September 23, 1973
“Wilkes 400”
Top 5 finishers.....
The pace car used in the 1973 Wilkes 400
It was another exciting battle between Bobby Allison and Richard Petty. Allison made up a full lap with just 47 circuits remaining in the Wilkes 400 and passed Petty coming out of turn 2 on the final lap to win. Petty tried to get back past Allison but nearly lost it in turn 3 as Allison pulled ahead to win by 1.5 seconds. Bobby Allison snapped Richard Petty’s bid to be the first driver to score four consecutive victories at North Wilkesboro. Allison started from the pole with a qualifying lap of 21.303seconds/105.619mph. Allison led 161 laps in the race. Petty started on the outside pole and led the most laps, 222. It was the third 1-2 finish in four years for Allison and Petty at NWS.
Cale Yarborough started fourth and finished 3rd. Yarborough led 8 laps in the race and completed all 400 laps in his Kar-Kare Chevrolet. Yarborough started what was to also be an impressive streak at NWS. It was his first of nine straight top 3 finishes at the speedway—he would finish first or second in his next eight races.
Buddy Baker finished 4th and Benny Parsons was 5th. Baker was the first car one lap down. He started 12th and led 9 laps in the race. Parsons completed 395 laps after starting from the third position.
A reported 16,500 spectators were in the stands. The race lasted 2 hours, 37 minutes, 34 seconds. The caution flag came out twice for nine laps. 25 of the 30 cars entered were running at the finish. The lap leaders were—Allison 1-57, Petty 58-91, Yarborough 92, Baker 93-94, Yarborough 95-101, Allison 102-175, Petty 176-237, Allison 238-248, Baker 249-255, Petty 256-334, Allison 335-352, Petty 353-399, Allison 400. Dean Dalton improved 10 spots over his starting position (29th-19th) during the race—the most by any driver. Some names new to Winston Cup racing at North Wilkesboro in this race included D.K. Ulrich, David Sisco and 26 year old Darrell Waltrip.
More pics.......
Pace lap—Allison and Petty side by side as they were so many times at NWS
Allison (12), Yarborough (11) and Petty (43) racin’ tight thru the turns
Pit stops.......
Cale Yarborough
Benny Parsons
Richard Petty
The finish.......
Bobby Allison waves to the crowd as he captures his second win at North Wilkesboro