The Coca-Cola 600 Through the Years

Look At One of NASCAR’s Crown Jewels

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 19, 2008) – The Memorial Day Weekend tradition that is the Coca-Cola 600 conjures up thoughts of spotlight prestige and unforgettable history. Over the years, some of NASCAR’s biggest stars shined brightest on one of the sport’s largest stages. Take a look at some of the lasting memories of the 600:

1961: Pearson Gets First Win – David Pearson, the 1960 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year, could not land a ride for the 1961 season. That year, car builder Ray Fox had a powerful Pontiac prepared for the 600 at the race track then known as Charlotte Motor Speedway. Fox’s regular driver Darel Dieringer was unable to compete due to a conflict with a tire company, with which he had a contract. Fox needed a driver immediately. Joe Littlejohn, a famed racer and promoter, heard of Fox’s plight and sought out Pearson, who was doing roofing work at the time. Fox gave Pearson a practice run and was impressed with his style. Pearson went on to qualify third for the 55 car field. The white Pontiac shot to the lead on Lap 2 and dominated the race, leading 226 of the 400 laps. Pearson won the race by a margin of over two laps, but not without a little end-race drama. With a little over one lap to go, Pearson’s Pontiac blew a tire. He knew a pit stop would dash his hopes for a victory, so he pressed on. Pearson limped across the finish line in a shower of sparks for his first of 105 wins in NASCAR’s premier series.

1966: Petty Subs for Panch – Marvin Panch wasn’t driving his normal Wood Brothers ride due to a rules dispute. He was prepared to go to LeMans, France for testing of the GT-40 sports car when he got a call from Lee Petty. Petty had an extra car he wanted to enter for the 1966 Coca-Cola 600. According to Panch, “Lee Petty offered me a ride, so I just had to take it”. The car was a year-old Plymouth, driven on the dirt tracks by Richard Petty. Years later, Panch noted the suspension was set up for dirt, and remnants of past races flew from every nook and cranny in the Plymouth as Panch motored around the track at racing speed. He mentioned picking dirt out of his eyes for quite a while after the race. But the car was fast enough to qualify seventh. Panch worked his way to the front of the pack with Richard Petty taking over in relief on Lap 358 of the 400-lapper. The seat was rubbing on an old racing injury of Panch’s and Petty had dropped out on Lap 236 with engine problems, so he was pressed into service. Richard Petty wheeled the Plymouth into victory lane, but he explained, “Marvin put the car in front and all I did was keep it there.”

1975: Earnhardt Make His Debut – Second generation driver Dale Earnhardt had been trying to follow in his father’s footsteps for several years. He had been noticed on the local short tracks of the Carolina’s and then-Charlotte Motor Speedway President Richard Howard felt it was time to give the kid a shot at the big tracks. Howard secured a ride for Earnhardt in Ed Negre’s Dodge. Ironically, the car was No. 8, the same number used by Earnhardt’s famous father, Ralph. The young Earnhardt took to the big track and fast speeds fairly well, qualifying 33rd. He stayed out of trouble during the race, coming home in 22nd spot, 45 laps behind race winner Richard Petty.

1978: Waltrip breaks through – Darrell Waltrip, who earned the nickname “Jaws” for his outspoken demeanor, had been a powerhouse in NASCAR’s premier series since 1975 and had 12 wins to his credit. But he never won an event at Charlotte. David Pearson, having won 10 consecutive Charlotte poles, was always a strong favorite, but Waltrip was due for a Charlotte win. Waltrip was not overly confident of his chances after qualifying a distant 17th but the Chevrolet worked well on race day, taking him to the front by Lap 43. The 1978 edition of NASCAR’s longest race was a hotly contested affair with the lead swapping hands 44 times among six drivers. As the leaders entered the closing laps of the event, six cars were tightly bunched for the lead when Dale Earnhardt, running several laps off the pace, spun in Turn 4, bringing out the caution. Once the track was clean, the green flag flew with two laps remaining. Waltrip was in the lead as fellow front-runner Benny Parsons spun in Turn 1, clipping Donnie Allison and tagging David Pearson. Darrell Waltrip, who was in front of the trouble, motored on to his first of five 600 wins, the most of any other driver.

