1963 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1963): Difference between revisions

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==See Also==
==See Also==
*[[1960 Daytona Races (lost CBS and NBC televised footage of NASCAR prelude events to Daytona 500; 1960)]]
*[[1960 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1960)]]         
*[[1961 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National race; 1961)]]
*[[1960 Daytona Races (lost CBS and NBC televised footage of NASCAR prelude events to Daytona 500; 1960)]]          
*[[1962 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National race; 1962)]]
*[[1961 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1961)]]    
*[[1967 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
*[[1962 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1962)]]         
*[[1971 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
*[[1962 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1962)]]          
*[[1971 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1971)]]
*[[1963 Richmond 250 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series qualifying session and race; 1963)]]         
*[[1972 Firecracker 400 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
*[[1964 Atlanta 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]         
*[[1974 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1974)]]
*[[1964 National 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
*[[1975 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1975)]]
*[[1964 Richmond 250 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series qualifying session; 1964)]]   
*[[1976 Dixie 500 (lost CBS footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
*[[1965 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1965)]]         
*[[1979 Southeastern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1979)]]
*[[1965 Rebel 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1965)]]         
*[[1982 Twin 125s race 1 (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]]
*[[1966 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1966)]]         
*[[1984 Delaware 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1984)]]
*[[1966 Southern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1966)]]         
*[[1984 Warner W. Hodgdon Carolina 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1984)‎]]
*[[1967 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]          
*[[1985 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1985)]]
*[[1967 Rebel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]   
*[[1986 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1986)]]
*[[1970 Alabama 500 (found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]         
*[[1970 National 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]         
*[[1970 Wilkes 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]         
*[[1970 World 600 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]         
*[[1971 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]         
*[[1971 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]      
*[[1971 Myers Brothers 250 (lost footage and official documents of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]         
*[[1971 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]         
*[[1971 Rebel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]         
*[[1971 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1971)]]          
*[[1972 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
*[[1972 Bowman-Gray 100 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand American Series race; 1972)]]     
*[[1972 Carolina 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]   
*[[1972 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]         
*[[1972 Firecracker 400 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]          
*[[1972 National 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]         
*[[1972 Rebel 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]         
*[[1973 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1973)]]         
*[[1973 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1973)]]         
*[[1974 Mason-Dixon 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1974)]]         
*[[1974 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1974)]]         
*[[1974 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1974)]]        
*[[1975 Champion Spark Plug 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]         
*[[1975 Dixie 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]         
*[[1975 Firecracker 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]         
*[[1975 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]         
*[[1975 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1975)]]          
*[[1975 World 600 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]         
*[[1976 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]       
*[[1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]         
*[[1976 Dixie 500 (lost CBS footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]          
*[[1976 Firecracker 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]         
*[[1976 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]         
*[[1976 Rebel 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]       
*[[1976 Riverside 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]         
*[[1976 Talladega 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]         
*[[1976 Winston 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]         
*[[1976 World 600 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]         
*[[1978 NAPA National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1978)]]
*[[1979 Daytona ARCA 200 (lost footage of ARCA Racing Series race; 1979)]]         
*[[1979 Dixie 500 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1979)]]         
*[[1979 Southeastern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1979)]]   
*[[1981 Coca-Cola 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1981)]]   
*[[1981 CRC Chemicals 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1981)]] 
*[[1982 CRC Chemicals 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1982)]]
*[[1982 Eastern 150 (lost footage of NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1982)]]  
*[[1982 Goody's Sportsman 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1982)]]         
*[[1982 Twin 125s race 1 (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]]  
*[[1982 Winston Western 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]]
*[[1983 Goody's Sportsman 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1983)]] 
*[[1983 Mason-Dixon 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1983)]] 
*[[1983 Southern 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1983)]]         
*[[1984 Delaware 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1984)]]  
*[[1984 Goody's Sportsman 300 (lost footage of NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race; 1984)]]         
*[[1984 Warner W. Hodgdon Carolina 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1984)‎]]          
*[[1985 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1985)]]          
*[[1986 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1986)]]
*[[1989 Busch Clash (lost footage of pre-season NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1989)]]
*[[1992 Atlanta 300 (lost footage of NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race; 1992)]]         
*[[1996 DeVilbiss SuperFinish 200 (partially found televised footage of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race; 1996)]]
*[[1996 DeVilbiss SuperFinish 200 (partially found televised footage of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race; 1996)]]
*[[Jeff Gordon's 2008 UAW-Dodge 400 crash (lost on-board footage of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race crash; 2008)]]
*[[NASCAR (partially found uncut footage of stock car races; 1960-present)]]


==External Link==
==External Link==

Revision as of 10:55, 26 April 2022

1963firecracker4001.jpg

Fireball Roberts (22) winning the race ahead of Fred Lorenzen (28) and Marvin Panch (21).

Status: Partially Found

The 1963 Firecracker 400 was the 29th race of the 1963 NASCAR Grand National Series. Occurring on 4th July at the Daytona International Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by Fireball Roberts in a 1963 Ford. This was the first Firecracker race to be expanded from 250 to 400 miles.

