1974 American 500: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Auto race held at North Carolina Motor Speedway in 1974}} |
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{{NASCAR race season infobox |
{{NASCAR race season infobox |
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| Type = CUST |
| Type = CUST |
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| Distance_mi = 500 |
| Distance_mi = 500 |
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| Distance_km = 804 |
| Distance_km = 804 |
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| Weather = Chilly with temperatures |
| Weather = Chilly with temperatures of {{convert|66.9|F|C}}; wind speeds of {{convert|11.8|mph|km/h}} |
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| Avg = {{convert|118.493| |
| Avg = {{convert|118.493|mph|abbr=on}} |
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| Attendance = 35,000<ref name="1974a500"/> |
| Attendance = 35,000<ref name="1974a500"/> |
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| Pole_Driver = [[Richard Petty]] |
| Pole_Driver = [[Richard Petty]] |
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The '''1974 American 500''' was a [[NASCAR]] [[ |
The '''1974 American 500''' was a [[NASCAR]] [[NASCAR Cup Series|Winston Cup Series]] racing event that was held on October 20, 1974, at [[Rockingham Speedway|North Carolina Motor Speedway]] in [[Rockingham, North Carolina|Rockingham]], [[North Carolina]]. |
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[[Joe Millikan]] would make his NASCAR Cup Series debut while [[Jerry Schild]] would exit the series in this event. A rare NASCAR Winston Cup appearance by former [[Champ Car]] team owner and driver [[Tony Bettenhausen |
[[Joe Millikan]] would make his NASCAR Cup Series debut while [[Jerry Schild]] would exit the series in this event. A rare NASCAR Winston Cup appearance by former [[Champ Car]] team owner and driver [[Tony Bettenhausen Jr.]] would make this race into a landmark event in motorsports history. His first NASCAR appearance was at the [[1973 Atlanta 500]] while his final appearance at the Cup Series level would be at the [[1982 Champion Spark Plug 400]]. |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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North Carolina Motor Speedway was the project of [[Harold Brasington]] and [[Bill Land]]. Brasington, a land developer, also built [[NASCAR]]'s first superspeedway, [[Darlington Speedway]], in 1950. Land owned the property, which is settled in the sandhills of North Carolina, and together, they set out to find funding. They went to local lawyer [[Elsie Webb]] who assembled a group of backers. The duo also sold shares to the locals for $1 per share, and at one time had about 1,000 shareholders.<ref name="premium.nascar.com">{{cite web |url=http://premium.nascar.com/TRACKS/northcarolina/ |title=NASCAR Tracks - North Carolina Speedway |publisher=Premium.nascar.com |date |
North Carolina Motor Speedway was the project of [[Harold Brasington]] and [[Bill Land]]. Brasington, a land developer, also built [[NASCAR]]'s first superspeedway, [[Darlington Speedway]], in 1950. Land owned the property, which is settled in the sandhills of North Carolina, and together, they set out to find funding. They went to local lawyer [[Elsie Webb]] who assembled a group of backers. The duo also sold shares to the locals for $1 per share, and at one time had about 1,000 shareholders.<ref name="premium.nascar.com">{{cite web |url=http://premium.nascar.com/TRACKS/northcarolina/ |title=NASCAR Tracks - North Carolina Speedway |publisher=Premium.nascar.com |access-date=2012-07-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108013759/http://premium.nascar.com/TRACKS/northcarolina/ |archive-date=2012-11-08 }}</ref> |
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The speedway was built as a one-mile oval with flat turns. [https://ncmotorspeedway.com/ North Carolina Motor Speedway] opened on October 31, 1965, holding its first race on the same day. The American 500<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/race?id=1965-54&series=W |title=1965 American 500 |publisher=Racing-Reference.info |date=1965-10-31 | |
The speedway was built as a one-mile oval with flat turns. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163155/https://ncmotorspeedway.com/ North Carolina Motor Speedway] opened on October 31, 1965, holding its first race on the same day. The American 500<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/race?id=1965-54&series=W |title=1965 American 500 |publisher=Racing-Reference.info |date=1965-10-31 |access-date=2012-07-16}}</ref> was a 500-lap, 500-mile [[Sprint Cup Series|NASCAR Grand National Series]] race won by [[Curtis Turner]] at an average speed of 101.942 miles per hour. Turner dominated the race, which was attended by 35,000 people, leading 239 laps and winning by 11 seconds. The winner's purse was $13,090. The American 500 was the 54th of 55 races in the 1965 season, which included [[NASCAR]] legends [[Cale Yarborough]] (who finished second), [[Richard Petty]], [[Ned Jarrett]] (who would go on to win the championship), [[Buddy Baker]], [[David Pearson (NASCAR driver)|David Pearson]], and [[Junior Johnson]]. Only 19 of the 43 cars were running at the end of the race.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/tracks?id=101 |title=Race Results at Rockingham Speedway |publisher=Racing-Reference.info |access-date=2012-07-16}}</ref> |
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The speedway held two [[Sprint Cup Series|Grand National]] races the next year, the Peach Blossom 500, and The American 500. The Peach Blossom 500 would change names multiple times, usually using the name Carolina 500, before ending as the [[Subway 400]]. The American 500 would also change names multiple times as well, ending as the [[Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400]]. The first race was typically held in early March or late February, and the second race was held in late October. |
