1973 Daytona 500

1973 Daytona 500
Race details[1]
Race 2 of 28 in the 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1973 Daytona 500 program cover
1973 Daytona 500 program cover
Date February 18, 1973 (1973-02-18)
Location Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.023 km)
Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Weather Cold with temperatures of 54.9 °F (12.7 °C); wind speeds of 12 miles per hour (19 km/h)
Average speed 157.205 miles per hour (252.997 km/h)
Attendance 103,000[2]
Pole position
Driver
K&K Insurance Racing
Qualifying race winners
Duel 1 Winner Buddy Baker Nord Krauskopf
Duel 2 Winner Coo Coo Marlin H.B. Cunningham
Most laps led
Driver Buddy Baker K&K Insurance Racing
Laps 156
Winner
No. 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises
Television in the United States
Network ABC's Wide World of Sports
Announcers Jim McKay
Jackie Stewart
Chris Economaki

The 1973 Daytona 500, the 15th running of the event, was won by Richard Petty on February 18, 1973, at Daytona International Raceway in Daytona Beach, Florida.[2]

Four cautions slowed the race for 28 laps.[2] A crowd of over one hundred thousand came to see a field of 38 American and two Canadians (Earl Ross and Vic Parsons).[2] The average speed for the race was 157.205 miles per hour (252.997 km/h) while Buddy Baker achieved the pole position with a speed of 185.662 miles per hour (298.794 km/h).[2] Bobby Isaac would finish second to Richard Petty by more than two laps.[2]

Both Hollar and Jett participated in qualifying and were supposed to start in the 125s (Hollar was supposed to start 38th in race 1 and Jett was supposed to start 26th in race 2), but for whatever reason neither driver ended up participating.[2]

Background

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Daytona International Speedway, the track where the race will be held.

Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, that is one of six superspeedways to hold NASCAR races, the others being Michigan International Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway.[3] The standard track at Daytona is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long. The track also features two other layouts that utilize portions of the primary high speed tri-oval, such as a 3.56-mile (5.73 km) sports car course and a 2.95-mile (4.75 km) motorcycle course.[4] The track's 180-acre (73 ha) infield includes the 29-acre (12 ha) Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing. The speedway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

The track was built by NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. to host racing that was being held at the former Daytona Beach Road Course and opened with the first Daytona 500 in 1959.[5] The speedway has been renovated three times, with the infield renovated in 2004,[6] and the track repaved in 1978 and 2010.[7]

The Daytona 500 is regarded as the most important and prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar.[8] It is also the series' first race of the year; this phenomenon is virtually unique in sports, which tend to have championships or other major events at the end of the season rather than the start. Since 1995, U.S. television ratings for the Daytona 500 have been the highest for any auto race of the year, surpassing the traditional leader, the Indianapolis 500 which in turn greatly surpasses the Daytona 500 in in-track attendance and international viewing. The 2006 Daytona 500 attracted the sixth largest average live global TV audience of any sporting event that year with 20 million viewers.[9]

Speedweeks

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32-year-old Buddy Baker believed it was finally his year. He had won the pole (see above), and in the first Twin 125 race, Baker fought off the effects of an ear infection and beat Cale Yarborough, 1968 champion of the Daytona 500, in a sprinted duel. In that first race, a 26-year-old Tennessee rookie named Darrell Waltrip, had one of the most impressive runs. Driving his own 1971 Mercury, Waltrip finished sixth and captured the eleventh starting spot for his first 500.

Another Tennessee driver stole the spotlight that day, Coo Coo Marlin, a 41-year-old journeyman whose best finish in four previous 500s was 18th, shocked the crowd by passing David Pearson with 6 laps to go to win the second twin 125. Richard Petty finished fourth in the first Twin 125 and was not happy with his Dodge until his crew made major suspension changes the day before the race.

Race Summary

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Race morning dawned gray and rainy. Similar to the 1979 race, the race was started under caution and began with 13 laps under yellow to have the cars help dry the track. Once under green Baker led the first 33 laps as Yarborough, Petty, Issac, and Pearson clung tenaciously to him. Petty lead for the first time on lap 37. But as the race continued, Baker took over. He took the lead from Issac on lap 40 and led 17 circuits. Then he led laps 71 through 102 before Yarborough squeezed past. But Baker took over again on lap 109.

