1972 Firecracker 400 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972): Difference between revisions

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(Based on reports, one of the most exciting NASCAR races with one of the closest finishes! Just a shame there is no footage available currently.)
 
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{{InfoboxLost
#REDIRECT [[1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Series (partially found footage of NASCAR races; 1972)]]
|title=<center>1972 Firecracker 400</center>
|image=1972firecracker4001.jpg
|imagecaption=Program for the race.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
}}
The '''''1972 Firecracker 400''''' was the 17th race of the 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 4th July at the Daytona International Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by David Pearson in a 1971 Mercury. The race is known for its duel between Pearson, Richard Petty in a 1972 Dodge, and Bobby Allison in a 1972 Chevrolet.
 
==Background==
The ''1972 Firecracker 400'' was the 14th running of the event, with its name a reference to the fact it was held on the United States' Independence Day.<ref name="firecracker">[https://www.forbes.com/sites/davecaldwell/2019/07/03/farewell-to-a-firecracker-of-a-nascar-tradition/?sh=350c69d875a0 ''Forbes'' detailing the origin of the Firecracker 400, and its reporting on its 2019 name change.] Retrieved 15 Jan '22</ref> It was also the second 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Series event to be held at Daytona International Speedway,<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1972/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Series calendar.] Retrieved 15 Jan '22</ref> after the Daytona 500, which in 1972 occurred on 20th February and was won by A.J. Foyt.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1972_Daytona_500/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing results for the 1972 Daytona 500.] Retrieved 15 Jan '22</ref> The Firecracker 400 also has ties to the modern Coke Zero Sugar 400 race, having dropped the Firecracker name in 2019.<ref name="firecracker"/> Heading into the race, it was reported that Don Shula, head coach of the Miami Dolphins, would be the grand marshal for the event.<ref name="bench">[http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2016/07/july-4-1972-firecracker-400-thats-1.html ''Bench-Racing'' providing a detailed account of the race.] Retrieved 15 Jan '22</ref><ref name="associated">''The Associated Press'' reporting on the race and Don Shula as grand marshal. Retrieved 15 Jan '22</ref>
 
Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Bobby Isaac winning the pole position in a 1972 Dodge with a speed of 186.277 mph, ahead of Pearson and fellow 1972 Dodge driver Buddy Baker.<ref name="qualifying">[https://www.nytimes.com/1972/07/04/archives/isaac-petty-fight-jinx.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Isaac winning the pole position and how he and Petty aimed to end jinxes at the event.] Retrieved 15 Jan '22</ref><ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1972_Firecracker_400/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the start order and results of the race.] Retrieved 15 Jan '22</ref> The qualifying performance proved remarkable, considering Isaac was suffering from a broken rib he experienced in a golf carting accident prior to arriving at Daytona, with several of his team also nursing injuries.<ref name="bench"/> Pearson joked that Isaac looked like "he needs an ambulance instead of a race car".<ref name="bench"/> Nevertheless, Isaac aimed to not only replicate his victory [[1971 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)|the year prior]], but also to eliminate a curse at the Firecracker 400 where whoever won the pole position at the race since 1959 ultimately did not win the event.<ref name="qualifying"/><ref name="bench"/> Pearson meanwhile was attempting to continue his strong comeback into stock car racing, having suffered poor 1970 and 1971 seasons.<ref name="race">[https://www.nytimes.com/1972/07/05/archives/firecracker-400-won-by-pearson-petty-2d-bobby-allison-3d-in-close.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Pearson winning the race.] Retrieved 15 Jan '22</ref><ref name="bench"/> Petty, who qualified 4th, was looking to win his first Firecracker 400, having won the Daytona 500 three times previously.<ref name="qualifying"/>
 