1987: Petty tradition honored, legacy extended – Charlotte, N.C. and the Petty family have a bond dating back to June 19, 1949, the day of the first race in NASCAR’s premier series. The event was run on the old three-quarter mile dirt track and Lee Petty competed in that first race. He was responsible for the premier series’ first caution flag when he flipped his Buick. By the time Lee retired from racing, he had three Charlotte-based wins to his credit. Later, in 1960, Lee’s son, Richard, scored the first of his 200 premier-series victories Cup wins at Charlotte’s Southern States Fairgrounds half-mile track. Richard Petty retired with seven Charlotte-based wins. In the 1980s, third-generation driver Kyle Petty was involved in NASCAR. It was time for him to continue the tradition. Petty was driving the Wood Brothers Ford Thunderbird #21 for the 1987 season. He qualified seventh for the Coca-Cola 600 — the race had gotten a new name and major sponsor in 1985. Leader after leader fell out of the race. Meanwhile, Petty steadily worked his way up through the field and moved to the front on Lap 284. Each time he was challenged, the other driver would drop out of the race due to mechanical problems. Petty was showing this race truly would be “survival of the fittest.” Petty took the lead from Rusty Wallace on Lap 384 and never again was challenged. The winning Petty tradition would continue as Kyle Petty pulled into victory lane for the biggest win of his career. “I really didn’t want to lead this race, but it seemed I was the only one left,” Petty said.

1994: Jeff Gordon’s first victory – Jeff Gordon came to NASCAR competition via the Midwestern, open-wheel ranks of USAC. He had some success in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for a few years before coming to NASCAR’s premier series in 1993. Gordon electrified the racing world by winning a Daytona 500 qualifying race in his first premier series start. He went on to win the 1993 NASCAR Rookie of the Year award that year. Gordon was dubbed the “Wonder Boy” by Dale Earnhardt, and the 1994 Coca-Cola 600 proved why the nickname was appropriate. Gordon came to Charlotte and promptly put his Rick Hendrick-owned Chevrolet on the pole with a new track record. Gordon led the first lap of the 600, but dropped back and played it safe, knowing this would be a long race and an event with high attrition. Gordon did not take the lead until Lap 300 of the 400-lap event, and then for only two laps. He took only two tires on the last pit stop giving him great track position. Gordon made his way to the front again for the final time on Lap 392 and beat Rusty Wallace to the line by nearly four seconds. Gordon’s first victory had come at one of NASCAR crown-jewel events. He had immediately secured a place for himself in the history of the sport.

2003: Johnson becomes king of sponsor’s home – It was only a matter of time before Jimmie Johnson won a “crown jewel” race. His status of “rookie” in 2002 was in name only – he won three times and finished fifth in the points standings. Onlookers could tell this driver was one day destined for a Daytona 500 win, a Darlington win, a 600 win, an Indy win and maybe even a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. Of course, they were right, as it took Johnson only four years to accomplish all five of those lofty goals. The first checked off the list was the Coca-Cola 600, in 2003. Johnson, driving a car sponsored by Lowe’s at a track sponsored by Lowe’s, personified patience. He set a LMS record that still stands five years later – lowest starting position by a race winner. Starting 37th, Johnson used every bit of the 400 laps to climb to first. He led just 34 laps that race to finish a spot ahead of eventual series champion Matt Kenseth.

2007: Mears makes a name in NASCAR – Casey Mears was in an unenviable position – racing on a Memorial Day Weekend and having the same last name as a four-time Indianapolis 500 champion. Talk about pressure. Mears’ uncle, Rick, tasted Indy glory four times. Casey had yet to win a single NASCAR race. That would all come to an end in 2007. Mears, 0-for-155 to start his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career, used the guile of a veteran winner to capture the 2007 Coca-Cola 600. Using fuel strategy smarts – combined with a ton of patience – Mears drove to Victory Lane in a memorable 600 race. While most of other front runners came into pit for a splash ‘n go fuel stop, Mears “rolled the dice”…and won. His No. 25 Chevrolet lasted until the checkered, becoming the latest Mears to win on Memorial Day Weekend.