When was the only Nascar race I ever attended.....

[bandit67]

Guys, been trying to figure out what year was the only nascar race I attended many years ago. It was the Firecracker 400, held during the summer months at the Darlington Speedway in S. Carolina. I was in the Boy Scouts and they let Scouts in for free that race. My two Scout leaders loaded up a bunch of us and we went. It had to be in 68, or 69 or maybe 70, don't think 71. Richard Petty and David Pearson were the two top drivers battling it out for the lead and some time after the half mark Petty hit the wall and was out. Pearson won the race. I remember as we were leaving seeing two fans carrying out Pettys crumbled whole fender out as a souvenir. Just curious as to what year that was, and hope to find a recording of that race....thanks

 

[WileE]

According to records, Pearson won Firecracker 400 in consecutive years 1972, 1973, 1974. As well as 1978.

 

[bandit67]

Thanks, I would have been 14 at that time, always thought it was before 1972, thanks WileE

 

[bandit67]

Because of your post , WileE, I did some digging and finally found the exact race I did attend when I was 12. I was incorrect on several "memories". The race I attended was the Rebel 400 at Darlington on Mothers Day weekend of May 9, 1970, not the Firecracker 400. Petty only led three laps before his big crash on lap 167, which led to permanent rule change by NASCAR. Pearson got most of his lap leader spots in the last half after many of main lead drivers dropped out due to problems.
While I think they said there were six winged cars that started the race, Petty was not one of them. I learned he wrecked his wing car while qualifying, and had to resort to his Road Runner car on race day. Only two of the six wing cars finished all 281 laps.
The 15 minute video I linked below gives a pretty good overall recap of Pettys crash hitting the wall first and then the pit wall.