1962 Dixie 400
Race details[1] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Race 53 of 53 in the 1962 NASCAR Grand National Series season | |||
Date | October 28, 1962 | ||
Official name | Dixie 400 | ||
Location | Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton, Georgia | ||
Course |
Permanent racing facility 1.500 mi (2.400 km) | ||
Distance | 267 laps, 401 mi (645 km) | ||
Weather | Temperatures of 68 °F (20 °C); wind speeds of 7 miles per hour (11 km/h) | ||
Average speed | 124.74 miles per hour (200.75 km/h) | ||
Attendance | 25,000[2] | ||
Pole position | |||
Driver | Jim Stephens | ||
Time | 78.850 seconds | ||
Most laps led | |||
Driver | Fireball Roberts | Jim Stephens | |
Laps | 144 | ||
Winner | |||
No. 4 | Rex White | Rex White | |
Television in the United States | |||
Network | untelevised | ||
Announcers | none |
The 1962 Dixie 400 was a
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.
This race was not originally scheduled to be the 53rd race of the 1962 NASCAR Grand National Series season. It was initially scheduled for October 21 at South Boston, Virginia but it was finally canceled due to lack of entries. Joe Weatherly would clinch the championship title as a result of the cancelled race in South Boston.[citation needed]
Background
The layout at Atlanta International Speedway at the time was a four-turn traditional oval track that is 1.54 miles (2.48 km) long.[4] The track's turns are banked at twenty-four degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, and the back stretch are banked at five.[4]
Race report
All 44 drivers in this race were born in the
Three cautions would slow this 267-lap race.
At the end of three hours and twelve minutes of racing,
Qualifying
Grid | No. | Driver | Manufacturer | Qualifying time[8] | Speed[8] | Owner |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 22 | Fireball Roberts | '62 Pontiac | 78.850 | 138.978 | Jim Stephens |
2 | 28 | Fred Lorenzen | '62 Ford | 79.000 | 138.710 | Holman-Moody |
3 | 21 | Marvin Panch | '62 Ford | 79.150 | 138.452 | Wood Brothers |
4 | 3 | Junior Johnson | '62 Pontiac | 79.230 | 138.310 | Ray Fox |
5 | 4 | Rex White | '62 Chevrolet | 79.390 | 138.019 | Rex White |
6 | 72 | Bobby Johns | '62 Pontiac | 79.400 | 138.019 | Shorty Johns |
7 | 8 | Joe Weatherly | '62 Pontiac | 79.440 | 137.939 | Bud Moore |
8 | 46 | Johnny Allen | '62 Pontiac | 79.530 | 137.781 | Fred Lovette |
9 | 29 | Nelson Stacy | '62 Ford | 79.710 | 137.474 | Holman-Moody |
10 | 08 | David Pearson | '62 Pontiac | 79.860 | 137.221 | Bud Moore |
Failed to qualify: George Alsobrook (#63), Cotton Wallace (#9), Lee Reitzel (#93), Bruce Brantley (#96)[8]
Finishing order
Section reference:[2]
- Rex White (No. 4)
- Joe Weatherly (No. 8)
- Marvin Panch (No. 21)
- Richard Petty (No. 43)
- Fred Lorenzen (No. 28)
- Larry Frank (No. 77)
- Stick Elliott (No. 18)
- Buck Baker (No. 47)
- Jack Smith (No. 17)
- Fireball Roberts (No. 22)
- David Pearson (No. 08)
- Bob Welborn (No. 49)
- Elmo Langley (No. 66)
- Ralph Earnhardt (No. 91)
- Buddy Baker (No. 87)
- G.C. Spencer(No. 48)
- Jim Paschal (No. 42)
- Bunkie Blackburn (No. 83)
- Tiny Lund (No. 12)
- Johnny Allen (No. 46)
- Herman Beam (No. 19)
- Jimmy Thompson (No. 90)
- Darel Dieringer (No. 26)
- Bobby Johns (No. 72)
- Jimmy Pardue (No. 54)
- Sherman Utsman (No. 61)
- Emanuel Zervakis (No. 20)
- Tommy Irwin (No. 40)
- Larry Thomas (No. 36)
- H.B. Bailey(No. 24)
- H.G. Rosier (No. 5)
- Johnny Sudderth (No. 30)
- Cale Yarborough (No. 92)
- Doug Yates (No. 27)
- Nelson Stacy (No. 29)
- Junior Johnson (No. 3)
- LeeRoy Yarbrough (No. 81)
- Red Foote (No. 84)
- Paul Lewis (No. 97)
- Ned Jarrett (No. 11)
- Woodie Wilson (No. 38)
- Tom Cox (No. 86)
- Curtis Crider (No. 62)
- George Green (No. 1)
Timeline
Section reference:[2]
- Start of race: Fireball Roberts had the pole position as the green flag was waved.