==The Race==
With the starting order decided, the 1972 Firecracker 400 occurred on 4th July. Baker shot into the lead on lap 1, with himself and Pearson swapping for the lead in the first four laps. The race then became a five-way duel during its early stages, featuring Baker, Pearson, Allison, Petty, and Isaac, the latter retiring on lap 80 following engine failure and thus continuing the pole curse.<ref name="results"/><ref name="bench"/> Baker's Dodge then suffered a tyre failure in the second turn on lap 107, with debris breaking the oil filter and causing an oil cooler failure that led to a retirement.<ref name="bench"/> Thus, the race was between Pearson, Petty, and Allison, with Pearson being the only one to lead consecutive laps in the double digits.<ref name="results"/><ref name="bench"/><ref name="race"/> However, Petty overtook him with 25-laps to go, and so too would Allison, leading to a duel between the Dodge and Chevrolet drivers. However, this allowed Pearson the opportunity to draft past both drivers on lap 155.<ref name="results"/><ref name="bench"/>
 
Petty conducted another charge on the final lap and attempted to overtake the Mercury as they approached the tri-oval.<ref name="race"/><ref name="bench"/> Pearson was able to hang on however, beating Petty to the line by half a car length to claim $15,650 in prize money, with Allison another length behind.<ref name="race"/><ref name="bench"/><ref name="results"/><ref name="associated"/> The drivers were three laps ahead of the rest of the field by the end.<ref name="gaffney">''The Gaffney Ledger'' reporting on the race and post-race comments. Retrieved 15 Jan '22</ref><ref name="results"/> This was Pearson's first win at a full-length Daytona race since the [[1961 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National race; 1961)|1961 Firecracker 250]].<ref name="race"/> Post-race, Pearson noted how close the race was, and believed Petty, who was suffering from heat exhaustion following the race, waited too long to try and pass him. Petty meanwhile stated he enjoyed the dogfight, praising Pearson and Allison for providing tense competition throughout the final 20 laps.<ref name="gaffney"/>
 
==Availability==
According to ''NASCAR on TV'', 30 minutes of highlights were broadcast by ABC on 22nd July 1972 as part of its ''Wide World of Sports'', alongside the World Chess Championships and International Cliff Diving Championships.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/nascarracingontv/home/the-races/monster-energy-cup-series/1972-nascar-winston-cup-series/1972-firecracker-400 ''NASCAR on TV'' detailing ABC's coverage of the race.] Retrieved 15 Jan '22</ref> But while confirmation of a broadcast has been achieved, no footage of the race is currently publicly available. A few photos, including some taken by Ted Richard, are however accessible.<ref>[http://www.floridastockcars.com/gallery3/v/Daytona/Donnie+Allison+finished+8th+in+the+1972+Firecracker+400+driving+Bud+Moore_s+Ford+_Ted+Richard+Photo_.jpg.html ''Florida Stock Cars'' providing one of Richard's photos.] Retrieved 15 Jan '22</ref>
 
==Gallery==
===Images===
<gallery mode=packed heights=250px>
1972firecracker4002.jpg|Buddy Baker suffers an engine failure.
1972firecracker4003.jpg|Joe Frasson during the race.
1972firecracker4004.jpg|Bobby Allison during the race.
1972firecracker4005.jpg|Donnie Allison during the race.
1972firecracker4006.jpg|Four cars prior to the start of the race.
1972firecracker4007.jpg|Buddy Baker during the race.
1972firecracker4008.png|Pearson celebrating his win.
1972firecracker4009.png|Clipping from ''The Associated Press''.
1972firecracker4010.png|Clipping from the ''The Gaffney Ledger''.
</gallery>
 
==See Also==
*[[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 race; 1961)]]
*[[1962 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National race; 1962)]]
*[[1963 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1963)]]
*[[1967 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
*[[1971 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
*[[1971 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1971)]]
*[[1974 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1974)]]
*[[1975 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1975)]]
*[[1976 Dixie 500 (lost CBS footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
*[[1979 Southeastern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1979)]]
*[[1982 Twin 125s race 1 (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]]
*[[1984 Delaware 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup 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)]]
*[[1996 DeVilbiss SuperFinish 200 (partially found televised footage of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race; 1996)]]
 
==References==
{{reflist}}
 
[[Category:Lost recordings of real incidents]]
[[Category:Lost TV]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]

Latest revision as of 09:03, 30 May 2023