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1970 Alabama 500

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1970 Alabama 500
Race details[1]
Race 10 of 48 in the 1970 NASCAR Grand National Series season
1970 Alabama 500 program cover, featuring the winner of the inaugural Talladega race, Richard Brickhouse.
1970 Alabama 500 program cover, featuring the winner of the inaugural Talladega race, Richard Brickhouse.
Date April 12, 1970 (1970-04-12)
Location Alabama International Motor Speedway, Talladega, Alabama
Course Permanent racing facility
2.66 mi (4.3 km)
Distance 188 laps, 500 mi (800 km)
Weather Chilly with temperatures of 68 °F (20 °C); wind speeds of 8.9 miles per hour (14.3 km/h)
Average speed 152.321 miles per hour (245.137 km/h)
Attendance 36,000[2]
Pole position
Driver Nord Krauskopf
Most laps led
Driver Buddy Baker Cotton Owens
Laps 101
Winner
No. 40 Pete Hamilton Petty Enterprises
Television in the United States
Network ABC (second half)
Announcers Keith Jackson
Chris Economaki

The 1970 Alabama 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on April 12, 1970, at Alabama International Motor Speedway (now Talladega Superspeedway) 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.

Nord Krauskopf's Bobby Isaac won the pole position, and the race was won by Petty Enterprises's Pete Hamilton.

Background

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Alabama International Motor Speedway (AIMS), later known as Talladega Superspeedway, 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 NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the NASCAR Truck Series. The track 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]

Qualifying

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Grid[2] No. Driver Manufacturer Team/Owner
1 71 Bobby Isaac '69 Dodge K&K Insurance Racing
2 17 David Pearson '69 Ford Holman-Moody
3 99 Charlie Glotzbach '69 Dodge Nichels Engineering
4 22 Bobby Allison '69 Dodge Mario Rossi
5 6 Buddy Baker '69 Dodge Owens Racing
6 40 Pete Hamilton '70 Plymouth Petty Enterprises
7 32 Dick Brooks '70 Plymouth Brooks Racing
8 43 Richard Petty '70 Plymouth Petty Enterprises
9 14 Freddy Fryar '70 Plymouth Bill Ellis
10 79 Frank Warren '69 Plymouth Frank Warren
11 72 Benny Parsons '69 Ford DeWitt Racing
12 59 Richard Brickhouse '70 Ford Tom Pistone
13 37 Don Tarr '69 Dodge Don Tarr
14 64 Elmo Langley '69 Ford Langley Racing
15 45 Bill Seifert '69 Ford Bill Seifert
16 25 Jabe Thomas '69 Plymouth Don Robertson
17 47 Raymond Williams '69 Ford Bill Seifert
18 24 Cecil Gordon '68 Ford Gordon Racing
19 63 Jimmy Crawford '69 Chevrolet Crawford Racing
20 51 Dub Simpson '69 Chevrolet Bill Strong
21 21 Cale Yarborough '69 Mercury Wood Brothers Racing
22 48 James Hylton '69 Ford James Hylton Motorsports
23 31 Jim Vandiver '69 Dodge Jim Vandiver
24 30 Dave Marcis '69 Dodge Marcis Auto Racing
25 10 Bill Champion '69 Ford Bill Champion
26 62 Ron Keselowski '69 Dodge John Keselowski
27 68 Larry Baumel '69 Ford Allan Schlauer
28 81 Dave Alonzo '69 Dodge Dave Alonzo
29 86 John Sears '69 Dodge Dennis Gallion
30 89 Butch Hirst '69 Ford Morris Davis
31 74 Bill Shirey '69 Plymouth Bill Shirey
32 34 Wendell Scott '69 Ford Scott Racing
33 06 Neil Castles '69 Dodge Neil Castles
34 19 Henley Gray '69 Ford Henley Gray
35 76 Ben Arnold '69 Ford Ben Arnold
36 39 Friday Hassler '69 Chevrolet James Hanley
37 84 Bobby Mausgrover '69 Dodge Buster Davis
38 07 Coo Coo Marlin '69 Chevrolet Cunningham-Kelley Racing
39 7 Alton Jones '68 Ford Ben Arnold
40 96 E.J. Trivette '68 Ford
Failed to qualify
57 Johnny Halford Dodge Ervin Pruitt
67 Dick May Ford Ron Ronacher
70 J.D. McDuffie Ford McDuffie Racing
WD 33 Wayne Smith Chevrolet Wayne Smith

Failed to qualify: Dick May (#67), J.D. McDuffie, Johnny Halford (#57), Wayne Smith[4]