By this time, Petty was out of sequence with the field. he cut a right rear tire on lap 88 and was forced to the pits. he lost a lap. He would make up the lap when the leaders pitted, but lose it when he pitted again.

With 50 laps to go, Baker was in front. He had dominated, leading 119 of the first 150 circuits, even as Yarborough stubbornly hung with him. As usual, engine problems took their toll. Pete Hamilton the 1970 winner who had qualified second, was first out on lap 33. David Pearson's engine expired after 63 laps. Bobby Allison and Coo Coo Marlin's engines also blew.

On lap 155, John Utsman's engine blew and he spun just past the finish line. Petty was back on the lead lap with Baker, but about to head for the pits. Petty just missed the spinning car. The yellow flag gave Petty another break. It allowed him to pit with Baker and remain on the lead lap. Meanwhile, Yarborough's engine quit during the caution period. He was out of the race. Yarborough had led six times for 25 laps and his spirited challenge of Baker had kept the fans entertained all afternoon.

Now it was down to Petty and Baker. They were the only drivers still on the lead lap. Baker led laps 165 through 184, but both drivers needed one more quick stop for fuel. Petty came in first. He waited until the last moment before diving off turn four on lap 189 and screamed into his pit. Petty's car spewed tire smoke as he slid to a perfect stop. Five gallons and 8.4 seconds later, Petty was on his way.

Baker came in the next lap. He did not enter the pits as quickly. His stop took 9.9 seconds. When both cars reached full speed, Petty had a 4.4-second lead. Baker immediately began closing the gap. With six laps remaining, he was only 2.5 seconds behind. Suddenly, Baker's engine blew. It was over.

Petty won his fourth Daytona 500, he would win three more. Waltrip finished his first 500 in 12th. His first and only Daytona 500 win didn't come until 1989.

First Daytona 500 starts for Hershel McGriff, Darrell Waltrip, Ed Negre, John Utsman, Marty Robbins, and Earl Ross.[2] Only Daytona 500 starts for Vic Parsons and Larry Smith.[2] Last Daytona 500 starts for Jabe Thomas, Ray Elder, Ron Keselowski, Maynard Troyer, John Sears, Red Farmer, Tiny Lund, Neil Castles, Gordon Johncock, and Pete Hamilton.[2]

