Winning Ride

stock car race come to Daytona each year see what Detroit's best can do when the chips are down this Speedway is the fastest toughest Proving Ground in the world for automobiles a track designed to challenge today's cars and tomorrow [Music] the Daytona International Speedway was the dream come true of one man Bill France NASCAR president built at a cost of over $3 million the 2 and2 Mile High Bank Speedway has has accommodations for over a 100,000 fans and a schedule of yearr round events between events the 450 acre Speedway Waits The Pit walls are empty the garages are still but not for long weeks before the racing season starts the clean quiet garages come to line they get their first taste of oil and grease stains feel the weight again of 200 lb men and 4,000 lb cars and the sound of mechanics at work and engines revving fills the low ceiling sheds 3 weeks 2 weeks a week to go before the Big Race under NASCAR regulations for stock car racing only modifications for the safety of the car and driver are permitted but everything has to be right everything has to stay right and the only way to be sure is to get out and run practice [Music] Begins the top drivers in the country are on hand to measure the cars and themselves on this great Speedway Indianapolis winners are here Roger Ward AJ FY Troy Rutman and the fastest qualifier in Indianapolis history Parnelli Jones speeds climb to a fantastic 166 M an hour NASCAR champion Joe weatherley talks it over with Bud Moore his mechanic Freddy Lorenson keeps an eye on the clock and the competition Fireball Roberts last year's winner what will it take this year all former 500 winners are here Junior Johnson Lee Penny now crew chiefer his son Richard all former winners are here that is except Marvin panch a week before the Big Race panch flipped on the track in a sports car and he was pulled to safety by Steve petrasic of Firestone and Tiny lond another driver Marvin pench recovering but not able to drive ask that tiny take his place for the 500 in the Ford number 21 tiny has been racing 18 years without a major win Crew Chief and car owner Glenn wood put it this way we wanted him to drive one thing because Marvin suggested it and uh two you have to have a good driver and uh tiny always uh drove hard and uh we he could do it and a lot of the boys don't make a good show because they don't have a good car a good enough car as Glen wood or any competition driver will tell you has total performance that is built in well I've raced boards ever since I started garage [Music] floor race day and the fans motorists all have come to this great Automotive show from every state in the [Music] Union the competition cars move out of the garage and impound area for fuel and last minute NASCAR inspection the cars are all limited to 22 gon gas tanks and they're going to have to get maximum power and mileage from every gallon and then it's onto the track lining up in the pit area 2 by two an investment of over $1 million ready as they ever will be but something else is here too and it could be trouble a tricky crosswind almost a gale whips across the track does this mean rain or just hazardous running with an apprehensive eye on the weather the drivers and Crews wait for the 1:00 starting time some try to relax and chat some just wait out the time whatever the weather like tiny Lun with my pit crew and and the good automobiles I had I had this chance I mean I never said to anybody how I felt but that was what I told my wife a few minutes before starting time dark rain heavy clouds swoop in over the speedway and it rains hover up and take cover an hour goes by the rain is still coming down harder than ever but then the very wind that was a threat carries the storm away the sky begins to lighten the gusts subside the crowd lets on a roar there will be a [Music] race the cars can be dried off quickly but the track roadway will take a little time too late a start May mean a shortened race Bill France calls the driver meeting to get going the men agree to run the first 10 laps under the caution flag and dry off the track track officials get the word from Bill France and Miss Firebird takes a tour around the track as a signal to the Happy fans that the race will soon be on [Applause] [Music] the cars move on to the course for the caution [Music] [Applause] laps holding their positions and their speed to 90 mph they Circle the track 10 times the pace car pulls away into the pits the green flag [Music] drops and they're off on lap 11 full feet ahead 50 of Detroit's best are on their way Pacs for Chevrolet Mercury pouth Dodges and Chrysler the leaders set a pace of nearly 167 mph power and the field Springs out behind them a 500m race isn't a test of speed alone the winning ride depends on car control and staying power before the race is an hour old the pace takes its [Music] toll Junior Johnson in number three Chevrolet loses a push rod [Music] gold smith and 01 piaac blows his engine in the first 150 Mi the lead changes 12 times Rutherford to number 13 Chevrolet spins on the backstretch cars pit frantically for fuel tires [Music] repair more trouble in the backstretch how does it feel to lose it at 160 mph like nothing in this world time lost or gained in the pit can mean the race with a possible 100 m per tank B Crews plan a total of four quick stops for refueling you're in trouble if you lift the [Music] hood [Music] the grueling afternoon wears on the Grand Sands throw Long Shadows across the track O2 piac loses the wheel at 165 mph AJ fo guides the car into the infield out of [Music] traffic Jim mcer and 05 Pontiac comes into the fifth the hard way at the halfway mark it's it's a new race only 30 cars are left on the track joying for position in high-speed traffic takes all the liveliness and dependability you can get Loren and number 28 Ford challenges Johns and 7A piaac for the lead Ned Jared and number 11 Ford is moving up in third place post behind are Roberts and 22 Pontiac and London 21 Ford Bobby John's father his crew chief has to Prime the engine there's a fire fuel Vapors first into Flame the fire is put out without Serious injury to the car or to Papa John at 350 Mi Lorenson and Jared are running one and [Music] two Roberts and L are drafting in positions three and four drafting saves fuel the second car moves in as close as possible to the car in front and is pulled Along by the vacuum bumper to- bumper the first car pulling the second pushing at 392 Mi the leaders make their fourth Pit Stop they've been averaging only 98 m per tank full because of the terrific speeds they have 108 M to go all pit except tiny L who keeps [Music] going Lorenson Roars away after tining Jarrett gets out of the pit in a hurry no matter what kind of driving you do you need acceleration to merge safely with traffic three precious laps 7 and 1/2 miles later tiny pits and gives up the lead to Loren and Jared tiny hasn't changed the tire in four pit stops a terrific tribute to the total performance of his Equipment Tires suspension brakes precise steering he's away in half a [Music] minute for the last 100 miles it's Loreno number 28 Ford Jarrett number 11 Ford Lun 21 Ford all out in front in fourth and fifth it's Nelson Stacy number 29 Ford and Dan gurny number zero Ford it's a battle of the Ford only 18 mil from the Checker clag Lorenson the leader is pitting he's coming in for [Music] gas a 9-second pit stop some service station tiny lond is now riding in first Jarrett is drafting in second Jarrett's team worries his tank must be empty he's gone 100 miles since his last [Music] stop Lorenson is 24 seconds behind London Jarrett three laps to go and it's Jarrett pitting for gas streaking past LUN crew who sense [Music] Victory 10 seconds 15 seconds let's go Jared a man in a hurry tiny lond has a firm hold on first place if his fuel will hold [Music] out it's a strange feeling when you see you're that close to Victory a race that big and then uh with one lap to go all I could do is I just hoped that uh I wouldn't run out of gas and I think I said a prayer or two in that last lap and I made it the checkered flag for tiny lung the man who got his chance and came through just to prove it wasn't luck Fords also finished second third fourth and fifth the crowd haes a tremendous victory for the driver and his fast back forward tiny Wheels into the winner [Applause] circle his wife greets him along with other admiring fans the crew joins him in the winter Circle for the glory of getting home first and the biggest purse ever offered in a stock car race a share of their winnings has been allotted to Marvin pant by both tiny and Glenn wood win this race race and he did it's been a long but memorable day for the drivers the crews and the fans one that will not soon be forgotten the fifth annual Daytona 500 a race that had everything Wind and Rain heart and hard driv and performance and endurance of cars Prov in [Music] competition