Race report

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The ABC broadcast picked up the action just after halfway at about lap 100. One of the announcers highlighted what had happened during the untelevised part of the race by showing scale models of the cars that started up front and talking about where they were now. However, the race was hard to watch on television as the announcers and apparently even NASCAR officials struggled to figure out who was leading at the end; making for a very poor and unprofessional finish. The TV crew thought Bobby Isaac was the leader and was confused when Hamilton was given the checkered flag. The broadcast crew left the air before the victory lane interview, thinking that Pete Hamilton won the race.[5]

A crowd of 36,000 was present at the race.[6]

32 lead changes occurred between eight drivers: Buddy Baker, Hamilton, Isaac, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Richard Brickhouse, Charlie Glotzbach and Bobby Allison.[7]

Bill Shirey blew his engine on lap 3 while Dale Alonzo inflicted terminal damage on lap 10. Further engine failures on the vehicles of Don Tarr on lap 17, Richard Brickhouse on lap 25, Bobby Mausgrover on the same lap, and E.J. Trivette on lap 73. Henley Gray's steering forced his exit on lap 78. Jim Vandiver overheated his vehicle on lap 93. Two more engine failures as Raymond Williams had to leave the race on lap 107 and Charlie Glotzbach on lap 117. Bill Champion's vehicle developed an oil leak on lap 125 while Bobby Allison lost his engine on lap 126. Elmo Langley could not continue the race due to a faulty engine on lap 149. Water pump issues took Ron Keselowski of the race while Alton Jones had to settle for a 24th-place finish due to engine problems on lap 155.[2] Longtime Alabama independent driver Ben Arnold fielded cars for Alton Jones and himself.[2] Cale Yarborough lost several laps on pit road when his car wouldn't refire, while Richard Petty lost a couple more laps himself when the crew had to go under the hood of the #43 Plymouth.[2]

Notable crew chiefs at this race included Harry Hyde, Dale Inman, Maurice Petty, Tom Vandiver, Tom Ingram, Dick Hutcherson and Glen Wood.[8]

Baker's accident

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Even though Buddy Baker led the most laps with 101 (along with having a nine-second distance between Pete Hamilton by lap 170), pit road problems allowed Hamilton to lap him. Baker began to close in on Hamilton. However, Baker's tire blew heading into the fourth turn on lap 175; fragments of the tire would ultimately damage the engine cooler that resulted in a serious fire for his Dodge. Baker attempted to put out the fire by spinning into the grass.[9]

Baker suffered second-degree burns to the legs and face but was subsequently released from the hospital. When asked about the incident, Baker stated, "it was the scariest thing that ever happened to me. I don't really mind losing this time; I'm just happy to be alive."[9] Baker would finish 12th, as Hamilton led the final 18 laps to give him the victory, with a 44-second lead[2] over second-place finisher Isaac; Pearson, Benny Parsons and Yarborough closed out the top five. The win was Hamilton's second of the season, and Hamilton would eventually win the second Talladega race.[7]

Finishing order

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Source:[2][10]

