When you see the title American 500, what immediately comes to your mind? Daytona? Darlington? Or maybe even, Charlotte?
Think not.
How about Rockingham?
Yep, the American 500 was the first ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held at the 1.0-mile oval back in 1965, nearly five decades ago, close to half a century and well, I wasn’t even near to being thought of yet.
Still, the inaugural race at “The Rock” drew attention. It showcased some of the legends of our great sport. And in-fact, some of them are still around today in one way shape or form, proving that Rockingham Speedway indeed provided some of the fondest memories in the sport’s legacy.
Who were some of the participants? How about Cale Yarborough, Elmo Langley (remember him, the long-time NASCAR official and pace car driver), Buck Baker (father of NASCAR great Buddy Baker), Ned Jarrett, Wendell Scott, Bobby Isaac, David Pearson, Junior Johnson, Tom Pistone, Richard Petty and Buddy Arrington were just some of the drivers that competed in the race held on Halloween, October 31st, 1965.
It was quite clear whoever won on All Hallows’ Eve would deserve to pocket a then $13,090 paycheck after taming the track’s grinding demeanor. 500 laps on a tough one-mile oval with hardly any of the luxuries made available today was a tough task. Still, the face of what every racecar driver desires doesn’t change, winning.
Curtis Turner in his No. 41 Ford scored the win for Wood Bros. Racing, his lone victory of the year in just seven races on tour that year. Turner and second-place runner then 26-year old Yarborough, who was the only other driver to complete all 500 laps on that Sunday afternoon.
The 17-time NSCS winner stole the win with an 11-second gap in a race that took nearly five hours to complete (4 hours, 57 minutes and 17 seconds to be exact). Third-place contestant Marvin Panch, a teammate took the podium finish, two laps behind Turner and Yarborough.
So, what was so special about that win for Turner? Well, it was the very first win at Rockingham, but for Turner it was also about personal satisfaction. It was his first NSCS win since being banned from the sport four years earlier. Turner had been indefinitely outlawed from the sport by then NASCAR president Bill France Sr. in 1961 for trying to organize a drivers union with the Teamsters. After a meeting in Atlanta between France and some of the leading track owners of the day, Turner’s suspension was lifted and the popular driver, then 41 returned to the scene. Many were left wondering though whether or not he could win.
And an even cooler sidebar, the relationship between driver and team draws deeper than that, as Turner helped Glen Wood and his Wood Brothers racing team secure backing from Ford Motor Company, a relationship that continues to this day.
Car owner Eddie Wood summed up the day best, “It turned out to be the last win he (Turner) ever had, and it was in our car,” Wood said.
In part from an article on RacinToday.com it was noted that, Turner was an interesting character. His love of the party was almost as well-known as his driving ability. But when it came to racing, he was the Dale Earnhardt of his day, as his hard-charging style made him a fan favorite. No doubt that his victory in a second-car for Wood Bros. Racing was one probably one of the greatest days of his life.
The American 500 was the second-to-last event on the tour that year, race number fifty-four, yes, they ran fifty-five races back then. For eventual champion Jarrett, despite retiring from the event 75 laps from the finish because of a wheel bearing issue, a 16th-place effort accumulated enough points to ensure him second and final championship of his career. The now NASCAR Hall of Famer won 13 of the 54 races he competed in and driving all but one race for Bondy Long.
Two teams operating back then, still operate today. Wood Bros. Racing with driver Trevor Bayne and Richard Petty Motorsports with drivers Aric Almirola and Marcos Ambrose – adding just pages among pages of notes, lessons and pictures that will hopefully someday be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
Fast forward to 2013, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will return to Rockingham on Sunday, April 14. And while the race is often tagged as one of the “must-see” events on the year, an even better statistic stills need to be envisioned for the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at The Rock presented by Cheerwine.
35,000.
Yes, 35,000. That is the number of race fans who attended the race 48 years ago. What a sight that would be, to see one of NASCAR’s most richest tracks filled back to capacity when the stars of yesterday and the leaders of tomorrow take the green flag live on SPEED.
The UARA-STARS Late Model Series and the Frank Kimmel Street Stock Nationals (FKSSN) will join the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at The Rock presented by Cheerwine weekend. The UARA and FKSSN will be competing on Saturday, April 13, with qualifying on Friday, April 12.
The NCWTS will practice on Saturday with qualifying and racing on Sunday, April 14.
Tickets, suite packages and camping accommodations for the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at The Rock presented by Cheerwine are now available at www.rockinghamspeedway.com or by calling 910-205-8800. Saturday general admission tickets are $15 in advance ($20 at the gate), with grandstand tickets for Sunday’s NCWTS event beginning at just $20.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
