1966 Southeastern 500

Auto race held at Bristol International Speedway in 1966 February 2025 CUST Race 7 of 49 in the 1966 NASCAR Grand National Series season Southeastern 500 1966 03 20 1966 7 49 Bristol Motor Speedway map.png Layout of Bristol Motor Speedway Southeastern 500 Bristol International Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee 0.500 0.800 500 250.0 400.0 Temperatures of 69 F C; wind speeds of 14 mph km/h http://www.almanac.com/weather/history/TN/Bristol/1966-03-20 1966 Southeastern 500 weather information The Old Farmers' Almanac 2012-10-20 69.952 mi/h 25,000 http://www.racing-reference.info/race/1966-07/W 1966 Southeastern 500 racing results Racing Reference 2011-01-11 David Pearson Owens Racing 20.870 David Pearson Owens Racing 330 29 Dick Hutcherson Holman-Moody untelevised none The 1966 Southeastern 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on March 20, 1966, at Bristol International Speedway in the Bristol, Tennessee. 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 Five hundred laps were done on a paved oval track spanning 0.500 mi km. The total time of the race was three hours, twenty-four minutes, and twenty-six seconds. There were seven cautions for 92 laps. Speeds were: 69.952 mi/h or and 86.248 mi/h or for the pole position speed (accomplished by David Pearson). Dick Hutcherson defeated Paul Lewis by outlapping him more than four times; resulting in Ford's 200th win. The Ray Nichels team had also used the #9 for Larry Frank's entry at Daytona earlier in the season. They also had Don White run multiple car numbers in the 1966 season, so they weren't always consistent with them. Richard Petty had an injured finger and could not participate in this race; Jim Paschal had to take over as the relief driver. Twenty-five thousand fans saw thirty-two drivers start a race that only seven would complete. Attrition levels were worse in this Bristol race than it is in the 2010 NASCAR Cup Series season; a rare instance where lower speeds on a track are more dangerous than faster speeds. By contrast, the 2010 Food City 500 would see an average speed of 79.618 mi/h or and a pole position speed of 124.63 mi/h or with only eight drivers not being able to complete the race. http://www.racing-reference.info/race/2010-05/W 2010 Food City 500 - for comparison study Racing Reference 2011-01-11 The total winnings for the race were $21,735 in American dollars ($ when inflation is taken into effect). Notable crew chiefs for this race were Bud Hartje, Frankie Scott, Jake Elder, Jack Sullivan and Herman Beam. http://www.racing-reference.info/entrylist/1966-07/W/C 1966 Southeastern 500 crew chief information Racing Reference 2018-08-01 Qualifying Grid No. Car number Driver Manufacturer Qualifying time Qualifying time in seconds http://www.racing-reference.info/getqualify/1966-07/W 1966 Southeastern 500 qualifying results Racing Reference 2017-04-12 April 13, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170413153541/http://www.racing-reference.info/getqualify/1966-07/W dead Speed Speed in miles per hour Owner 1 6 David Pearson '66 Dodge 20.870 86.248 Cotton Owens 2 28 Fred Lorenzen '66 Ford 21.050 85.510 Holman-Moody 3 9 Paul Goldsmith '65 Plymouth 21.060 85.470 Ray Nichels 4 43 Jim Paschal '65 Plymouth 21.090 85.348 Petty Enterprises 5 21 Marvin Panch '66 Ford 21.190 84.945 Wood Brothers 6 29 Dick Hutcherson '66 Ford 21.260 84.666 Holman-Moody 7 98 Sam McQuagg '66 Dodge 21.320 84.427 Ray Nichels 8 27 Cale Yarborough '66 Ford 21.440 83.955 Banjo Matthews 9 49 G.C. Spencer '65 Plymouth 21.520 83.643 G.C. Spencer 10 19 J.T. Putney '66 Chevrolet 21.750 82.758 J.T. Putney Finishing order Section reference: 30em Dick Hutcherson† (No. 29) Paul Lewis (No. 1) James Hylton (No. 48) Elmo Langley† (No. 64) Sam McQuagg† (No. 98) Gene Black† (No. 74) Bill Seifert (No. 45) Wendell Scott*† (No. 34) Henley Gray* (No. 97) G.C. Spencer*† (No. 49) Clyde Lynn*† (No. 20) Gene Cline* (No. 95) Johnny Allen* (No. 0) Larry Manning*† (No. 63) David Pearson*† (No. 6) Walter Wallace* (No. 73) J. D. McDuffie*† (No. 70) Marvin Panch* (No. 21) Ned Jarrett* (No. 11) Jim Paschal*† (No. 43) Paul Goldsmith* (No. 9) Fred Lorenzen* (No. 28) Bobby Isaac*† (No. 26) Cale Yarborough* (No. 27) Johnny Steele* (No. 2) J.T. Putney*† (No. 19) Buddy Arrington* (No. 67) Bobby Allison* (No. 24) Wayne Smith* (No. 38) John Sears*† (No. 04) Sonny Lamphear* (No. 96) E.J. Trivette* (No. 52) † signifies that the driver is known to be deceased * Driver failed to finish race Timeline Section reference: solid 0.1em black lightgrey 0.6em timeline rowStyle 1 white David Pearson 142 500 timeline rowStyle 143 white Fred Lorenzen 143 500 timeline rowStyle 144 white David Pearson 242 500 timeline rowStyle 243 white Marvin Panch 287 500 timeline rowStyle 288 white David Pearson 331 500 timeline rowStyle 332 white Dick Hutcherson 337 500 timeline rowStyle 338 white Dick Hutcherson 500 500 scale 1 500 20 References 1966 Peach Blossom 500 1966 Atlanta 500 NASCAR Grand National Season 1966 Southeastern 500 Southeastern 500 Category:NASCAR races at Bristol Motor Speedway