This Week in NASCAR History: June 8-14
by Tom Jensen June 08, 2020
Richard Petty, David Pearson and the Wood Brothers among the sport’s big winners.
Richard Petty won 16 races in 1968. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images.
June 8, 1968
In a dominating performance truly worthy of “The King,” Hall of Famer Richard Petty (2010) collected $1,200 when he led 159 of 160 laps to defeat fellow Hall of Famer Bobby Isaac (2016) at the 0.625-mile Fairgrounds Raceway oval in Birmingham, Alabama. It was one of Petty’s 16 victories that season.
David Pearson’s first championship came driving for Cotton Owens. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images.
June 9, 1966
A pair of Hall of Famers teamed up to win the East Tennessee 200 at Smoky Mountain Raceway in Maryville. David Pearson (2011) drove a Dodge owned by Cotton Owens (2013) to a convincing victory, leading 128 of 200 laps to finish 2 laps ahead of Buck Baker (2013) and take the $1,000 winner’s share. Pearson would go on to win the first of his three premier series championships that year.
Fred Lorenzen was Holman-Moody Racing’s lead driver. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images.
June 10, 1962
Holman-Moody Racing, one of NASCAR’s first superteams, received strong factory support from Ford Motor Co. In the Atlanta 500 at Atlanta International Raceway, the team and its Hall of Fame driver Fred Lorenzen (2015) picked up $15,555 for scoring the victory over Banjo Matthews and Bobby Johns.
As a rookie, Denny Hamlin swept both Pocono races from the pole. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images.
June 11, 2006
Driving for Hall of Fame team owner Joe Gibbs (2020), rookie Denny Hamlin claimed his first career premier series victory by capturing the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway. In his first visit to the 2.5-mile, three-turn Pennsylvania track, Hamlin qualified on the pole and led 83 of 200 laps, with the victory paying $220,100. Hamlin also went on to prevail in the July Pocono race from the pole.
Rusty Wallace enjoyed great success on road courses. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images.
June 12, 1988
The Budweiser 400, the 48th and final premier series race on the 2.62-mile Riverside International Raceway road course in Southern California saw a pair of Hall of Famers sweep the top two positions, with Rusty Wallace (2013) edging Terry Labonte (2016) to claim the $49,100 first-place prize for himself and the Blue Max Racing team.
Marvin Panch and the Wood Brothers were an excellent combination. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images.
June 13, 1965
Driving for the Wood Brothers Racing team founded by Hall of Famers Glen Wood (2012) and his brother Leonard (2013), Marvin Panch wheeled the No. 21 Ford to a victory at Atlanta International Raceway ahead of Darel Dieringer and his Mercury, which was fielded by Hall of Famer Bud Moore (2011). Panch’s victory was worth $12,300.
Alan Kulwicki’s Pocono-winning car is on display at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images.
June 14, 1992
The fifth and final race win of Hall of Famer Alan Kulwicki’s (2019) career came in the Champion Spark Plug 500 at Pocono Raceway. The $74,255 winner’s share of the purse came in handy for Kulwicki and his small team. Kulwicki’s Pocono race-winning car is now on display on the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Glory Road.
Plan your visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and purchase tickets by visiting nascarhall.com/tickets.