The speedway held two [[Sprint Cup Series|Grand National]] races the next year, the Peach Blossom 500, and The American 500. The Peach Blossom 500 would change names multiple times, usually using the name Carolina 500, before ending as the [[Subway 400]]. The American 500 would also change names multiple times as well, ending as the [[Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400]]. The first race was typically held in early March or late February, and the second race was held in late October. In 1967 and 1968 the Carolina 500 was run in June. |
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== |
==Race report== |
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There were 36 drivers who competed in this 492-lap racing event. All except for [[Canada|Canadian]] native [[Earl Ross]] were born and bred in the [[United States|United States of America]].<ref name="1974a500">[http://www.racing-reference.info/race/1974_American_500/W ''1974 American 500''] racing information at Racing Reference</ref> |
There were 36 drivers who competed in this 492-lap racing event. All except for [[Canada|Canadian]] native [[Earl Ross]] were born and bred in the [[United States|United States of America]].<ref name="1974a500">[http://www.racing-reference.info/race/1974_American_500/W ''1974 American 500''] racing information at Racing Reference</ref> |
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After four hours and thirteen minutes of racing, [[David Pearson (racing driver)|David Pearson]] would defeat [[Cale Yarborough]] by slightly more than two seconds in front of an eager audience of 35,000 NASCAR followers. While [[Richard Petty]], [[Buddy Baker]] and David Pearson would dominate the opening laps of this event, the final laps would become a "Cale Yarborough and David Pearson show." The average speed of the vehicles in this racing event was {{convert|118.493|mph|km/h}} while Richard Petty would metaphorically scorch the track with his solo qualifying speed of {{convert|135.297|mph|km/h}}.<ref name="1974a500"/> |
After four hours and thirteen minutes of racing, [[David Pearson (racing driver)|David Pearson]] would defeat [[Cale Yarborough]] by slightly more than two seconds in front of an eager audience of 35,000 NASCAR followers. While [[Richard Petty]], [[Buddy Baker]] and David Pearson would dominate the opening laps of this event, the final laps would become a "Cale Yarborough and David Pearson show." The average speed of the vehicles in this racing event was {{convert|118.493|mph|km/h}} while Richard Petty would metaphorically scorch the track with his solo qualifying speed of {{convert|135.297|mph|km/h}}.<ref name="1974a500"/> |
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Individual earnings for each driver ranged for the winner's share of $16,350 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|16350|1974|r= |
Individual earnings for each driver ranged for the winner's share of $16,350 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|16350|1974|r=0}}}} when adjusted for inflation) to the last-place finisher's share of $550 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|550|1974|r=0}}}} when adjusted for inflation). NASCAR officials permitted the handover of $99,465 for all the qualifying drivers of this racing event (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|99465|1974|r=0}}}} when adjusted for inflation).<ref>[http://fantasyracingcheatsheet.com/nascar/races/results/1974/north-carolina-speedway/american-500/1347 Prize winnings information for the ''1974 American 500''] at Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet</ref> |
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Only manual transmission vehicles were allowed to participate in this race; a policy that NASCAR has retained to the present day. |
Only manual transmission vehicles were allowed to participate in this race; a policy that NASCAR has retained to the present day. |
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! 2 |
! 2 |
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| 15 || Buddy Baker || '74 [[Ford]] || Bud Moore |
| 15 || Buddy Baker || '74 [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] || Bud Moore |
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! 3 |
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==Top |
==Top 10 finishers== |
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{{s-end}} |
{{s-end}} |
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{{authority control}} |
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[[Category:1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|American 500]] |
[[Category:1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|American 500]] |
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[[Category:1974 in sports in North Carolina|American 500]] |
[[Category:1974 in sports in North Carolina|American 500]] |
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[[Category:NASCAR races at Rockingham Speedway]] |
[[Category:NASCAR races at Rockingham Speedway]] |
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[[Category:October 1974 sports events in the United States|American 500]] |
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Latest revision as of 14:45, 18 February 2024
| Race details[1] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 29 of 30 in the 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season | |||
 Layout of Rockingham Speedway | |||
| Date | October 20, 1974 | ||
| Official name | American 500 | ||
| Location | North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham, North Carolina | ||
| Course |
Permanent racing facility 1.017 mi (1.636 km) | ||
| Distance | 492 laps, 500 mi (804 km) | ||
| Weather | Chilly with temperatures of 66.9 °F (19.4 °C); wind speeds of 11.8 miles per hour (19.0 km/h) | ||
| Average speed | 118.493 mph (190.696 km/h) | ||
| Attendance | 35,000[2] | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Petty Enterprises | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Cale Yarborough | Junior Johnson & Associates | |
| Laps | 231 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 21 | David Pearson | Wood Brothers Racing | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | untelevised | ||
| Announcers | none | ||
The 1974 American 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that was held on October 20, 1974, at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina.
