October 5, 1969
“Wilkes 400”
Top 5 finishers.....
The Silver Fox started on the outside pole. His qualifying time was 21.365 seconds, a speed of 105.312. After leading just 5 laps in the race, David Pearson took the checkered flag 2 hours, 40 minutes, 32 seconds after the green flag opened the race. It was Pearson’s second career victory at NWS. It was career win number 57 for Pearson.
Finishing second was Richard Petty. “King” started from the third position with a qualifying lap of 21.367/105.303mph. “King’s” qualifying time was 2-one thousandths behind Pearson’s time and he finished one car length behind Pearson at the end of the race. Petty led 270 laps. I don’t have any specifics on what took place in the closing laps, but based on those numbers, I’ll bet it was unforgettable.
Bobby Isaac led 121 laps in the race and finished 3rd, one lap off the pace. Isaac started the race from the pole. His qualifying lap was 21.22/106.032. At the time, it was the record time for the “Wilkes 400”, but not the overall qualifying record which was also owned by Isaac. It was Isaac’s second consecutive pole at NWS……remember that.
LeeRoy Yarbrough recorded yet another top five finish at NWS. He drove the Junior Johnson owned Ford to a 4th place finish. Yarbrough started sixth with a qualifying lap of 21.621 seconds. He completed 397 of the 400 laps. Yarbrough was the first driver to break the 180mph barrier while at Daytona in 1965.
Buddy Baker finished 5th, four laps down. Baker’s qualifying time of 21.525 put him fourth on the starting grid. Baker led 4 laps in the race. Baker’s driving style earned him the nickname of “Leadfoot” among his fellow drivers.
30 cars entered the race—the maximum allowed at NWS at the time. A unique qualifying format had been in place for the last several races. On day one, the top fastest qualifiers filled the top 8 starting spots. On day two, the remaining cars qualified (or re-qualifyied) and the top 12 speeds filled starting spots 9 thru 20. From there, the remaining cars (if over 10) ran a 20 lap qualifying race. The top 10 in that race filled spots 21 thru 30. Drivers who failed to make the race were listed as “alternates” and would be called on should a previous qualified driver not end up racing. This unique format lasted many years.
The race lead changed 6 times between four different drivers. There were 3 cautions for 23 laps. Cecil Gordon was the biggest mover in the race. He gained 11 spots, moving from a starting spot of 26th to a finish of 15th. The race would also be the last NWS race for NASCAR journeyman Roy Tyner. Known as “The Flyin’ Indian” because of his Native American heritage, Tyner raced in 11 Grand National races at NWS and had two top ten finishes. His best finish at the track was in the spring of 1960 when he finished 7th, the first car off the lead lap.