1972 Twin 125s (partially found footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1972): Difference between revisions

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{{NSFL|discussion of a fatal motor racing accident}}
#REDIRECT [[NASCAR (partially found footage of NASCAR races featuring fatal and/or serious accidents; 1964-2002)]]
{{InfoboxLost
|title=<center>1972 Twin 125s</center>
|image=1972twin125s1.png
|imagecaption=''The New York Times'' report, also containing an aftermath photo.
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
}}
The '''''1972 Twin 125s''''' are two races at the Daytona National Speedway that served as qualifying events for the 1972 Daytona 500. Both occurred on 17th February, where the first race was won by Bobby Isaac in a 1972 Dodge, while Bobby Allison in a 1972 Chevrolet was victorious in the second. The first race however is overshadowed by a multicar crash, which claimed the life of Friday Hassler.
 
==Background==
The 1972 Twin 125s differed from earlier Daytona 500 qualifying races. As part of an overhaul of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, the races no longer awarded points, because events now needed to reach at least 400km to officially count on the Winston Cup schedule.<ref>[http://www.stockcarracinghistory.com/nascar-through-the-years/nascar-winston-cup-grand-national/1972-nascar-winston-cup-grand-national-season ''Stock Car Racing History'' detailing the changes in the 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Series that meant the Twin 125s no longer awarded points.] Retrieved 29 Dec '21</ref> Nevertheless, the races were still unique, as at the time the Daytona 500 was the only stock-car race for which qualifying heats were mandatory.<ref name="ny">[https://www.nytimes.com/1972/02/18/archives/hassler-killed-at-daytona-in-crash-involving-12-cars-hassler-is.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on the 1972 Twin 125s and the fatal accident, as well as detailing the the Twin 125s' purpose.] Retrieved 29 Dec '21</ref> This would benefit the racers, as they could analyse how their vehicles performed during the heats and modify them accordingly for the main event. The heats also proved to attract large audiences, with around 25,000-30,000 attending the circuit when the races occurred.<ref name="ny"/><ref name="beach">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zk8fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u9EEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3431%2C4806817 ''Daytona Beach Morning Journal'' reporting on the races and the fatal accident.] Retrieved 29 Dec '21</ref>
 
The races would determine 28 of the 40 starters. Prior to the Twin 125s, two had already qualified, with Bobby Isaac having won the pole position in the time trials, with A. J. Foyt qualifying second in a 1971 Mercury.<ref name="ny"/> In the first race, Isaac was victorious, claiming $1,200 in prize money after having led 23 of the 50 laps. He finished ahead of Coo Coo Marlin in a 1972 Chevrolet, while Richard D. Brown took third, also in a 1972 Chevrolet. Buddy Baker had led the most laps at 27, but retired on lap 36 after experiencing a valve issue.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race?id=1972-01&series=Q ''Racing-Reference'' detailing results of the first race.] Retrieved 29 Dec '21</ref> Nevertheless, he and Richard Petty were among ten others that still qualified for the Daytona 500, because despite encountering reliability issues, both drivers' performances in the time trials were enough to warrant qualification.<ref name="ny"/>
 
In race 2, Bobby Allison led 49 of the 50 laps, winning the race and claiming $1,200 in prize money. He finished ahead of Foyt and Charlie Glotzbach in a 1971 Dodge.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race?id=1972-02&series=Q ''Racing-Reference'' detailing results of the second race.] Retrieved 29 Dec '21</ref> With the starters and race order decided, the 1972 Daytona 500 occurred on 20th February. Foyt won the event ahead of Glotzbach, with Jim Vandiver taking third in a 1970 Dodge. Isaac retired early on because of engine issues, while Allison only managed 16th, 27 laps behind the leader.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1972-02/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing results of the 1972 Daytona 500.] Retrieved 29 Dec '21</ref>
 
==Death of Friday Hassler==
On lap 18 of the first race, a major multicar crash involving 12-13 vehicles occurred.<ref name="ny"/><ref name="beach"/> David Ray Boggs, who was driving a 1970 Dodge, had just exited turn 2, when his right rear tire blew. Boggs maintained control of his car, but was hit from behind, causing his car to dart onto the grass. Drivers coming across the accident did their best to avoid it, but ended up colliding with others. Three cars notably got locked together sideways down the straight.<ref name="ny"/>
 
Meanwhile, Hassler was following Ray Williams when he suddenly spun his 1970 Chevrolet to avoid the crash.<ref name="ny"/> Ultimately, he collided head-on into the outside wall, and rebounded into the path of other drivers, resulting in Jimmy Crawford's 1970 Dodge slamming into the passenger side, causing Hassler's vehicle to be forced back into the wall. Hassler suffered severe skull and neck injuries, ultimately being killed instantly by the crash, aged 36. Two other drivers suffered injuries; Crawford suffered a fractured jaw and a lacerated chin, while Joe Frasson had to be hospitalised for neck scans.<ref name="beach"/>
 
Hassler had been involved in 134 NASCAR Grand National events since 1960.<ref name="beach"/>, with a best result of second at the 1971 Islip 250.<ref name="reunion">[http://racersreunion.com/ron-wetzler/gallery/41980/friday-hassler ''RacersReunion'' detailing the career of Friday Hassler.] Retrieved 29 Dec '21</ref> He also contributed towards Glotzbach winning the 1971 Volunteer 500, by being the relief driver.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qFhfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4303,731719&dq=charlie+glotzbach+hassler+bristol&hl=en ''St. Joseph Gazette'' reporting on Glotzbach winning the 1971 Volunteer 500, with Hassler contributing as a relief driver.] Retrieved 29 Dec '21</ref> While this did not count as an official win for Hassler, his role as relief driver for the caution-free event also allowed Chevrolet to win its first NASCAR race in years, while also achieving the fastest ever race run at the Bristol Motor Speedway with no cautions involved.<ref name="reunion"/>
 
==Availability==
According to ''Racing-Reference'', the Twin 125 races were seldom broadcast on television in the 1970s, possibly because of their lack of relevancy due to merely being deemed as qualifying races.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/showblog?id=2676 ''Racing-Reference'' detailing lost NASCAR broadcasts, including the 1972 Twin 125s.] Retrieved 29 Dec '21</ref> However, the 1972 Twin 125s were broadcast on ABC's ''Wide World of Sports'' on 19th February 1972,<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/nascarracingontv/home/the-races/monster-energy-cup-series/1972-nascar-winston-cup-series/1972-twin-125s ''NASCAR on TV'' detailing the ''Wide World of Sports'' broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 29 Dec '21</ref> showcasing 45-minutes of highlights which possibly could have contained the fatal accident. As of the present day, the only available footage of the races is of the fatal crash itself.
 
==Gallery==
<gallery mode=packed heights=300px>
1972twin125s2.jpg|Friday Hassler.
</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)]]
*[[1964 World 600 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
*[[1967 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
*[[1969 Permatex 300 at Daytona (partially found footage of NASCAR Sportsman race; 1969)]]
*[[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)]]
*[[1972 Firecracker 400 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
*[[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:Partially found media]]

Latest revision as of 09:24, 30 May 2023