Joe Millikan would make his NASCAR Cup Series debut while Jerry Schild would exit the series in this event. A rare NASCAR Winston Cup appearance by former Champ Car team owner and driver Tony Bettenhausen Jr. would make this race into a landmark event in motorsports history. His first NASCAR appearance was at the 1973 Atlanta 500 while his final appearance at the Cup Series level would be at the 1982 Champion Spark Plug 400.
Background
[edit]North Carolina Motor Speedway was the project of Harold Brasington and Bill Land. Brasington, a land developer, also built NASCAR's first superspeedway, Darlington Speedway, in 1950. Land owned the property, which is settled in the sandhills of North Carolina, and together, they set out to find funding. They went to local lawyer Elsie Webb who assembled a group of backers. The duo also sold shares to the locals for $1 per share, and at one time had about 1,000 shareholders.[3]
The speedway was built as a one-mile oval with flat turns. North Carolina Motor Speedway opened on October 31, 1965, holding its first race on the same day. The American 500[4] was a 500-lap, 500-mile NASCAR Grand National Series race won by Curtis Turner at an average speed of 101.942 miles per hour. Turner dominated the race, which was attended by 35,000 people, leading 239 laps and winning by 11 seconds. The winner's purse was $13,090. The American 500 was the 54th of 55 races in the 1965 season, which included NASCAR legends Cale Yarborough (who finished second), Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett (who would go on to win the championship), Buddy Baker, David Pearson, and Junior Johnson. Only 19 of the 43 cars were running at the end of the race.[5]
The speedway held two Grand National races the next year, the Peach Blossom 500, and The American 500. The Peach Blossom 500 would change names multiple times, usually using the name Carolina 500, before ending as the Subway 400. The American 500 would also change names multiple times as well, ending as the Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400. The first race was typically held in early March or late February, and the second race was held in late October. In 1967 and 1968 the Carolina 500 was run in June.
Race report
[edit]There were 36 drivers who competed in this 492-lap racing event. All except for Canadian native Earl Ross were born and bred in the United States of America.[2]
Joe Frasson's difficulties in handling his steering problems on lap 4 caused him to be credited with the last-place finish for this event. Elmo Langley became the lowest-finishing driver to finish the event; while J.D. McDuffie would be the last driver to achieve a DNF due to troubles with his stock car engine on lap 447. G.C. Spencer's vehicle suffered from an engine failure on lap 12 while Buddy Baker noticed that his car's brakes stopped working on lap 18. Transmission issues relegated Neil Castles to the sidelines on lap 21. Harry Jefferson's engine stopped working properly on lap 30 while Dick Brooks did terminal damage to his vehicle on lap 52. Engine failures would force Jody Ridley to leave the race on lap 85 and Dave Marcis to stop racing on lap 157.[2]
A faulty vehicular water pump ended Ed Negre's day on lap 240 while terminal vehicle damage on lap 317 would end Richie Panch's race weekend. David Sisco noticed that his vehicle's suspension was giving him problems on lap 357; forcing him to accept a 26th-place finish.[2]
The model years of the vehicles ranged from 1972 to 1974; with most of the field driving Chevrolet and Dodge vehicles.[2]
After four hours and thirteen minutes of racing, David Pearson would defeat Cale Yarborough by slightly more than two seconds in front of an eager audience of 35,000 NASCAR followers. While Richard Petty, Buddy Baker and David Pearson would dominate the opening laps of this event, the final laps would become a "Cale Yarborough and David Pearson show." The average speed of the vehicles in this racing event was 118.493 miles per hour (190.696 km/h) while Richard Petty would metaphorically scorch the track with his solo qualifying speed of 135.297 miles per hour (217.739 km/h).[2]
Individual earnings for each driver ranged for the winner's share of $16,350 ($101,013 when adjusted for inflation) to the last-place finisher's share of $550 ($3,398 when adjusted for inflation). NASCAR officials permitted the handover of $99,465 for all the qualifying drivers of this racing event ($614,508 when adjusted for inflation).[6]
Only manual transmission vehicles were allowed to participate in this race; a policy that NASCAR has retained to the present day.
