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| {{InfoboxLost
| | #REDIRECT [[1970 NASCAR Grand National Series (partially found footage of NASCAR races; 1970)]] |
| |title=<center>1970 Wilkes 400</center>
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| |image=1970wilkes4001.jpg
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| |imagecaption=Program for the race.
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| |status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1970 Wilkes 400''''' was the 43rd race of the 1970 NASCAR Grand National Series. Occurring on 4th October at the North Wilkesboro Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by pole sitter Bobby Isaac in a 1970 Dodge, after a race-long duel with 1970 Plymouth driver Richard Petty.
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| ==Background==
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| The ''1970 Wilkes 400'' was the 10th running of the event, with the annual race typically lasting 250 miles in length.<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1970_Wilkes_400/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing qualifying and race results for the event.] Retrieved 29 Mar '22</ref> It was one of two 1970 Grand National Series races conducted at North Wilkesboro Speedway, the other being the Gwyn Staley 400,<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1970/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1970 NASCAR Grand National Series calendar.] Retrieved 29 Mar '22</ref> which in 1970 occurred on 18th April and was won by Richard Petty.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1970_Gwyn_Staley_400/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the results of the 1970 Gwyn Staley 400.] Retrieved 29 Mar '22</ref> The race itself would continue until 1996 as the Tyson Holly Farms 400,<ref>[https://frcs.pro/fantasy-nascar/cup/race-winners-by-track/north-wilkesboro-speedway/ ''Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet'' listing all races at the North Wilkesboro Speedway.] Retrieved 29 Mar '22</ref> before the track was abandoned in the same year.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20090627051652/http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/features/04/01/enterprise.north.wilkesboro.economic.impact/index.html Archived ''NASCAR'' detailing the abandonment of the North Wilkesboro Speedway.] Retrieved 29 Mar '22</ref> Beforehand, the North Wilkesboro Speedway was praised by some drivers and fans for continually providing exciting racing.<ref name="reunion">[http://racersreunion.com/community/forum/stock-car-racing-history/27664/racing-history-minute-october-4-1970 ''RacersReunion'' detailing the race.] Retrieved 29 Mar '22</ref>
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| Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Bobby Isaac winning the pole position with a speed of 105.406 mph.<ref name="results"/><ref name="reunion"/> He was therefore seeking to add to his ten wins he achieved during the season, and extend his championship lead.<ref name="reunion"/> Directly behind him was 1970 Ford driver Donnie Allison, with Petty lining up third.<ref name="results"/><ref name="reunion"/> On the same day as the race, tragedy occurred when Curtis Turner, who was looking to make a comeback in the [[1970 National 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)|1970 National 500]], was killed in a plane crash, aged 46.<ref name="reunion"/>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the starting order decided, the 1970 Wilkes 400 commenced on 4th October.<ref name="results"/> Isaac held onto the lead for the first four laps, before being overtaken on Allison on lap 5.<ref name="results"/><ref name="reunion"/> However, Isaac moved back into the first position on lap 10, and was able to maintain his position for 122 consecutive laps.<ref name="results"/><ref name="reunion"/> Nevertheless, he faced competition from Petty, who took the lead on lap 132 and defended it until Isaac again moved back into the first position on lap 178.<ref name="results"/><ref name="reunion"/> Aside from Allison's brief stint early on, the only lap leaders would exclusively be Isaac and Petty for the full race duration.<ref name="reunion"/><ref name="results"/>
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| The battle for the lead intensified from lap 181 onwards, where both vehicles were separated by only a few car lengths.<ref name="reunion"/> On lap 388, Isaac made a pit stop, only to lose a lap to Petty after a jack ended up sinking into the pitlane's soft asphalt.<ref name="reunion"/> He remained determined to win however, and was able to quickly unlap himself after taking advantage of the third caution period that occurred with 50 laps to go.<ref name="spartanburg">[http://racersreunion.com/community/forum/stock-car-racing-history/27664/racing-history-minute-october-4-1970 ''Spartanburg Herald Journal'' reporting on Isaac winning the race (article found on ''RacersReunion'').] Retrieved 29 Mar '22</ref><ref name="reunion"/> With 25 laps remaining, Bob Strickler's 1970 Chevrolet spun, resulting in the final caution.<ref name="reunion"/> Isaac used this to his advantage, pitting for new soft compound tyres while Petty remained on track.<ref name="reunion"/><ref name="spartanburg"/> This enabled him to fully close on The King, eventually overtaking him with 12 laps remaining.<ref name="spartanburg"/><ref name="reunion"/> Petty continually attempted to move back into the lead, but Isaac's pace proved to be consistent through the turns, enabling Isaac to claim victory six car lengths ahead of Petty, and $5,825 in prize money.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1970/10/05/archives/joness-mustang-wins-coast-race-follmer-a-teammate-next-as-transam.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Isaac winning the race.] Retrieved 29 Mar '22</ref><ref name="spartanburg"/><ref name="reunion"/><ref name="results"/> Allison finished third, a lap down from the leaders.<ref name="results"/><ref name="reunion"/><ref name="spartanburg"/> This was Isaac's first win at North Wilkesboro.<ref name="spartanburg"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| According to ''NASCAR on TV'', 45 minutes of highlights were televised by ABC on 10th October 1970 as part of its ''Wide World of Sports'', alongside the International Figure Skating Championships.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/nascarracingontv/home/the-races/monster-energy-cup-series/1970-nascar-grand-national-series/1970-wilkes-400 ''NASCAR on TV'' detailing the ABC broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 29 Mar '22</ref> However, this broadcast has yet to resurface, and as of the present day no footage of the race is publicly available. Nevertheless, some photos and newspaper clippings help to document the event.<ref name="spartanburg"/><ref name="reunion"/>
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| ==Gallery==
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| ===Images===
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| <gallery mode=packed heights=250px>
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| 1970wilkes4002.jpg|Promotion for the race.
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| 1970wilkes4003.jpg|Bobby Isaac with the trophy.
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| 1970wilkes4004.png|''Spartanburg Herald Journal'' reporting on Isaac winning the race.
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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 Series race; 1961)]]
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| *[[1962 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1962)]]
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| *[[1963 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1963)]]
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| *[[1964 Atlanta 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1964 National 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1966 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1966)]]
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| *[[1967 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
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| *[[1970 National 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 World 600 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1971 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
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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 National 500 (lost 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 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Firecracker 400 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 National 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1973 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1973)]]
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| *[[1973 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1973)]]
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| *[[1974 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1974 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1974)]]
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| *[[1975 Dixie 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 Firecracker 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 World 600 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1976 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Dixie 500 (lost CBS footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Firecracker 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 World 600 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1978 NAPA National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1979 Dixie 500 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1979)]]
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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:Completely lost media]]
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