 Dave Marcis Chevrolet 449 0 +51 laps
14 20 Clyde Lynn Mercury 445 0 Missing rear end
15 50 Wendell Scott Plymouth 436 0 +64 laps
16 02 Bob Cooper Chevrolet 430 0 +70 laps
17 25 Jabe Thomas Ford 427 0 +73 laps
18 01 Paul Dean Holt Ford 412 0 +78 laps
19 31 Bill Ervin Ford 396 0 +104 laps
20 19 Henley Gray Ford 392 0 +108 laps

References

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  1. ^ Weather information for the 1968 Southeastern 500 at The Old Farmers' Almanac
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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

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