1968 Islip 300

1968 Islip 300
Race details[1]
Race 26 of 49 in the 1968 NASCAR Grand National Series season

Official ticket form for the 1968 Islip 300
Date July 7, 1968 (1968-07-07)
Official name Islip 300
Location Islip Speedway, (Islip, New York)
Course Permanent racing facility
0.200 mi (0.322 km)
Distance 250 laps, 60.0 mi (90.0 km)
Weather Temperatures ranging between 59 °F (15 °C) and 70.6 °F (21.4 °C); wind speeds up to 14 miles per hour (23 km/h)
Average speed 48.561 miles per hour (78.151 km/h)
Attendance 4,600[2]
Pole position
Driver
Ray Fox
Most laps led
Driver Richard Petty Petty Enterprises
Laps 97
Winner
No. 2 Bobby Allison J.D. Bracken

The 1968 Islip 300 was a NASCAR Grand National Series (now Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series) event that was held on July 7, 1968, at Islip Speedway in Islip, New York.

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; most of the cars were trailered to events or hauled in by trucks.

Background

Islip Speedway was a .2-mile (320-meter) oval race track in Islip, New York which was open from 1947 until 1984.[3] It is the smallest track ever to host NASCAR's Grand National Series (now the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series),[4][5] from 1964 to 1971.[4] The first demolition derby took place at Islip Speedway in 1958. The idea was patented by Larry Mendelson, who worked at Islip Speedway.

Summary

The race's advertised distance was 300 laps on a paved track spanning 0.200 miles (0.322 km).[2] It took fifty-five minutes and seventeen seconds in order to complete the entire race.[2] Starting at 8:15 PM, the race was quickly over before 9:15 PM. Speeds were considered to be 48.561 miles per hour (78.151 km/h) for the average and 51.873 miles per hour (83.482 km/h) for the pole.[2] The race was attended by 4,600 spectators and they witnessed one caution for three laps.[2] General admission for this event was only $4 plus sales taxes ($27.55 when adjusted for inflation) while children got in for only $1 with an adult general admission ($6.89 when adjusted for inflation).

The most notable crew chiefs to participate in this event were Ray Hicks, Eddie Allison, Jake Elder, Frankie Scott, Dale Inman and Harry Hyde.[6]

Bobby Allison managed to defeat David Pearson by six car lengths.[2] The track was shorter than even Martinsville Speedway; giving it the notoriety of being lapped by the leaders during the first ten four laps of a race. Start and park racing was a way to avoid demoralization in those circumstances as opposed to maintaining a profit margin. Most of the drivers drove the latest model of stock car automobiles to this race. Buddy Baker would perform in a 1968 Dodge Charger while Richard Petty raced around the track in a 1968 Plymouth GTX. Three years later, the uncertain economic climate of the early 1970s would necessitate start and park racing in order for lesser teams to remain as viable as possible.

Bobby Allison would receive $1,000 ($6,887.08 when adjusted for inflation) for winning the race while Gene Black would receive $100 ($688.71 when adjusted for inflation) for finishing in last place.[2] The total winnings for this race was $5,255 ($36,191.61 when adjusted for inflation). John Winger would make his NASCAR debut during this racing event.[7]

Qualifying

Grid No. Driver Manufacturer Speed[8] Qualifying time[8]
1 3 Buddy Baker '68 Dodge 51.873 13.880
2 17 David Pearson '68 Ford 51.836 13.890
3 43 Richard Petty '68 Plymouth 51.245 14.050
4 48 James Hylton '67 Dodge 50.883 14.150
5 2 Bobby Allison '66 Chevrolet 50.562 14.240
6 44 John Winger '67 Ford 50.420 14.280
7 49 G.C. Spencer '67 Plymouth 50.314 14.310
8 64 Elmo Langley '67 Ford 49.896 14.430
9 25 Jabe Thomas '67 Ford 49.724 14.480
10 4 John Sears '66 Ford 49.450 14.560

Failed to qualify: Bob Cooper (#02), Dick Johnson (#18), Henley Gray (#19), Stan Meserve (#51), Bobby Mausgrover (#88)[8]

Finishing order

  1. Bobby Allison (No. 2)
  2. David Pearson (No. 17)
  3. Buddy Baker† (No. 3)
  4. Richard Petty (No. 43)
  5. James Hylton (No. 48)
  6. Bobby Isaac† (No. 71)
  7. Elmo Langley† (No. 64)
  8. Clyde Lynn† (No. 20)
  9. John Sears† (No. 4)
  10. Neil Castles (No. 06)
  11. Wendell Scott† (No. 34)
  12. John Winger (No. 44)
  13. Jabe Thomas (No. 25)
  14. Buck Baker† (No. 87)
  15. Ed Negre*† (No. 8)
  16. Bill Vanderhoff* (No. 09)
  17. Earl Brooks*† (No. 28)
  18. Frank Warren* (No. 0)
  19. J.D. McDuffie*† (No. 70)
  20. G.C. Spencer*† (No. 49)
  21. Bill Seifert* (No. 45)
  22. Roy Tyner*† (No. 76)
  23. Paul Dean Holt* (No. 01)
  24. David Mote* (No. 69)
  25. Gene Black*† (No. 75)

† signifies that the driver is known to be deceased
* Driver failed to finish race

Timeline

Preceded by
1968 Firecracker 400		 NASCAR Grand National Season
1968 		Succeeded by
1968 Maine 300

References

  1. ↑ "1968 Islip 300 weather information". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "1968 Islip 300 information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2010-03-22.
  3. ↑ Goldsmith, Paul (2003-08-31). "Gauge Nears 'E' at Riverhead Raceway". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
  4. 1 2 Aumann, Mark (2006-01-31). "Countdown: New York". NASCAR. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  5. ↑ London, Gary. "NASCAR Has A Long History Racing In The Northeast". National Speed Sport News. Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  6. ↑ "1968 Islip 300 crew chief information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
  7. ↑ "John Winger's debut". Race Database. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  8. 1 2 3 "1968 Islip 300 qualifying information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2017-03-28.
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