1967 National 500

Race report

The race was held on a dry circuit; with no precipitation recorded around the speedway.

Sixty thousand live spectators attended the event where Buddy Baker managed to defeat Bobby Isaac by more than one lap; becoming the 100th different driver to win what is now known as a NASCAR Cup Series race. Nine cautions were handed out by NASCAR officials for 64 laps. The race took three hours and fifty minutes to fully complete. Cale Yarborough achieved the pole position with a qualifying speed of 130.317 mph. In reality, the speeds in the race actually approached 130.317 mph. Whitey Gerken finished in last place due to a crash on lap 2 out of the 334 laps raced on a paved track spanning 1.500 mi. All 44 of the drivers on the racing grid were American-born males. Future three time Formula One Champion Jackie Stewart entered but he failed to qualify.

Richard Petty 10-race winning streak ended at this race. Bobby Wawak made his best career finish as an owner with one of his vehicles finishing in seventh place. The qualifying speeds recorded for the race were an average for a 4-lap qualifying run. J.T. Putney raced his way into this one by winning the last chance qualifying race. He then finished 11th in the main event with Henley Gray, another driver who raced in, taking 12th.

LeeRoy Yarbrough was scheduled to drive in Junior Johnson's No. 26 vehicle but the car was wrecked in practice due to a fire extinguisher going off automatically. 22 lead changes were made amongst seven different leaders.

Notable crew chiefs on attendance for the race were Harry Hyde, Dale Inman, Jake Elder among others.

Don Schissler and Dub Simpson made their NASCAR debuts here. The total prize purse for this race was $87,005 ($ when adjusted for inflation). Buddy Baker received $18,950 in winnings ($ when adjusted for inflation) while last-place finisher Whitey Gerken walked away with only $625 ($ when adjusted for inflation).

Qualifying

Note: The speeds shown are an average for a 4-lap qualifying run.

The first 37 spots in the field were set via qualifying. The final 7 spots were filled by the top 7 finishers in a 20-lap qualifying race.

Finishing order

Section reference:

1. Buddy Baker
2. Bobby Isaac
3. Dick Hutcherson
4. Charlie Glotzbach
5. G.C. Spencer
6. Don White
7. Bobby Wawak
8. Neil Castles
9. Buddy Arrington
10. Cale Yarborough*
11. J.T. Putney
12. Henley Gray
13. Bobby Allison*
14. Frank Warren
15. Donnie Allison*
16. John Sears*
17. Wayne Smith
18. Richard Petty*
19. Darel Dieringer*
20. Sonny Hutchins*
21. Roy Tyner
22. A. J. Foyt*
23. Clyde Lynn*
24. David Pearson*
25. Jim Paschal*
26. Jack Bowsher*
27. Mario Andretti*
28. Wendell Scott*
29. Bud Moore*
30. Elmo Langley*
31. Red Farmer*
32. Larry Manning*
33. Dub Simpson*
34. Curtis Turner*
35. E.J. Trivette*
36. Friday Hassler*
37. Larry Hess*
38. Paul Goldsmith*
39. Bob Cooper*
40. Don Schissler*
41. Bobby Mausgrover*
42. Gordon Johncock*
43. James Hylton*
44. Whitey Gerken* ** Driver failed to finish race*

Failed to qualify

Section reference:

References

before = 1967 Wilkes 400| after = 1967 American 500| title = NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season| years = 1967 |

References

1. "1967 National 500 weather information". The Old Farmers' Almanac.
2. "1967 National 500 race information". Racing Reference.
3. "Charlotte NASCAR Climatology". SERCC.
4. Greg Fielden's "Charlotte Motor Speedway", p. 55
5. "1967 National 500 race information (second reference)". Race Database.
6. "1967 National 500 crew chiefs information". Racing Reference.
7. "1967 National 500 race information". Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet.
8. "1967 National 500 qualifying information". Racing Reference.