1968 Southeastern 500

The 1968 Southeastern 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series (now Sprint Cup Series, also formerly known as the Winston Cup Series and the Winston Cup Grand National Series) racing event held on March 17, 1968, at Bristol International Speedway in the American community of Bristol, Tennessee. Highlights of this racing event were later shown on the classic Car and Track television show on most CBS stations.

The race car drivers still had to commute to the races using the same stock cars that competed in a typical weekend's race through a policy of homologation (and under their own power). This policy was in effect until roughly 1975. By 1980, NASCAR had completely stopped tracking the year model of all the vehicles and most teams did not take stock cars to the track under their own power any more.

Summary

A total distance of 500 laps were accomplished at this event; with Bobby Allison acquiring the last-place position due to stock car engine problems on lap 41. While the first 100 laps of this race event were a David Pearson and Richard Petty show, it would be LeeRoy Yarbrough would compete against Pearson in the closing laps of this event. All 36 of the qualifying drivers were born in the United States of America. Clyde Lynn's incredibly disappearing tail end of his vehicle eventually stalled his racing hopes on lap 445. Henley Gray would become the lowest-finishing driver to actually complete the event; albeit more than 100 laps behind the lead-lap competitors.^[2]

David Pearson would best Richard Petty by a distance of three seconds after racing at each other's throats for more than three hours. More than 19,000 ardent NASCAR followers would see a race marred by eleven caution flags for a duration of 81 laps. Richard Petty's qualifying speed of 88.582 miles per hour (142.559 km/h) would see him blaze through the field during solo qualifying runs. Cale Yarborough would spend some time as the leader of the race before an incident involving the back of his vehicle would end his day of racing on lap 237.^[2] Roy Trantham would make his introduction into the NASCAR Cup Series scene in this race while Serge Adams would exit stage left from NASCAR racing after the conclusion of this event.^[3]

Individual race earnings ranged from the winner's share of $25,415 ($172,359.91 when adjusted for inflation) to the last-place finisher's portion of $500 ($3,390.91 when adjusted for inflation). NASCAR handed out a grand total of $86,285 to all the competitors who qualified for this racing event ($585,169.18 when adjusted for inflation).^[4]

Top ten finishers

1. David Pearson – #17
2. Richard Petty – #43
3. LeeRoy Yarbrough – #26
4. Darel Dieringer – #22
5. Bobby Isaac – #71
6. Bud Moore – #1
7. Jack Ingram – #09
8. Bill Champion – #10
9. Elmo Langley – #64
10. Earl Brooks – #2

References