Background

The 1963 Firecracker 400 was the fifth running of the event, with its name a reference to the fact it was held on the United States' Independence Day.[1] It was also the fourth 1963 NASCAR Grand National Series event to be held at Daytona International Speedway,[2] after the Twin 125s and the Daytona 500, which in 1963 occurred on 24th February and was won by Tiny Lund.[3] The Firecracker 400 also has ties to the modern Coke Zero Sugar 400 race, having dropped the Firecracker name in 2019.[1] Indeed, this would be the first instance of the race expanding from 250 to 400 miles.[4]

Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Junior Johnson winning the pole position in a 1963 Chevrolet.[5] Two qualifying races commenced, where in the first race, it was a battle between Jim Paschal's 1963 Chevrolet and Fred Lorenzen's 1963 Ford. Paschal had led 18 of the 20 laps, but Lorenzen ultimately overtook his opponent near the end of the race, holding on for the remaining two laps to claim victory and $1,000 in prize money.[6] In the second race, Johnson and Roberts were primarily in contention, with Johnson ultimately coming out on top by leading three-quarters of the race, earning the $1,000 ahead of Roberts.[7] The New York Times also noted how a few former motorcycle racers, including Paul Goldsmith, were due to compete in the race,[8] with Goldsmith having qualified 6th.[5]

The Race

With the starting order decided, the 1963 Firecracker 400 occurred on 4th July. Paschal's move into the lead on the first lap symbolised the frequency of lead changes, with 39 in total occurring over the 160 laps. Indeed, the four best performers in the qualifying races routinely overtook each other until lap 61, when Paschal retired following a piston failure. 50 laps later, Johnson retired from the lead, also due to a piston failure. With the exception of a few laps led by Marvin Panch and Lund in 1963 Fords, the race was primarily between Roberts and Lorenzen. On lap 155, after leading 45 consecutive laps, Roberts was overtaken by Lorenzen, kickstarting a highly competitive ending for the event, cumulating in Roberts overtaking Lorenzen on the final lap to claim victory by a few inches and earning $11,600 in prize money.[9][5] Panch finished a close third, the only other driver on the lead lap.[5]

This would be Roberts' second consecutive win at the event, and his third overall, having also won the 1959 race.[10] Ultimately, this would prove to be Roberts' final Firecracker event, as he passed away two days before the 1964 race from his injuries sustained at the 1964 World 600.[10]

Availability

According to Racing-Reference, some footage of the 1963 Firecracker 400 may have been included as part of a Historic Films video showcasing classic NASCAR racing at the Daytona International Speedway.[11] While the 25 minutes of footage does not exclusively contain the race, with some clips coming from Daytona 500 races according to the Descriptive Log, it is likely a few fragments can be found in the video, albeit without sound. Nevertheless, a Fleetwood Records field recording of the event also exists.

Additionally, NASCAR on TV states that 45 minutes of highlights were televised on 6th July 1963 as part of ABC's Wide World of Sports, being broadcast alongside the All England Tennis Championships.[12] But while confirmation has been achieved, no footage of the race is known to be publicly available.[13] Back in the 1960s, tapes of recorded television events were usually wiped and reused due to the immense cost of storing them.[14] Nevertheless, there is a slim chance that older NASCAR broadcasts might still be available in kinetoscope form.[15]

Gallery

Images

Video

Record providing audio of the race.


See Also

External Link

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Forbes detailing the origin of the Firecracker 250, and its reporting on its 2019 name change. Retrieved 12 Jan '22
  2. Racing-Reference detailing the 1963 NASCAR Grand National Series calendar. Retrieved 12 Jan '22
  3. Racing-Reference detailing results for the 1963 Daytona 500. Retrieved 12 Jan '22
  4. The Winston Cup Museum noting the race being expanded from 250 to 400 miles. Retrieved 12 Jan '22
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Racing-Reference detailing the start order and results. Retrieved 12 Jan '22
  6. Ultimate Racing History detailing results of the first qualifying race. Retrieved 12 Jan '22
  7. Ultimate Racing History detailing results of the second qualifying race. Retrieved 12 Jan '22
  8. The New York Times reporting on several former motorcycle racers competing at the event. Retrieved 12 Jan '22
  9. The New York Times reporting on Roberts winning the race. Retrieved 12 Jan '22
  10. 10.0 10.1 Bleacher Report noting Roberts winning the event three times, and that he passed away two days before the 1964 race. Retrieved 12 Jan '22
  11. Racing-Reference claiming highlights of the race were included in a Historic Films video. Retrieved 12 Jan '22
  12. NASCAR on TV detailing the ABC broadcast of the race. Retrieved 12 Jan '22
  13. Austin LaPlante's YouTube playlist of NASCAR events from 1949-1971, noting no footage of the race is currently accessible. Retrieved 12 Jan '22
  14. Old Time Review detailing the practice of wiping. Retrieved 12 Jan '22
  15. Racing-Reference detailing how a kinetoscope of the CBS 1960 Daytona races may still exist, which might be true of the early ABC broadcasts Retrieved 12 Jan '22