1970 Alabama 500

The 1970 Alabama 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on April 12, 1970, at Alabama International Motor Speedway (now Talladega Superspeedway) in Talladega, Alabama. As the inaugural running of what is now known as the GEICO 500, it helped to serve as a prime example of Talladega races yet to come.

1970 Alabama 500
Race details[1]
Race 10 of 48 in the 1970 NASCAR Grand National Series season
Layout of Talladega Superspeedway
Date April 12, 1970 (1970-04-12)
Location Alabama International Motor Speedway, Talladega, Alabama
Course Permanent racing facility
2.66 mi (4.3 km)
Distance 188 laps, 500 mi (800 km)
Weather Chilly with temperatures of 68 °F (20 °C); wind speeds of 8.9 miles per hour (14.3 km/h)
Average speed 152.321 miles per hour (245.137 km/h)
Attendance 36,000[2]
Pole position
Driver
Nord Krauskopf
Most laps led
Driver Buddy Baker Cotton Owens
Laps 101
Winner
No. 40 Pete Hamilton Petty Enterprises
Television in the United States
Network ABC (second half)
Announcers Keith Jackson
Chris Economaki

Nord Krauskopf's Bobby Isaac won the pole position, and the race was won by Petty Enterprises's Pete Hamilton.

Background

Alabama International Motor Speedway (AIMS), later known as Talladega Superspeedway, is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a Tri-oval and was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in the 1960s. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line – located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the NASCAR Truck Series. The track is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66 miles (4.28 km), and the track at its peak had a seating capacity of 175,000 spectators.[3]

Qualifying
Grid[2] No. Driver Manufacturer Owner
1 71Bobby Isaac'69 DodgeNord Krauskopf
2 17David Pearson'69 FordHolman-Moody
3 99Charlie Glotzbach'69 DodgeRay Nichels
4 22Bobby Allison'69 DodgeMario Rossi
5 6Buddy Baker'69 DodgeCotton Owens
6 40Pete Hamilton'70 PlymouthPetty Enterprises
7 32Dick Brooks'70 PlymouthDick Brooks
8 43Richard Petty'70 PlymouthPetty Enterprises
9 14Freddy Fryar'70 PlymouthBill Ellis
10 79Frank Warren'69 PlymouthFrank Warren

Failed to qualify: Dick May (#67), J.D. McDuffie, Johnny Halford (#57), Wayne Smith[4]

Race report

The ABC broadcast picked up the action just after halfway at about lap 100. One of the announcers highlighted what had happened during the untelevised part of the race by showing scale models of the cars that started up front and talking about where they were now. However, the race was hard to watch on television as the announcers and apparently even NASCAR officials struggled to figure out who was leading at the end; making for a very poor and unprofessional finish. The TV crew thought Bobby Isaac was the leader and was confused when Hamilton was given the checkered flag. The broadcast crew left the air before the victory lane interview, thinking that Pete Hamilton won the race.[5]

A crowd of 36,000 was present at the race.[6]

32 lead changes occurred between eight drivers: Buddy Baker, Hamilton, Isaac, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Richard Brickhouse, Charlie Glotzbach and Bobby Allison.[7]

Bill Shirey blew his engine on lap 3 while Dale Alonzo inflicted terminal damage on lap 10. Further engine failures on the vehicles of Don Tarr on lap 17, Richard Brickhouse on lap 25, Bobby Mausgrover on the same lap, and E.J. Trivette on lap 73. Henley Gray's steering forced his exit on lap 78. Jim Vandiver overheated his vehicle on lap 93. Two more engine failures as Raymond Williams had to leave the race on lap 107 and Charlie Glotzbach on lap 117. Bill Champion's vehicle developed an oil leak on lap 125 while Bobby Allison lost his engine on lap 126. Elmo Langley could not continue the race due to a faulty engine on lap 149. Water pump issues took Ron Keselowski of the race while Alton Jones had to settle for a 24th-place finish due to engine problems on lap 155.[2] Longtime Alabama independent driver Ben Arnold fielded cars for Alton Jones and himself.[2] Cale Yarborough lost several laps on pit road when his car wouldn't refire, while Richard Petty lost a couple more laps himself when the crew had to go under the hood of the #43 Plymouth.[2]

