1960 Daytona 500

1960 Daytona 500
Race details
Race 5 of 44 in the 1960 NASCAR Grand National Series

Track map of Daytona International Speedway showing mainly the speedway.
Date February 14, 1960 (1960-02-14)
Location Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.023 km)
Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (800 km)
Weather Chilly with temperatures reaching as high as 61 °F (16 °C); wind speeds approaching 27 miles per hour (43 km/h)[1]
Average speed 124.74 miles per hour (200.75 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Cotton Owens
Most laps led
Driver Junior Johnson John Masoni
Laps 67
Winner
No. 27 Junior Johnson John Masoni

The 1960 Daytona 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series (now Sprint Cup Series) stock car race that was held on February 14, 1960, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The race featured 200 laps on the 2.5 mile (4 km) asphalt tri-oval, and was won by Junior Johnson.

Gasoline from the Pure Oil brand was offered to each qualifying driver free of charge prior to the race. Even during these times, the fuel sponsor was stressing the importance of safety around flammable liquids by not allowing drivers to smoke while their vehicles were being refueled. Elmo Langley's vehicle was notable seen around the race track at all times; with its mechanical work fine-tuned by owner/mechanic Ratus Walters.[2]

Summary

The race was won by Junior Johnson driving a 1959 Chevrolet owned by John Masoni. Johnson drove the number 27 to victory in just over four hours after starting in the 9th position.[3]

Pre-race

In late January 1960 the CBS network sent anchorman Bud Palmer and other employees to Daytona to cover the events in the first ever televised coverage of a NASCAR event.[4]

Race

Johnson took the lead with nine laps remaining when Bobby Johns spun, and Johnson went on to win the race.[4] The win was Johnson's first victory of the season.[5]

It was also known as being the slowest Daytona 500 race in history.[6]

Legacy

Race winner Junior Johnson went on to achieve multiple accolades in the following years; including being inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990 and being selected as one of NASCAR's 50 Top drivers in 1998. On February 4, 2010 NASCAR announced that Johnson would be Grand Marshal for the 50th anniversary of his 1960 victory.

Part of Johnson's duties as Grand Marshal would be to utter the immortal words "Gentleman, start your engines" at the 52nd running of the Daytona 500 on February 14, 2010.[7]

Official results

The race lasted 4:00:30, with an average speed of 124.74 mph.

  1. Junior Johnson
  2. Bobby Johns
  3. Richard Petty
  4. Lee Petty
  5. Johnny Allen
  6. Ned Jarrett
  7. Curtis Turner
  8. Fred Lorenzen
  9. Rex White
  10. Emanuel Zervakis
  11. Bud Burdick
  12. Tom Pistone
  13. Bob Welborn
  14. Jim Reed
  15. Bob Potter
  16. Darrell Dake
  17. Whitey Gerken
  18. Buck Baker
  19. Banjo Matthews
  20. Shep Langdon
  21. Jimmy Pardue
  22. Larry Frank
  23. Jack Smith
  24. Wilbur Rakestraw
  25. Joe Caspolich
  26. Gene White
  27. Ken Johnson
  28. David Pearson
  29. Gene Marmor
  30. Brownie King
  31. G. C. Spencer
  32. Herman Beam
  33. Reb Wickersham
  34. L.D. Austin
  35. Dick Joslin
  36. Mel Larson
  37. Paul Parks
  38. Arnold Gardner
  39. Herb Tillman
  40. Cotton Owens
  41. Joe Weatherly
  42. Dick Dixon
  43. Roy Tyner
  44. Bob Kosiski
  45. Tommy Herbert
  46. Marvin Panch
  47. Jim Whitman
  48. Johnny Sudderth
  49. Harold Smith
  50. Pappy Crane
  51. Tiny Lund
  52. Elmo Langley
  53. Bill Lutz
  54. Parnelli Jones
  55. George Green
  56. Red Farmer
  57. Fireball Roberts
  58. Bob Duell
  59. Elmo Henderson
  60. Bob Burdick
  61. Dick Foley
  62. Speedy Thompson
  63. Dave Hirschfield
  64. Joe Lee Johnson
  65. Charley Griffith
  66. Burrhead Nantz
  67. Sal Tovella
  68. Dick Freeman

References

  1. ↑ "Weather of the 1960 Daytona 500". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
  2. ↑ "Elmo Langley Buick – 1960 NASCAR Daytona 500". Daytona International Speedway. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  3. ↑ "1960 Daytona 500". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  4. 1 2 Auto editors of Consumer Guide. "1960 NASCAR Grand National Recap". HowStuffWorks, Inc ; Publications International, Ltd. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  5. ↑ Fleischman, Bill; Al Pearce (2004). "Race Results: 1949–2002; 1960". The Unauthorized NASCAR Fan Guide: 2004. 2004 (10 ed.). 43311 Joy Rd. #414, Canton, MI, 48187: Checkered Flag Press; Visible Ink Press. pp. 224 of 576. ISBN 0-681-27587-1.
  6. ↑ Harris, Mike (February 15, 1988). "Bobby Allison outduels his son: Time is third slowest for Daytona 500". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  7. ↑ "1960 Daytona 500 Champion Junior Johnson Named Grand Marshal For 52ND Annual Datona 500". Daytona International Speedway. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
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