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 | ||
| 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 | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | none | ||
| Announcers | none | ||
The 1960 Daytona 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series (now Sprint Cup Series) event that was held on February 14, 1960 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. There were more than 200 laps on the 2.5 mile (4 km) asphalt tri-oval.
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 refuelled. 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.
- Junior Johnson
- Bobby Johns
- Richard Petty
- Lee Petty
- Johnny Allen
- Ned Jarrett
- Curtis Turner
- Fred Lorenzen
- Rex White
- Emanuel Zervakis
- Bud Burdick
- Tom Pistone
- Bob Welborn
- Jim Reed
- Bob Potter
- Darrell Dake
- Whitey Gerken
- Buck Baker
- Banjo Matthews
- Shep Langdon
- Jimmy Pardue
- Larry Frank
- Jack Smith
- Wilbur Rakestraw
- Joe Caspolich
- Gene White
- Ken Johnson
- David Pearson
- Gene Marmor
- Brownie King
- G. C. Spencer
- Herman Beam
- Reb Wickersham
- L.D. Austin
- Dick Joslin
- Mel Larson
- Paul Parks
- Arnold Gardner
- Herb Tillman
- Cotton Owens
- Joe Weatherly
- Dick Dixon
- Roy Tyner
- Bob Kosiski
- Tommy Herbert
- Marvin Panch
- Jim Whitman
- Johnny Sudderth
- Harold Smith
- Pappy Crane
- Tiny Lund
- Elmo Langley
- Bill Lutz
- Parnelli Jones
- George Green
- Red Farmer
- Fireball Roberts
- Bob Duell
- Elmo Henderson
- Bob Burdick
- Dick Foley
- Speedy Thompson
- Dave Hirschfield
- Joe Lee Johnson
- Charley Griffith
- Burrhead Nantz
- Sal Tovella
- Dick Freeman
References
- ↑ "Weather of the 1960 Daytona 500". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
- ↑ "Elmo Langley Buick – 1960 NASCAR Daytona 500". Daytona International Speedway. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
- ↑ "1960 Daytona 500". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- 1 2 Auto editors of Consumer Guide. "1960 NASCAR Grand National Recap". HowStuffWorks, Inc ; Publications International, Ltd. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "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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