Race results

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Pos Grid No. Driver Entrant Manufacturer Laps Winnings Laps led Time/Status
1 7 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises 1973 Dodge 200 $36,100 17 3:10:50
2 10 15 Bobby Isaac Bud Moore Engineering 1973 Ford 198 $17,300 1 +2 Laps
3 9 6 Dick Brooks Cotton Owens 1973 Dodge 197 $9,800 0 +3 Laps
4 8 50 A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Enterprises 1973 Chevrolet 196 $7,020 0 +4 Laps
5 6 04 Hershel McGriff Beryl Jackson 1972 Plymouth 195 $6,025 0 +5 Laps
6 1 71 Buddy Baker Nord Krauskopf 1972 Dodge 194 $14,725 156 Engine
7 12 48 James Hylton James Hylton 1971 Mercury 194 $4,525 0 +6 Laps
8 16 90 Ramo Stott Donlavey Racing 1971 Mercury 193 $4,095 0 +7 Laps
9 36 67 Buddy Arrington Buddy Arrington 1972 Dodge 192 $2,900 0 +8 Laps
10 27 45 Vic Parsons Bill Seifert 1971 Mercury 190 $2,945 0 +10 Laps
11 24 05 David Sisco Charlie McGee 1972 Chevrolet 190 $2,750 0 +10 Laps
12 11 95 Darrell Waltrip Darrell Waltrip 1971 Mercury 188 $2,625 0 +12 Laps
13 14 18 Joe Frasson Joe Frasson 1973 Dodge 188 $2,275 0 +12 Laps
14 17 92 Larry Smith Harley Smith 1971 Mercury 187 $2,200 0 +13 Laps
15 32 25 Jabe Thomas Don Robertson 1973 Dodge 187 $2,470 0 +13 Laps
16 34 79 Frank Warren Frank Warren 1973 Dodge 182 $2,435 0 +18 Laps
17 28 8 Ed Negre Ed Negre 1971 Mercury 182 $2,445 0 +18 Laps
18 15 96 Ray Elder Fred Elder 1972 Dodge 180 $1,985 0 Engine
19 26 30 Walter Ballard Vic Ballard 1972 Chevrolet 174 $2,415 0 Clutch
20 39 88 Ron Keselowski Roger Lubinski 1972 Dodge 168 $1,500 0 +32 Laps
21 31 24 Cecil Gordon Cecil Gordon 1972 Chevrolet 155 $2,175 0 +45 Laps
22 3 11 Cale Yarborough Richard Howard 1973 Chevrolet 154 $4,250 25 Engine
23 21 60 Maynard Troyer Joe Nagle 1973 Ford 150 $1,825 0 Engine
24 25 49 John Utsman G. C. Spencer 1972 Dodge 145 $1,780 0 Engine
25 29 12 Bobby Allison Bobby Allison Motorsports 1973 Chevrolet 141 $3,735 0 Engine
26 22 70 J. D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing 1971 Chevrolet 129 $2,260 0 Engine
27 33 2 Dave Marcis Penske Racing 1973 Matador 125 $1,325 0 Rear end
28 18 31 Jim Vandiver O. L. Nixon 1972 Dodge 123 $1,300 0 Overheating
29 4 14 Coo Coo Marlin H. B. Cunningham 1972 Chevrolet 118 $2,775 0 Engine
30 13 72 Benny Parsons L. G. DeWitt 1972 Chevrolet 101 $2,195 0 Engine
31 40 4 John Sears J. Marvin Mills 1973 Dodge 65 $2,060 0 Steering
32 23 97 Red Farmer Willie Humphries 1972 Ford 65 $1,665 0 Transmission
33 20 21 David Pearson Wood Brothers Racing 1971 Mercury 63 $2,200 1 Engine
34 37 42 Marty Robbins Marty Robbins 1972 Dodge 63 $1,515 0 Crash
35 35 17 Bill Dennis H. J. Brooking 1972 Chevrolet 62 $1,225 0 Engine
36 19 55 Tiny Lund Carl Price 1972 Chevrolet 54 $1,510 0 Rear end
37 38 06 Neil Castles Neil Castles 1972 Dodge 38 $1,430 0 Engine
38 5 28 Gordon Johncock Hoss Ellington 1972 Chevrolet 35 $1,800 0 Oil leak
39 30 52 Earl Ross Allan Brooke 1973 Chevrolet 34 $1,385 0 Engine
40 2 9 Pete Hamilton Jack Housby 1972 Plymouth 33 $2,000 0 Engine
Source:[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Weather of the 1973 Daytona 500". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Archived from the original on 2024-05-26. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "1973 Daytona 500". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  3. ^ "Race Tracks". NASCAR. Turner Sports. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  4. ^ "Track facts". DaytonaInternationalSpeedway.com. Daytona International Speedway. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  5. ^ "The History of ISC". InternationalSpeedwayCorporation.com. International Speedway Corporation. June 14, 2015. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  6. ^ "Daytona Announces Facility Renovation Plans, No Track Alterations". Roadracing World. Lake Elsinore, California: Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. March 24, 2004. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  7. ^ "Daytona International Speedway set to repave following the Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola". DaytonaInternationalSpeedway.com. Daytona Beach, Florida: Daytona International Speedway. April 24, 2010. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  8. ^ What Makes Daytona Special. Daytona International Speedway. May 10, 2012. 2:51 minutes in. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20.
  9. ^ "World's most watched TV sports events: 2006 Rank & Trends report". Initiative. January 19, 2007. Archived from the original on February 8, 2007. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  10. ^ 1973 Daytona 500
Preceded by Daytona 500 races
1959-present 		Succeeded by
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