Fin St # Driver Make Team/Owner Sponsor Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 6 40 Pete Hamilton '70 Plymouth Petty Enterprises 7-Up 188 19 running 150 $26,650
2 1 71 Bobby Isaac '69 Dodge K&K Insurance Racing K & K Insurance 188 3 running 147 $12,500
3 2 17 David Pearson '69 Ford Holman-Moody Purolator 187 7 running 144 $8,675
4 11 72 Benny Parsons '69 Ford DeWitt Racing L.G. DeWitt 187 0 running 141 $5,825
5 21 21 Cale Yarborough '69 Mercury Wood Brothers Racing 60 Minute Cleaners 183 12 running 138 $4,425
6 9 14 Freddy Fryar '70 Plymouth Bill Ellis Bill Ellis 182 0 running 135 $3,000
7 8 43 Richard Petty '70 Plymouth Petty Enterprises 7-Up 181 0 running 132 $2,500
8 22 48 James Hylton '69 Ford James Hylton Motorsports Hylton Engineering 180 0 running 129 $2,300
9 33 06 Neil Castles '69 Dodge Neil Castles Howard Furniture 179 0 running 126 $2,200
10 38 07 Coo Coo Marlin '69 Chevrolet Cunningham-Kelley Racing Cunningham-Kelley 177 0 running 123 $2,000
11 10 79 Frank Warren '69 Plymouth Frank Warren 176 0 running 120 $1,885
12 5 6 Buddy Baker '69 Dodge Owens Racing Cotton Owens 175 101 spin/fire 117 $1,860
13 7 32 Dick Brooks '70 Plymouth Brooks Racing Bestline Products 175 0 running 114 $1,785
14 36 39 Friday Hassler '69 Chevrolet James Hanley James Hanley 175 0 running 111 $1,760
15 16 25 Jabe Thomas '69 Plymouth Don Robertson Don Robertson 174 0 running 108 $1,710
16 30 89 Butch Hirst '69 Ford Morris Davis Morris Davis 169 0 running 105 $1,685
17 24 30 Dave Marcis '69 Dodge Marcis Auto Racing Lunda Construction 168 0 running 102 $1,685
18 15 45 Bill Seifert '69 Ford Bill Seifert 167 0 running 99 $1,635
19 29 86 John Sears '69 Dodge Dennis Gallion Dennis Gallion 167 0 running 96 $1,610
20 32 34 Wendell Scott '69 Ford Scott Racing 165 0 running 93 $1,585
21 18 24 Cecil Gordon '68 Ford Gordon Racing 164 0 running 90 $1,560
22 20 51 Dub Simpson '69 Chevrolet Bill Strong Bill Strong 162 0 running 87 $1,535
23 35 76 Ben Arnold '69 Ford Ben Arnold 160 0 running 84 $1,510
24 39 7 Alton Jones '68 Ford Ben Arnold Ben Arnold 155 0 engine 81 $1,485
25 26 62 Ron Keselowski '69 Dodge John Keselowski Kaye Engineering 153 0 water pump 78 $1,460
26 27 68 Larry Baumel '69 Ford Allan Schlauer Auto Lad 150 0 running 75 $1,435
27 14 64 Elmo Langley '69 Ford Langley Racing 149 0 engine 72 $1,435
28 19 63 Jimmy Crawford '69 Chevrolet Crawford Racing Crawford Racing 143 0 running 69 $1,385
29 4 22 Bobby Allison '69 Dodge Mario Rossi Coca-Cola 126 40 engine 66 $1,410
30 25 10 Bill Champion '69 Ford Bill Champion 125 0 oil leak 63 $1,335
31 3 99 Charlie Glotzbach '69 Dodge Nichels Engineering Dow Chemicals 117 4 engine 60 $1,385
32 17 47 Raymond Williams '69 Ford Bill Seifert Bill Seifert 107 0 engine 57 $1,285
33 23 31 Jim Vandiver '69 Dodge Jim Vandiver 93 0 overheating 54 $1,285
34 34 19 Henley Gray '69 Ford Henley Gray 78 0 steering 51 $1,285
35 40 96 E.J. Trivette '68 Ford 73 0 engine 48 $1,210
36 37 84 Bobby Mausgrover '69 Dodge Buster Davis Buster Davis 25 0 engine 45 $1,210
37 12 59 Richard Brickhouse '70 Ford Tom Pistone Pepsi-Cola 25 2 engine 42 $1,210
38 13 37 Don Tarr '69 Dodge Don Tarr Coca-Cola 17 0 engine 39 $1,160
39 28 81 Dave Alonzo '69 Dodge Dave Alonzo 10 0 crash 36 $1,110
40 31 74 Bill Shirey '69 Plymouth Bill Shirey 3 0 engine 33 $1,085
Failed to qualify
57 Johnny Halford Dodge Ervin Pruitt
67 Dick May Ford Ron Ronacher
70 J.D. McDuffie Ford McDuffie Racing
WD 33 Wayne Smith Chevrolet Wayne Smith

References

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  1. ^ "Weather information for the 1970 Alabama 500". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Archived from the original on 2024-05-26. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "1970 Alabama 500". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  3. ^ "Track Facts". talladegasuperspeedway.com. Talladega Superspeedway. November 1, 2012. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  4. ^ "1970 Alabama 500 qualifying information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  5. ^ "1970 NASCAR Grand National Recap". HowStuffWorks. Archived from the original on 2013-06-02. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  6. ^ "40 years of Talladega -- Birmingham News special report". The Birmingham News. 2008-10-02. Archived from the original on 2014-01-04. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  7. ^ a b "MRN Flashback: 1970 Alabama 500". Motor Racing Network. 2013-05-01. Archived from the original on 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  8. ^ "1970 Alabama 500 crew chief information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  9. ^ a b "190 mph Fireball!". Cotton Owens Garage. Archived from the original on 2013-09-06. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  10. ^ "1970 Alabama 500 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2021-07-01.