1970 American 500

Race report

Twenty thousand people watched Cale Yarborough win the race which lasted 4 hours, 14 minutes, and 24 seconds. The average speed was 117.811 mi/h while the pole speed was 136.496 mi/h. There were seven cautions that lasted for forty-six laps and the margin of victory was four seconds. As the penultimate race in NASCAR's Grand National era, this race was crucial for people wanting to win the 1970 NASCAR Grand National Championship. Bobby Isaac finished the race in 7th place, good enough for him to clinch the championship.

492 laps were completed on the paved oval track spanning 1.017 mi. The winner's purse was $20,445 ($ when adjusted for inflation) while last place (40th) paid $540 ($ when adjusted for inflation). Drivers who were eliminated from the race had to deal with engine problems, crashes, transmission problems, and problems with their fan pulley (in addition to their rear end). Pete Hamilton would drive in his final race for Petty Enterprises here while Cale Yarborough would complete his final race for the Wood Brothers. Future winning team owner Hoss Ellington would retire from driving after this race. Cale Yarborough would eventually transfer himself to the USAC Indy Car Series in 1971.

Notable crew chiefs in this race included Herb Nab, Junie Donlavey, Harry Hyde, Dale Inman, Maurice Petty, Tom Vandiver and Banjo Matthews.

Qualifying

Failed to qualify: Dick Poling (#65), Roy Mayne (#46)

Finishing order

Section reference:

1. Cale Yarborough Ford
2. David Pearson Mercury
3. Bobby Allison
4. Donnie Allison
5. Buddy Baker
6. Richard Petty
7. Bobby Isaac
8. James Hylton
9. Friday Hassler
10. Buddy Young
11. Joe Frasson
12. Neil Castles
13. Elmo Langley
14. Jabe Thomas
15. Pete Hamilton*
16. Jim Vandiver
17. Ben Arnold
18. J.D. McDuffie
19. Raymond Williams
20. Wendell Scott*
21. Cecil Gordon
22. Johnny Halford
23. Roy Mayne
24. Larry Baumel
25. Bill Champion*
26. Frank Warren
27. Hoss Ellington*
28. Henley Gray
29. LeeRoy Yarbrough*
30. John Sears*
31. Charlie Glotzbach*
32. Dave Marcis*
33. Benny Parsons*
34. Bill Seifert*
35. Tiny Lund*
36. Bill Shirey*
37. Bill Dennis*
38. Roy Tyner*
39. Dick Brooks*
40. Buddy Arrington* ** Driver failed to finish race*

Timeline

Section reference:

|rowStyle-bordertop=solid 0.1em black |rowStyle-color=lightgrey |rowStyle-texttop=0.6em

|row1-style=rowStyle |row1-1-to=1 |row1-2-colour=white |row1-2-text= Charlie Glotzbach |row1-2-to= 81 |row1-3-to=492

|row2-style=rowStyle |row2-1-to=82 |row2-2-colour=white |row2-2-text= Cale Yarborough |row2-2-to= 85 |row2-3-to=492

|row3-style=rowStyle |row3-1-to=86 |row3-2-colour=white |row3-2-text= David Pearson |row3-2-to= 188 |row3-3-to=492

|row4-style=rowStyle |row4-1-to=189 |row4-2-colour=white |row4-2-text= Cale Yarborough |row4-2-to= 190 |row4-3-to=492

|row5-style=rowStyle |row5-1-to=191 |row5-2-colour=white |row5-2-text= David Pearson |row5-2-to= 255 |row5-3-to=492

|row6-style=rowStyle |row6-1-to=256 |row6-2-colour=white |row6-2-text= LeeRoy Yarborough |row6-2-to= 256 |row6-3-to=492

|row7-style=rowStyle |row7-1-to=257 |row7-2-colour=white |row7-2-text= Richard Petty |row7-2-to= 280 |row7-3-to=492

|row8-style=rowStyle |row8-1-to=281 |row8-2-colour=white |row8-2-text= Cale Yarborough |row8-2-to= 282 |row8-3-to=492

|row9-style=rowStyle |row9-1-to=283 |row9-2-colour=white |row9-2-text= LeeRoy Yarbrough |row9-2-to= 283 |row9-3-to=492

|row10-style=rowStyle |row10-1-to=284 |row10-2-colour=white |row10-2-text= Cale Yarborough |row10-2-to= 325 |row10-3-to=492

|row11-style=rowStyle |row11-1-to=326 |row11-2-colour=white |row11-2-text= David Pearson |row11-2-to= 329 |row11-3-to=492

|row12-style=rowStyle |row12-1-to=330 |row12-2-colour=white |row12-2-text= Cale Yarborough |row12-2-to= 441 |row12-3-to=492

|row13-style=rowStyle |row13-1-to=442 |row13-2-colour=white |row13-2-text= David Pearson |row13-2-to= 449 |row13-3-to=492

|row14-style=rowStyle |row14-1-to=450 |row14-2-colour=white |row14-2-text= Cale Yarborough |row14-2-to= 492 |row14-3-to=492

References

before = 1970 Georgia 500 | after = 1970 Tidewater 300| title = NASCAR Grand National Season| years = 1970 |

References

1. "1970 American 500 weather information". The Old Farmers' Almanac.
2. "1970 American 500 information". Racing Reference.
3. (15 January 2016). "Dodge Daytona and Plymouth Superbird".
4. [http://www.race-database.com/results/results.php?year=1970&race=47&series_id=2 Retirements from NASCAR] at Race Database
5. "Cale Yarborough's post-race decision". How Stuff Works (Auto).
6. "1970 American 500 crew chief information". Racing Reference.
7. "1970 American 500 qualifying information". Racing Reference.