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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
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| |title=<center>1969 Permatex 300 at Daytona</center>
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| |image=1969permatex1.jpg
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| |imagecaption=The field being parked on the track following the fatal accident.
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| |status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1969 Permatex 300 at Daytona''''' was the 3rd race of the 1969 NASCAR Late Model Sportsman National Championship. Occurring on February 22nd at Daytona National Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by LeeRoy Yarbrough driving a 1966 Ford. The event however is most known for the fatal accident involving Don MacTavish, who was killed instantly following two heavy crashes.
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| ==Background==
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| Heading into the race, the Permatex 200 and Stardust 150 had already taken place, with Hershel McGriff and Clem Proctor being the respective winners.<ref name="championship">[https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/1969_NASCAR_Late_Model_Sportsman_National_Championship_Central ''Third Turn'' detailing the 1969 NASCAR Late Model Sportsman National Championship results and final standings.] Retrieved 28 Dec '21</ref> Details of qualifying remain unclear, although according to the ''Ultimate Racing History'', Yarbrough's car won the pole position after being driven by Donnie Allison, with MacTavish qualifying sixth out of 40 participants. Tiny Lund in a 1966 Dodge would lead 73 of the 120 laps, but by the finish was leapfrogged by Yarbrough's 1966 Ford, Yarbrough having led 40 laps to claim the win and $9,225 in prize money. Dutch Hoag also overtook Lund in a 1965 Dodge to finish second. Red Farmer, who would ultimately be the 1969 Sportsman Champion,<ref name="championship"/> finished eighth in a 1966 Ford.<ref>[http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=1932 ''Ultimate Racing History'' providing results of the race.] Retrieved 28 Dec '21</ref><ref>[https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/1969_Permatex_300_(Daytona) ''Third Turn'' providing results of the race.] Retrieved 28 Dec '21</ref>
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| ==Death of Don MacTavish==
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| On lap 8, Don MacTavish had completed turn 4 in his 1966 Mercury Comet when he suddenly lost control of his vehicle. According to ''Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal'', MacTavish had spun after hitting an oil slick, and went sideways.<ref name="beach">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bXAeAAAAIBAJ&pg=2465%2C5078074 ''Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal'' reporting on the race result, and MacTavish's fatal accident.] Retrieved 28 Dec '21</ref> After a vain attempt to regain control, MacTavish crashed into a wall head-on at 185mph. The entire front end of the car was destroyed, with the engine, transmission and parts of the firewall being thrown free.<ref>[https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/luminaries-making-speed ''Hemmings'' detailing both crashes.] Retrieved 28 Dec '21</ref> It left the motionless MacTavish completely exposed to the elements. His car then spun into the face of oncoming cars, where Sam Sommers' 1961 Ford collided directly with the wreckage, and left the Comet bouncing onto the grass. MacTavish was crushed by both crashes, and lost parts of both his legs. Ultimately, medics at the race stated he was killed instantly, aged 28.<ref name="beach"/><ref>[https://www.ranker.com/list/tragic-nascar-deaths/richard-rowe ''Ranker'' detailing the fatal accidents.] Retrieved 28 Dec '21</ref>
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| MacTavish was the 1966 NASCAR National Sportsman Division Champion, and had gained a positive reputation by competing in demolition derby events.<ref name="beach"/> A 100-lap "Don MacTavish Memorial Race" would be held at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway three months after his death,<ref>[http://racersreunion.com/ron-wetzler/gallery/57315/mctavish-memorial-race ''RacersReunion'' detailing the first Don MacTavish Memorial Race.] Retrieved 28 Dec '21</ref> while in 2001 he would be posthumously inducted into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame.<ref>[http://near1.org/ArchivePre2017/hall_of_fame/2001_hof/hof_mactavish_don.html ''New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame'' page for Don MacTavish.] Retrieved 28 Dec '21</ref>
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| ==Availability==
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| Footage of Don MacTavish's fatal accidents and its aftermath remain publicly accessible, thanks to a YouTube video from movracefan and a Dailymotion clip from All Racing Legends, which also includes graphic images of the aftermath. However, this remains the only publicly accessible footage of the 1969 Permatex 300 at Daytona. ABC were known to have filmed the race, although it was not broadcast live. Nevertheless, it did broadcast highlights of the race on ''ABC Wide World of Sports'', including footage of the fatal crashes being preceded by a warning of its graphic nature and to not allow children to watch the clip.<ref>[http://racersreunion.com/paul-zappardino/blog/223/don-mactavish-40-years-after-the-permatex-300-in-1969 ''RacersReunion'' discussing the crashes and the ''ABC Wide World of Sports'' footage.] Retrieved 28 Dec '21</ref><ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/showblog?id=2676 ''Racing-Reference'' detailing lost NASCAR broadcasts, including the 1969 Permatex 300 at Daytona.] Retrieved 28 Dec '21</ref> Ultimately, these highlights are now missing as of the present day.
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| ==Gallery==
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| <gallery mode=packed heights=200px>
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| 1969permatex2.jpg|The aftermath of the crashes.
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| 1969permatex3.jpg|Don MacTavish.
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| </gallery>
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| ==See Also==
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| *[[1960 Daytona Races (lost CBS and NBC televised footage of NASCAR prelude events to Daytona 500; 1960)]]
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| *[[1961 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National race; 1961)]]
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| *[[1962 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National race; 1962)]]
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| *[[1963 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1963)]]
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| *[[1964 World 600 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1967 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
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| *[[1971 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1971)]]
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| *[[1972 Firecracker 400 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Twin 125s (partially found footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1972)]]
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| *[[1974 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1974)]]
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| *[[1975 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1975)]]
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| *[[1976 Dixie 500 (lost CBS footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1979 Southeastern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1979)]]
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| *[[1982 Twin 125s race 1 (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]]
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| *[[1984 Delaware 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1984)]]
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| *[[1984 Warner W. Hodgdon Carolina 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1984)]]
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| *[[1985 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1985)]]
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| *[[1986 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1986)]]
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| *[[1996 DeVilbiss SuperFinish 200 (partially found televised footage of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race; 1996)]]
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| [[Category:Lost recordings of real incidents]]
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| [[Category:Lost TV]]
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| [[Category:Partially found media]]
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