- Lap 3: George Green managed to wreck his vehicle's engine.
- Lap 4: Junior Johnson took over the lead from Fireball Roberts.
- Lap 6: Fireball Roberts took over the lead from Junior Johnson.
- Lap 11: Oil pressure issues wiped out Tom Cox's chance of winning the race.
- Lap 12: Ned Jarrett managed to wreck his vehicle's engine.
- Lap 20: Paul Lewis managed to wreck his vehicle's engine.
- Lap 35: Junior Johnson took over the lead from Fireball Roberts.
- Lap 47: Bobby Johns took over the lead from Junior Johnson.
- Lap 53: Junior Johnson took over the lead from Bobby Johns.
- Lap 55: Red Foote managed to wreck his vehicle's engine.
- Lap 62: LeeRoy Yarbrough had a terminal crash.
- Lap 66: Bobby Johns took over the lead from Junior Johnson; Junior Johnson had a terminal crash.
- Lap 68: Richard Petty took over the lead from Bobby Johns.
- Lap 71: Marvin Panch took over the lead from Richard Petty; Nelson Stacy had a terminal crash.
- Lap 75: Doug Yates managed to wreck his vehicle's engine.
- Lap 84: Cale Yarbrough managed to wreck his vehicle's engine.
- Lap 96: Fireball Roberts took over the lead from Marvin Panch.
- Lap 101: H.B. Bailey had a terminal crash.
- Lap 103: Bobby Johns took over the lead from Fireball Roberts.
- Lap 124: Tommy Irwin had a terminal crash.
- Lap 133: Marvin Panch took over the lead from Bobby Johns.
- Lap 135: Fireball Roberts took over the lead from Marvin Panch.
- Lap 145: Emanuel Zervakis managed to damage his vehicle's transmission beyond repair.
- Lap 148: Sherman Utsman managed to wreck his vehicle's engine.
- Lap 158: The head gasket managed to come loose off Jimmy Pardue's vehicle.
- Lap 188: Bobby Johns had a terminal crash.
- Lap 193: Marvin Panch took over the lead from Fireball Roberts.
- Lap 194: Fireball Roberts took over the lead from Marvin Panch.
- Lap 196: Darel Dieringer managed to wreck his vehicle's engine.
- Lap 229: Oil pressure issues managed to eradicate Jimmy Thompson's chances of winning the race.
- Lap 241: Marvin Panch took over the lead from Fireball Roberts.
- Lap 265: Rex White took over the lead from Marvin Panch.
- Finish: Rex White was officially declared the winner of the event.
References
- ^ Weather information for the 1962 Dixie 400 at The Old Farmers' Almanac
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 1962 Dixie 400 racing information at Racing Reference
- ^ "NASCAR Race Tracks". NASCAR. Archived from the original on June 3, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
- ^ a b "NASCAR Tracks—The Atlanta Motor Speedway". Atlanta Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
- ^ 1962 Dixie 400 results at Race-Database
- ^ 1962 Dixie 400 crew chief information at Racing Reference
- ^ a b 1962 Dixie 400 racing results at Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet
- ^ a b c Qualifying information for the 1962 Dixie 400 at Racing Reference