From a replay of Car & Track on Speed, the 1968 American 500 at Rockingham NC. As always, Bud Lindemann is on hand to narrate the event held on October 27th 1968.
You're exactly right. The Rock could be driven in different ways and was a driver's track. There were multiple grooves which made for tremendous RACING. Harry Gant usually ran well at The Rock and there was a "Harry Gant Line" that the commentators would refer to. Late in the race the Sun was a problem for the drivers as they went into turn 1 and all the way through the 2nd turn. I was at The Rock when Mark Martin won his first race, driving the Strohs Light #6. Went to several races there and have great memories of it. Was a NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup diehard fan from the 1st time I saw a race on Wide World of Sports in 1970. Went to 50+ races over the years. When Brian Brain-dead France took control it was the death knell of the sport. Dropping tracks like Rockingham, North Wilkesboro, Nashville; changing the date for the Southern 500 and dropping the Rebel 400; devising a points system that changes seemingly every year and makes it where consistentcy in every race over the entire year means nothing --- I haven't kept up with NASCAR for the past 15 years. I'm bitter about what France 3 and his cronies did to my sport and will probably be so until my last day. Thankfully I can find these races on places like RU-vid.
Very cool race! Very interestingly, Bud Lindemann was right about this being Richard Petty's only superspeedway win in 1968. The roadrunner was about as aerodynamic as a brick in 1968, and was even less competitive in 1969 winning only twice! (which is were the super bird comes in.) Though this was Petty's only superspeedway win in 1968, he did also win 14 more times (15 total in 1968) on shorter tracks, even the last race held at a very underrated track, the occoneechee speedway that year! Thanks for sharing this!
I was too, I had just come from Vietnam in 1967, came home on a friday was invited to go to the race on Sunday, I remember when one of the cars backfired, I hit the ground muttering incoming, that was my first race, we went to Rockingham every race for the next 10 years, I loved Rockingham, shameful they pulled the plug on a great track.
@@bobblount7183 You must have some courage to do a tour of duty, to be honest I don't know how anyone could survive those situations. I worked for a guy in Australia who was only 5ft 7 about 140 pounds his mate got shot and was a bit bigger than him and he carried him on his shoulder for about 4 hours with the viet cong chasing him. Both survived. Cheers to you from Australia. I love the sound of these nascar V8s
They called it the Rock one the most difficult tracks of all to set up a car for perhaps the most blown up engines of all tracks in the golden age of Nascar.
Don't know why they had to apologize for Bud L. They chopped him at the knees before we could decide for ourselves what to think of him. I remember seeing this when it aired and thinking "leave the poor guy alone. He's fine."
Every one's so scared of being politically correct to the point I find it offensive I think I'm going to need some me time with my emotional support animal not once did I hear him to remind the blacks to use the appropriate bathroom and to use the rear entrance
I was at Rockingham,often. The track dates were not helpful,usually after Daytona,cold and sometimes snowing,then late in the year ,october or later,also usually bad weather. If Mr DeWitt could have gotten some more desirable race dates,the track may have survived.
Yes, 358 is the limit now. In 1968, 430 was the max size and CID * 9.36# was the weight, with the minimum weight being 3650# (390 CID). aerowarriors.com/rules/nosearch/68nrS20-1.html#b.
USAC HOFers Don White (finished 6th in a second Nichels car to Goldsmith, 5 laps behind) and Butch Hartman (10th, Dodge, 22 laps behind) ran this race.
@@evanst.martin9332 oh yeah, same here, never missed a Milwaukee USAC stock or indy race after 1969 indy 500. My dad took me to see it live at the Majeska theater then he took me to my first live race, the 69’ Rex Mays classic. We lived 2 miles from the track. We were Bowsher fans (Foyt teammate) but every car on the track was gorgeous to me
The car that a Donnie A. drove in this race was sold not long afterwards to Harry Gailey . Harry lived in Clermont, Georgia and had body shop and auto salvage business. He bought the car from Banjo after he put the stock front end sheet metal on the car. George Elliott’s Dahlonega Ford Sales and George Avery’s Dahlonega Equipment Co. were primary sponsors. Harry raced the car briefly then sold it to George Elliott who had Charles Barrett drive the car with updated sheet metal. I worked on 3 different race cars that Harry owned. All have passed on except for Donnie. Mike
I drove a 69 Roadrunner when I was young. Was my brother in law's car. Midnight purple. 440 wedge head. Dual points. And built strong. Also had a 68 383 magnum Charger. Both were terrible pieces of crap but they were fun to drive when they ran.
These old track were better than the cookie cutter tracks of today. Then again, the cookie cutter tracks were made for cookie cutter cars. The cars of today probably couldn't handle those old tracks.
All those beautiful ‘68 Torinos that fastback design was such an advantage Chrysler later had to put ridiculous giant wings and new noses on their brick cars.
These Car & Track shows were well after the event had run. Since this race was late in 1968, the broadcast probably happened in 1969. It's possible it wasn't shown until 1970, but I don't think they were that late. It was one of the few ways to see any racing action at the time. Wide World of Sports, occasionally, was the other.
Back when racing was real and where are the GMC cars at now nascar makes the rules to favour Chevy. That's why I don't watch Not A Secret Chevy Arrange Rules anymore.
Hollywood should do a movie about Richard Petty, John Krasinskl (The Office) would be perfect. Stop at 16:39 and tell me that doesn't look John Krasinski. Also a movie about Wendel Scott played by John C.Reilly. I mean, come on! They got Matt Damon to play Carroll Shelby!
@Flame Resistant Troll ; Good morning and thanks! John C. Riley would be perfect. They look like twins! I think he could honor Wendell Scott far better than Richard Pryor. Mr.Riley wouldn't even have to wear "blackface". That would keep the leftist from crying racism. They'll find something to scream about though. Plus Mr. Riley has Nascar experience in "Talladega Nights. Hollywood would object as well... too bad... :(