1964 in NASCAR was the 15th season of professional stock car racing in the United State and contested over 62 events from November 10, 1963 to November 8, 1964. The first race was held at the Concord Speedway in North Carolina, and the season concluded at the Jacksonville Speedway Park in Florida. The competition traveled to 23 dirt tracks, 25 short tracks, 4 road race courses, and 10 super speedways. At the end of the season Richard Petty defeated second place Ned Jarrett and over 150 other drivers by more than 5000 points. The victory was Petty's first of a record tying 7 championships in NASCAR's primer division. (note: Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson also won 7 championships)
- 62 races starting Nov. 10, 63 (Concord) through Nov. 8, 65 (Jacksonville)
- 23 dirt tracks, 4 road races.
- 25 short tracks
- 10 super speedway tracks.
- R. Petty won by over 5000 points over Ned Jarrett
- 169 drivers competed
Results edit
- Petty (R) won his first of 7 championships, including the Daytona 500
- http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/pettyri01/1964/W
- (also 2004 Fan guide) - ck pages.
- http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/pettyri01/1964/W (Petty results for year)
- Petty won 9 races while Jarrett captured 15.
- Petty took points lead at Charlotte with 2nd place finish
- Point leader changed hands 6 times between 4 drivers.
- David Pearson finished 3rd
- Billy Wade had 12 wins
- Petty won with 7 races to go in the season.
Season recap edit
- Chrysler had more streamlined body, and brought new 426 Hemi.
- Wendal Scott wins Jacksonville Raceway Park on Dec. 1
- Daytona 500 is Petty's first super speedway win (184 of 200 laps led) (Feb 23)
- Dick Hutcherson wins pole in first start at Greenville-Pickens Speedway on March 28. Leads first 60 laps. Mechanical problems.
- LeeRoy Yarbrough gets first victory at Savannah
- Fred Lorenzen with 4 laps left, and down by 3 laps - wins when R. Petty blows engine and coasts to stop on final lap at Bristol. July 26
- Ned Jarrett wins final at Jacksonville NC.
hemi edit
- Chrysler began work on new 426 in 1962
- NASCAR changed rules for 1965 to outlaw the hemi
- Petty built dragster with "Outlawed" on door, and "NASCAR: If you can't outrun 'em, outlaw 'em." bumper sticker.
- At Southeastern Dragway in Dallas, Ga, Petty's dragster suffered mechanical problems and crashed into the crowd. 7 people injured, and 8 year old boy killed. Petty's injuries were minor.
- The car was taken back to Petty's and left in woods.
- Petty built new car, w/o the "Outlaw" painted on it.
deaths edit
- Joe Weatherly 2 time champ killed at Riverside - Dan Gurney won
- Fireball Roberts crashes at World 600 in Charlotte - dies July 2
- Jimmy Pardue dies in crash during tire test at Charlotte on Sept. 20
- Dave MacDonald (top 10 at Daytona) and Eddie Sachs died at Indy.
- Billy Wade (6th at Daytona) died in tire test at Daytona the following January.
- Bobby Marshman died while performing tire tests at Phoenix in December.
- fuel cells, more fire-retardant driving suits, and helmet rules followed these events.
- http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/opinion/01/28/retro.racing.maumann.1964.daytona500/index.html (most on page 2)
- Weatherly was leading points at time of his death
- Wade finished 4th in points.
- Pardue finished 5th in points.
- Pardue had 50 starts