Notable crew chiefs at this race included Harry Hyde, Dale Inman, Maurice Petty, Tom Vandiver, Tom Ingram, Dick Hutcherson and Glen Wood.[8]

Baker's accident

Even though Buddy Baker led the most laps with 101 (along with having a nine-second distance between Pete Hamilton by lap 170), pit road problems allowed Hamilton to lap him. Baker began to close in on Hamilton. However, Baker's tire blew heading into the fourth turn on lap 175; fragments of the tire would ultimately damage the engine cooler that resulted in a serious fire for his Dodge. Baker attempted to put out the fire by spinning into the grass.[9]

Baker suffered second-degree burns to the legs and face but was subsequently released from the hospital. When asked about the incident, Baker stated, "it was the scariest thing that ever happened to me. I don't really mind losing this time; I'm just happy to be alive."[9] Baker would finish 12th, as Hamilton led the final 18 laps to give him the victory, with a 44-second lead[2] over second-place finisher Isaac; Pearson, Benny Parsons and Yarborough closed out the top five. The win was Hamilton's second of the season, and Hamilton would eventually win the second Talladega race.[7]

Finishing order

Source:[2]

  1. Pete Hamilton (No. 40)
  2. Bobby Isaac† (No. 71)
  3. David Pearson† (No. 17)
  4. Benny Parsons† (No. 72)
  5. Cale Yarborough (No. 21)
  6. Freddy Fryar (No. 14)
  7. Richard Petty (No. 43)
  8. James Hylton (No. 48)
  9. Neil Castles (No. 06)
  10. Coo Coo Marlin† (No. 07)
  11. Frank Martin (No. 79)
  12. Buddy Baker*† (No. 6)
  13. Dick Brooks† (No. 32)
  14. Friday Hassler† (No. 39)
  15. Jabe Thomas (No. 25)
  16. Butch Hurst (No. 89)
  17. Dave Marcis (No. 30)
  18. Bill Seifert (No. 45)
  19. John Sears† (No. 86)
  20. Wendell Scott† (No. 34)
  21. Cecil Gordon† (No. 24)
  22. Dub Simpson (No. 51)
  23. Ben Arnold (No. 76)
  24. Alton Jones* (No. 7)
  25. Ron Keselowski* (No. 62)
  26. Larry Baumel (No. 68)
  27. Elmo Langley† (No. 64)
  28. Jimmy Crawford† (No. 63)
  29. Bobby Allison* (No. 22)
  30. Bill Champion*† (No. 10)
  31. Charlie Glotzbach* (No. 99)
  32. Raymond Williams* (No. 47)
  33. Jim Vandiver* (No. 31)
  34. Henley Gray* (No. 19)
  35. E.J. Trivette* (No. 96)
  36. Bobby Mausgrover* (No. 84)
  37. Richard Brickhouse* (No. 59)
  38. Don Tarr* (No. 37)
  39. Dave Alonzo* (No. 81)
  40. Bill Shirey* (No. 74)

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

References
  1. "Weather information for the 1970 Alabama 500". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Archived from the original on 2013-07-01. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  2. "1970 Alabama 500". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on 2013-07-01. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  3. "Track Facts". talladegasuperspeedway.com. Talladega Superspeedway. November 1, 2012. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  4. "1970 Alabama 500 qualifying information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  5. "1970 NASCAR Grand National Recap". HowStuffWorks. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  6. "40 years of Talladega -- Birmingham News special report". The Birmingham News. 2008-10-02. Archived from the original on 2013-07-01. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  7. "MRN Flashback: 1970 Alabama 500". Motor Racing Network. 2013-05-01. Archived from the original on 2013-07-01. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  8. "1970 Alabama 500 crew chief information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  9. "190 mph Fireball!". Cotton Owens Garage. Archived from the original on 2013-09-06. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
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