This was the first stock car race race I ever went to and watched. I was 7 years old, and my family traveled from where we live in Maine to visit friends in Jacksonville. My dad, a family friend and I went in the friend's Winnebago the night before, parked on the infield lawn, and stayed overnight. I don't remember the rain delay and long caution afterward, but I'll never forget Richard Petty leading by so much for so long in the latter part of the race. This race made me a Richard Petty fan, and a NASCAR fan, for life. Thanks so much for finding this and putting it up on UA-cam.
I started watching when I was 5 years old in 68 . I remember Petty's Road Runner and was a Petty fan . I loved the 72 - 74 Chargers that he ran . What a car . The King forever .
The hey day of NASCAR right here. I raced a 77 Malibu just like these for several years on the dirt track circuit and won a lot of races against Camaros, Mustangs and various Dodges. Loved that old Malibu and sure do miss true stock car racing that was once the back bone of NASCAR.
AMC was a favorite of Grandpa's I think. That car was watched closely by many as Bobby Allison took advantage of every opportunity the little car provided. It took a special team & driver to keep a Rambler up front. I watched a race one Sunday & the little car won. It was great to see but unfortunately in the paper, Mondays headlines read "AMC's Matador rolles into victory circle on Sunday. Unfortunately, so did the cam". Tech inspection ...
Richard Petty's 185th of 200 wins before he would go winless until the famous 1979 Daytona 500 and his last for the 1974 Dodge Charger body style. The very next year(1978) Richard, Neil Bonnet and other Dodge drivers at the time had to retire the sleek and aerodynamic Chargers in favor for the new but small and ill-handling Magnum. Halfway through the season, The King fed up with the performances and results he was getting with the Magnum switched to GM products for good and the rest is history.
GM was also forced to retire the cheater limited edition Laguna S-3 after 1977 - so they used an old 442 cheater Olds that all the GM teams ran on big tracks. Ford did not really have a competitive body until 1983 when the aero Tbird came out.
@@jimbosc Why Did They Have To Use The Old 1982 Ford Thunderbirds Instead Of The New 1983 Ford Thunderbird In The 25th Anniversary Edition Of The Great American Race?
I bet you don’t have video of Petty beating Pearson at Talladega and Michigan 1974. Both super close finishes and I’ve yet to see a video of either anywhere.
The King!! The greatest one to ever do it, in the most Baddass looking Race car ever! 😍!!
This was the first stock car race race I ever went to and watched. I was 7 years old, and my family traveled from where we live in Maine to visit friends in Jacksonville. My dad, a family friend and I went in the friend's Winnebago the night before, parked on the infield lawn, and stayed overnight. I don't remember the rain delay and long caution afterward, but I'll never forget Richard Petty leading by so much for so long in the latter part of the race. This race made me a Richard Petty fan, and a NASCAR fan, for life. Thanks so much for finding this and putting it up on UA-cam.
The greatest driver ever I was there in 1977 The king richard petty
For 77 that was a good picture. Good to see the king out in front. I sometimes forget just how many outstanding cars came out of that shop.
I started watching when I was 5 years old in 68 . I remember Petty's Road Runner and was a Petty fan . I loved the 72 - 74 Chargers that he ran . What a car . The King forever .
The hey day of NASCAR right here. I raced a 77 Malibu just like these for several years on the dirt track circuit and won a lot of races against Camaros, Mustangs and various Dodges. Loved that old Malibu and sure do miss true stock car racing that was once the back bone of NASCAR.
The number 12 AMC was my very first model car that grandpal bought me I was 9.
AMC was a favorite of Grandpa's I think. That car was watched closely by many as Bobby Allison took advantage of every opportunity the little car provided. It took a special team & driver to keep a Rambler up front. I watched a race one Sunday & the little car won. It was great to see but unfortunately in the paper, Mondays headlines read "AMC's Matador rolles into victory circle on Sunday. Unfortunately, so did the cam". Tech inspection ...
I never got to see this , until now, thankyou
This race also happened two days after Richard turned 40 years old the Saturday the before while this race was ran on a Monday.
To thank that they are not gonna have this race on July 4th weekend is a big mistake.....you dont change history
Any thing they can do to make NASCAR suck more than it already is they will try it.
Richard Petty's 185th of 200 wins before he would go winless until the famous 1979 Daytona 500 and his last for the 1974 Dodge Charger body style. The very next year(1978) Richard, Neil Bonnet and other Dodge drivers at the time had to retire the sleek and aerodynamic Chargers in favor for the new but small and ill-handling Magnum. Halfway through the season, The King fed up with the performances and results he was getting with the Magnum switched to GM products for good and the rest is history.
GM was also forced to retire the cheater limited edition Laguna S-3 after 1977 - so they used an old 442 cheater Olds that all the GM teams ran on big tracks. Ford did not really have a competitive body until 1983 when the aero Tbird came out.
@@jimbosc And When The Aero Ford Thunderbird Was Released In 1983.Most NASCAR Cup Series Teams Were Using 1982 Models Early In The Season.
@@kurtperleberg3478 Bill Elliott finished 2nd in the 1983 Daytona 500 with the boxy Bird - it drafted good but was not great once in the lead.
@@jimbosc Why Did They Have To Use The Old 1982 Ford Thunderbirds Instead Of The New 1983 Ford Thunderbird In The 25th Anniversary Edition Of The Great American Race?
I think they didn’t have a new Ford ready in time for that 500
I was there in the Weatherly grandstand. When it rained, the front was so exact that I could have half of my finger wet and the other half dry
What a great field of Drivers!
Richard Petty's 185th Career NASCAR Winston Cup Serie Victory
The king I was 17 going on 18 I was there my hero richard petty
I was there at turn #2 with a bunch of friends and Busch beer.
At least we got some footage on UA-cam.
Great upload, how much more 70s races are you planning on uploading or got right now
I won't say exactly how many...but there's more on the way lol
I bet you don’t have video of Petty beating Pearson at Talladega and Michigan 1974. Both super close finishes and I’ve yet to see a video of either anywhere.
It is known CBS taped and aired the 1975 Michigan race where Petty beat Pearson in a spirited five lap fight. The race was aired September 20, 1965
That should say 1975
Check the Classic Races page on the MRN site. The 1974 Talladega 500 radiocast is there.
Awesome quality copy
3 women (Janet Guthrie, Lella Lombardi, and Christine Beckers) also competed in this race together.
Winning at Daytona is a Petty thing...
Back before nascar got woke
*AMEN!!* Sad times when men were men and knew it, no apologies needed, and winning was paramount to all.
*Woke = Broke* 🤷🏼♀️