Qualifying
[edit]| Grid[2] | No. | Driver | Manufacturer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 43 | Richard Petty | '74 Dodge | Petty Enterprises |
| 2 | 15 | Buddy Baker | '74 Ford | Bud Moore |
| 3 | 21 | David Pearson | '73 Mercury | Wood Brothers |
| 4 | 11 | Cale Yarborough | '74 Chevrolet | Junior Johnson |
| 5 | 28 | Dick Brooks | '74 Chevrolet | Dick Brooks |
| 6 | 12 | Bobby Allison | '74 AMC Matador | Roger Penske |
| 7 | 52 | Earl Ross | '74 Chevrolet | Junior Johnson |
| 8 | 88 | Donnie Allison | '74 Chevrolet | DiGard Racing |
| 9 | 95 | Darrell Waltrip | '72 Chevrolet | Darrell Waltrip |
| 10 | 72 | Benny Parsons | '74 Chevrolet | L.G. DeWitt |
| 11 | 71 | Dave Marcis | '74 Dodge | Nord Krauskopf |
| 12 | 98 | Richie Panch | '72 Chevrolet | Roy Thornley |
| 13 | 54 | Lennie Pond | '74 Chevrolet | Ronnie Elder |
| 14 | 90 | Jody Ridley | '72 Ford | Junie Donlavey |
| 15 | 97 | Harry Jefferson | '72 Ford | George Jefferson |
| 16 | 24 | Cecil Gordon | '73 Chevrolet | Cecil Gordon |
| 17 | 14 | Coo Coo Marlin | '73 Chevrolet | H.B. Cunningham |
| 18 | 07 | Jerry Schild | '72 Chevrolet | Rush Johnson |
| 19 | 96 | Richard Childress | '73 Chevrolet | Tom Garn |
| 20 | 30 | Walter Ballard | '74 Chevrolet | Vic Ballard |
| 21 | 93 | Jackie Rogers | '74 Chevrolet | Ray Frederick |
| 22 | 05 | David Sisco | '74 Chevrolet | David Sisco |
| 23 | 2 | Dick Trickle | '73 Mercury | Dave Marcis |
| 24 | 19 | Bob Burcham | '73 Chevrolet | Henley Gray |
| 25 | 49 | G.C. Spencer | '74 Dodge | G.C. Spencer |
Top 10 finishers
[edit]| Pos[2] | Grid | No. | Driver | Manufacturer | Laps | Laps led | Time/Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 21 | David Pearson | Mercury | 492 | 169 | 4:13:21 |
| 2 | 4 | 11 | Cale Yarborough | Chevrolet | 492 | 231 | +2.2 seconds |
| 3 | 1 | 43 | Richard Petty | Dodge | 490 | 79 | +2 laps |
| 4 | 6 | 12 | Bobby Allison | AMC Matador | 487 | 1 | +6 laps |
| 5 | 9 | 95 | Darrell Waltrip | Chevrolet | 487 | 0 | +6 laps |
| 6 | 8 | 88 | Donnie Allison | Chevrolet | 486 | 0 | +7 laps |
| 7 | 23 | 2 | Dick Trickle | Mercury | 483 | 0 | +10 laps |
| 8 | 7 | 52 | Earl Ross | Chevrolet | 482 | 0 | +11 laps |
| 9 | 10 | 72 | Benny Parsons | Chevrolet | 479 | 0 | +14 laps |
| 10 | 21 | 93 | Jackie Rogers | Chevrolet | 479 | 0 | +14 laps |
References
[edit]- ^ Weather information for the 1974 American 500 at The Old Farmers' Almanac
- ^ a b c d e f g h 1974 American 500 racing information at Racing Reference
- ^ "1965 American 500". Racing-Reference.info. 1965-10-31. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
- ^ "Race Results at Rockingham Speedway". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
- ^ Prize winnings information for the 1974 American 500 at Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet