The 1968 Southeastern 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on March 17, 1968, at Bristol International Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Highlights of this racing event were later shown on the classic Car and Track television show on most CBS stations.
The transition to purpose-built racecars began in the early 1960s and occurred gradually over that decade. Changes made to the sport by the late 1960s brought an end to the "strictly stock" vehicles of the 1950s.
Race report A total distance of 500 laps was accomplished at this event; with Bobby Allison acquiring the last-place position due to stock car engine problems on lap 41. Stan Meserve would fall out with engine failure on lap 54.1968 Southeastern 500 racing information at Racing Reference Driveshaft problems would end Paul Goldsmith's day on lap 60 while terminal vehicle damage would end Jerry Grant's day on lap 72. An accident would claim the vehicle of G.C. Spencer on lap 91 while an oil leak would take Roy Tyner out the race on lap 104.
Clyde Lynn's incredibly disappearing tail end of his vehicle eventually stalled his racing hopes on lap 445. While the first 100 laps of this race event were a David Pearson and Richard Petty show, it would be LeeRoy Yarbrough would compete against Pearson in the closing laps of this event. All 36 of the qualifying drivers were born in the United States of America. Henley Gray would become the lowest-finishing driver to actually complete the event; albeit more than 100 laps behind the lead-lap competitors.
David Pearson would best Richard Petty by a distance of three seconds after racing at each other's throats for more than three hours; Petty drove the last 25 laps of the race without any brakes. More than 19,000 ardent NASCAR followers would see a race marred by eleven caution flags for a duration of 81 laps. Richard Petty's qualifying speed of would see him blaze through the field during solo qualifying runs. Cale Yarborough would spend some time as the leader of the race before an incident involving the back of his vehicle would end his day of racing on lap 237. Roy Trantham would make his introduction into the NASCAR Cup Series scene in this race while Serge Adams would exit stage left from NASCAR racing after the conclusion of this event.Introductions and departures from NASCAR after the 1968 Southeastern 500 at Race-Database Doug Cooper also enjoyed his final NASCAR Grand National Series race at this event before retiring.
Individual race earnings ranged from the winner's share of $25,415 ($ when adjusted for inflation) to the last-place finisher's portion of $500 ($ when adjusted for inflation). NASCAR handed out a grand total of $86,285 to all the competitors who qualified for this racing event ($ when adjusted for inflation).1968 Southeastern 500 prize winnings information at Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet
At least ten notable crew chiefs were recorded as officially attending this race; including Ray Hicks, Jake Elder, Glen Wood, Junior Johnson and Banjo Matthews.1968 Southeastern 500 crew chiefs at Racing Reference
Qualifying Grid Driver Manufacturer 1 43 Richard Petty '68 Plymouth 2 17 David Pearson '68 Ford 3 21 Cale Yarborough '68 Ford 4 26 LeeRoy Yarbrough '68 Ford 5 22 Darel Dieringer '68 Plymouth 6 27 Donnie Allison '68 Ford 7 14 Jerry Grant '68 Plymouth 8 29 Bobby Allison '68 Ford 9 16 Tiny Lund '68 Mercury 10 3 Buddy Baker '67 Dodge 11 71 Bobby Isaac '67 Dodge 12 4 John Sears '67 Ford 13 99 Paul Goldsmith '68 Plymouth 14 49 G.C. Spencer '67 Plymouth 15 09 Jack Ingram '66 Chevrolet 16 10 Bill Champion '66 Ford 17 64 Elmo Langley '66 Ford 18 39 Friday Hassler '66 Chevrolet 19 45 Bill Seifert '66 Ford 20 30 Dave Marcis '66 Chevrolet 21 25 Jabe Thomas '67 Ford 22 50 Wendell Scott '66 Plymouth 23 20 Clyde Lynn '67 Mercury 24 19 Henley Gray '66 Ford 25 76 Roy Tyner '66 Ford 26 31 Bill Ervin '66 Ford 27 02 Bob Cooper '66 Chevrolet 28 48 James Hylton '67 Dodge 29 1 Bud Moore '68 Dodge 30 51 Stan Meserve '67 Dodge 31 95 Doug Cooper '66 Ford 32 2 Earl Brooks '66 Ford 33 18 Dick Johnson '67 Ford 34 01 Paul Dean Holt '67 Ford 35 93 Walson Gardner '67 Ford 36 06 Neil Castles '67 Plymouth
Top 20 finishers Pos Driver Manufacturer Time/Status 117David PearsonFord500176 3:14:11 243Richard PettyPlymouth500108 +3 seconds 326LeeRoy YarbroughFord499168 +1 lap 422Darel DieringerPlymouth4920 +8 laps 571Bobby IsaacDodge4910 +9 laps 61Bud MooreDodge4910 +9 laps 709Jack IngramChevrolet4810 +19 laps 810Bill ChampionFord4690 +31 laps 964Elmo LangleyFord4680 +32 laps 102Earl BrooksFord4670 +33 laps 1106Neil CastlesPlymouth4670 +33 laps 1245Bill SeifertFord4540 +46 laps 1330Dave MarcisChevrolet4490 +51 laps 1420Clyde LynnMercury4450Missing rear end 1550Wendell ScottPlymouth4360 +64 laps 1602Bob CooperChevrolet4300 +70 laps 1725Jabe ThomasFord4270 +73 laps 1801Paul Dean HoltFord4120 +78 laps 1931Bill ErvinFord3960 +104 laps 2019Henley GrayFord3920 +108 laps
References
Notes