1970 World 600 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:56, 31 January 2023

Program for the race.

Status: Lost

The 1970 World 600 was the 16th race of the 1970 NASCAR Grand National Series. Occurring on 24th May at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by Donnie Allison in a 1969 Ford, with LeeRoy Yarbrough being a relief driver for Allison late-on in the race.

Background

The 1970 World 600 was the 11th running of the event, with the race notable for being the longest in the NASCAR schedule at 600 miles.^[1]^[2] It was one of two 1970 Grand National Series races conducted at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the other being the National 500,^[3] which in 1970 occurred on 11th October and was won by LeeRoy Yarbrough in a 1969 Mercury.^[4] The race also has ties to the modern Coca Cola 600, having dropped the World 600 name from 1986 onwards.^[5]^[1]

Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Bobby Isaac in a 1969 Dodge winning the pole position with a speed of 159.277 mph.^[6]^[2] Directly behind him was fellow 1969 Dodge driver Bobby Allison, with Cale Yarborough in a 1969 Mercury qualifying third.^[2] Donnie Allison qualified ninth, while Yarborough lined up 8th out of 40 competitors.^[2]^[6]

The Race

With the starting order decided, the 1970 World 600 occurred on 24th May.^[2] Isaac maintained his lead at the start, holding it for 19 laps.^[2] However, Charlie Glotzbach overtook him in a 1969 Dodge, and he never was able to regain it.^[2] The race was generally an open competition for the lead, with Glotzbach, Yarbrough, and Fred Lorenzen in a 1969 Dodge all leading for significant periods.^[2] None would finish the race though, with Yarbrough retiring on lap 177 because of a clutch failure, while Glotzbach and Lorenzen both retired on lap 252 due to a crash and engine failure respectively.^[7]^[2]

Lorenzen was leading the race when he retired.^[2] The battle for the first position therefore centred on Allison and fellow 1969 Ford driver David Pearson.^[7]^[2] The latter appeared to be gaining the upper hand as the race was reaching its close, because Allison was suffering from burnt feet.^[8]^[7] This was caused by the foam insulation for the Ford's floorboard failing when Allison's foot went through it.^[8] Allison tried to relieved the pain in his right foot by squirting water onto it and using his left foot, but ultimately it only worsened the issue overtime.^[8]

However, with 38 laps to go, Pearson grinded to a halt because of a clutch failure.^[2] This enabled Allison, who by that point was at least two laps ahead of everyone, to pit and replace himself with Yarbrough becoming his relief driver.^[8]^[7] For the final laps, Yarbrough held onto the 2-lap advantage to allow Allison to claim victory and $39,600 in prize money.^[7]^[8]^[2] Yarborough finished second, with Benny Parsons in a 1969 Ford finishing four laps down in third.^[7]^[2] Since the Indianapolis 500 traditionally occurred in the same time period as the World 600,^[1] Allison decided to work double duty, finishing fourth in the 1970 edition.^[9]

Availability

According to NASCAR on TV, the race was televised live midway through by ABC as a special program lasting 90 minutes, being the first World 600 not to be included on ABC's Wide World of Sports.^[10] Ultimately, this broadcast has yet to resurface, and no footage of the race is currently publicly available. Nevertheless, a few photos of the event help to document the event, including some pit stop photos provided by J. Murrey Atkins Library.^[11]

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Essentially Sports detailing the World 600, now the Coca Cola 600. Retrieved 16 Mar '22
↑ ^2.00 ^2.01 ^2.02 ^2.03 ^2.04 ^2.05 ^2.06 ^2.07 ^2.08 ^2.09 ^2.10 ^2.11 ^2.12 ^2.13 Racing-Reference detailing qualifying and race results for the event. Retrieved 16 Mar '22
↑ Racing-Reference detailing the 1970 NASCAR Grand National Series calendar. Retrieved 16 Mar '22
↑ Racing-Reference detailing the results of the 1970 National 500. Retrieved 16 Mar '22
↑ The New York Times Stats detailing the history of the World 600. Retrieved 16 Mar '22
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 The New York Times reporting on qualifying for the race. Retrieved 16 Mar '22
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 ^7.2 ^7.3 ^7.4 ^7.5 The New York Times reporting on Allison winning the race. Retrieved 16 Mar '22
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 ^8.3 ^8.4 Racer where Allison discussed winning the event and the insulation failure that caused him to suffer burnt feet. Retrieved 16 Mar '22
↑ Autoweek detailing Allison working double duty by finishing fourth at the 1970 Indianapolis 500. Retrieved 16 Mar '22
↑ NASCAR on TV detailing the ABC broadcast of the race. Retrieved 16 Mar '22
↑ J. Murrey Atkins Library providing some pit stop photos of the race. Retrieved 16 Mar '22

[cola-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Essentially Sports detailing the World 600, now the Coca Cola 600. Retrieved 16 Mar '22

[results-2] 2.00 ^2.01 ^2.02 ^2.03 ^2.04 ^2.05 ^2.06 ^2.07 ^2.08 ^2.09 ^2.10 ^2.11 ^2.12 ^2.13 Racing-Reference detailing qualifying and race results for the event. Retrieved 16 Mar '22

[3] Racing-Reference detailing the 1970 NASCAR Grand National Series calendar. Retrieved 16 Mar '22

[4] Racing-Reference detailing the results of the 1970 National 500. Retrieved 16 Mar '22

[5] The New York Times Stats detailing the history of the World 600. Retrieved 16 Mar '22

[qualifying-6] 6.0 ^6.1 The New York Times reporting on qualifying for the race. Retrieved 16 Mar '22

[nyt-7] 7.0 ^7.1 ^7.2 ^7.3 ^7.4 ^7.5 The New York Times reporting on Allison winning the race. Retrieved 16 Mar '22

[racer-8] 8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 ^8.3 ^8.4 Racer where Allison discussed winning the event and the insulation failure that caused him to suffer burnt feet. Retrieved 16 Mar '22

[9] Autoweek detailing Allison working double duty by finishing fourth at the 1970 Indianapolis 500. Retrieved 16 Mar '22

[10] NASCAR on TV detailing the ABC broadcast of the race. Retrieved 16 Mar '22

[11] J. Murrey Atkins Library providing some pit stop photos of the race. Retrieved 16 Mar '22

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@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 |title=<center>1970 World 600</center>
 |image=1970world6001.png
-|imagecaption=Donnie Allison's 1969 Ford during the race.
+|imagecaption=Program for the race.
 |status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
 }}
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 ==Availability==
 According to ''NASCAR on TV'', the race was televised live midway through by ABC as a special program lasting 90 minutes, being the first World 600 not to be included on ABC's ''Wide World of Sports''.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/nascarracingontv/home/the-races/monster-energy-cup-series/1970-nascar-grand-national-series/1970-world-600 ''NASCAR on TV'' detailing the ABC broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 16 Mar '22</ref> Ultimately, this broadcast has yet to resurface, and no footage of the race is currently publicly available. Nevertheless, a few photos of the event help to document the event, including some pit stop photos provided by J. Murrey Atkins Library.<ref>[https://repository.charlotte.edu/islandora/object/motorsports%3A1894 ''J. Murrey Atkins Library'' providing some pit stop photos of the race.] Retrieved 16 Mar '22</ref>
-==Gallery==
-===Images===
-<gallery mode=packed heights=200px>
-world6002.jpg|Fred Lorenzen made his return to the Grand National Series after three years. He led 47 laps before retiring due to an engine failure.
-world6003.jpg|NASCAR Modified driver Bug Stevens made his debut for the race in a 1970 Plymouth (36). He would ultimately finish sixth.
-</gallery>
 ==See Also==
 *[[1960 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1960)]]
 *[[1960 Daytona Races (lost CBS and NBC televised footage of NASCAR prelude events to Daytona 500; 1960)]]
 *[[1961 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1961)]]
@@ Line 38: / Line 31: @@
 *[[1963 Richmond 250 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series qualifying session and race; 1963)]]
 *[[1964 Atlanta 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
 *[[1964 National 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
 *[[1964 Richmond 250 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series qualifying session; 1964)]]
 *[[1965 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1965)]]
 *[[1965 Rebel 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1965)]]
 *[[1966 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1966)]]
 *[[1966 Southern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1966)]]
 *[[1967 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
-*[[1967 Rebel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
+*[[1967 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
+*[[1967 Rebel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
+*[[1968 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1968)]]
 *[[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)]]
 *[[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)]]
@@ Line 111: / Line 106: @@
 {{reflist}}
-[[Category:Lost recordings of real incidents]]
+[[Category:Lost recordings of sports events]]
-[[Category:Lost TV]]
 [[Category:Completely lost media]]