1966 in NASCAR
Encyclopedia
1966 in NASCAR evolved into the first of three NASCAR
Grand National championships for David Pearson, whose 15 wins through the season was second only to Tim Flock
's 18 victories in 1955
at that time. NASCAR allowed the return of the Chrysler Hemi engine
in 1966, and at the same time Ford decided to boycott NASCAR for the season. Pearson captured the championship with 35,638 points over second place James Hylton
who finished the season with no wins, but 33,638 points for his consistency and efforts.
's withdrawal from the series, and NASCAR allowing Chrysler
drivers to run the Hemi engine. While Ford's departure had the effect of lowering attendance, the strong Hemi engine coupled with reduced competition meant that Chrysler drivers were particularly successful during the season. David Pearson in his Dodge
s took a total of 15 victories, Richard Petty
in his Plymouth
captured another 8, and Paul Goldsmith
, Jim Paschal
, Earl Balmer, LeeRoy Yarbrough
, Jim Hurtubise
, Marvin Panch
, Paul Lewis, and Sam McQuagg
all reached pole position in MoPar
powered equipment. By the end of the 1966 NASCAR season, Chrysler vehicles drove to victory lane a total of 34 times in 49 events, after winning only six races in the 1965 season
. Pearson, nicknamed "The Silver Fox", won his 15 events in 42 starts that season with a total of 35,638 points over second place Hylton (33,688 points), and 1964 season champion Richard Petty (22,952 points). While newcomer Hylton was unable to win an event in 1966, his 20 top five finishes, and 32 top ten finishes earned him not only second place in the point standings, but NASCAR Rookie of the Year
honors as well. When the season was concluded Dodge won the "NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship
" with 310 points over Plymouth (277 points) and third place Ford (261 points).
where Dan Gurney
took the checkered flag in a 1965 Ford. After the January 23rd Riverside event, the drivers and teams traveled to Daytona International Speedway
in Florida for the 1966 Daytona 500
. Paul Goldsmith and Early Balmer took the qualifying events, while Richard Petty notched his first and only Daytona 500 pole position. Petty came from two laps down during the competition to win by more than a full lap when the race was halted 2 laps shy of scheduled 500 miles (804.7 km) mile event due to thunderstorms. In March Paul Goldsmith won at Rockingham Speedway, Dick Hutcherson at Bristol
, and Jim Hurtubise captured the checkered flag at Atlanta Motor Speedway
. Hutcherson's victory at Bristol was by more than 4 laps over the closest competitor, Paul Lewis, when crashes and attrition left only seven cars of the 38 starters running at the end of the Southeastern 500 (now known as Food City 500
. On April 3, Pearson finally found his way to victory lane in the first of four consecutive victories at Hickory Motor Speedway
. He followed up with wins at Columbia Speedway
, Greenville
, and Winston-Salem
, before Jim Paschal broke his streak at North Wilksboro
and repeated at Martinsville Speedway
. On May 7, Richard Petty started a string of three consecutive wins at Darlington Raceway
, Hampton, and Macon. After Ford's announcement of their boycott of NASCAR on April 7, only 2.500 fans attend the May 13th event in which Darel Dieringer
captures the win at Monroe in a 125 miles (201.2 km) contest.
Even though Ford had withdrawn their financial support from NASCAR in April, the series opened June at Spartanburg, S.C. with a resounding domination of the event by Ford vehicles. The Fords lead every lap of the 100 miles (160.9 km) event, and Elmo Langley found victory lane at the 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) venue when promoters refused to allow the Chrysler cars to run; because of the Ford boycott. Pearson then won a 100 miles (160.9 km) event at Maryville, followed by another Petty victory at Weaverville. Tiny Lund
broke into the winners circle at Beltsville, and Pearson notched another checkered flag at the Greenville in his 1964 Dodge to close out the month of June.
On July 4
, 1966 the fans, drivers, and teams returned to Daytona for the Firecracker 400 (now Coke Zero 400
), and second year driver Sam McQuagg drove his Dodge 400 miles (643.7 km) to capture his first NASCAR win. McQuaggs Dodge Charger
was equipped with an aluminum strip attached to the decklid
of his car, and the rear spoiler
makes its debut in NASCAR racing. The following weekend NASCAR legend Bobby Allison
drives 100 miles (160.9 km) to victory lane in Oxford, Maine. The win is Allison's first major NASCAR win, and Cheverolet's first visit to victory circle since October 13, 1963. Pearson grabbed another win the following week at Fonda Speedway in New York, and Allison captured a second win at Islip NY. Paul Goldsmith and Paul Lewis garnered wins at Bristol and Maryville respectively, and Richard Petty closed out the month of July with a win at Nashville.
NASCAR started the month of August at the Atlanta International Raceway, but not without controversy. David Pearson was disqualified from the Dixie 400 prior to the start of the race; with the explication that his Dodge was illegal. Fred Lorenzen was allowed to run, even though it was determined that some of the aerodynamic enhancements made to his Junior Johnson Ford were not approved. NASCAR Bill France admitted that the "rules were bent" in order to lure Ford back to competition. Petty won the event over second place finisher Buddy Baker, with Wendell Scott
taking the seventh place finish and the highest for the Ford drivers in the 400 miles (643.7 km) event at the 1.5 miles (2.4 km) paved venue in Atlanta. Pearson returned to the track, and victory lane for the twelfth time in 1966 at the next event on August 18 at Columbia; an event that witnessed driver Curtis Turner
finish third while wearing a three-piece business suit as a promotion for his sponsor Holly Farms
. Turner said they: "wanted me to wear a suit, but they didn't specify what kind. So I wore my best." Darel Dieringer won the next event at Weaverville in his 1966 Mercury, followed by another win by Allison at Beltsville. Pearson got another victory to finish off the month of August at Winston-Salem.
The first event of September was held at Darlington, and Darel Dieringer roped in the victory in his 1966 Mercury. Pearson gathered up another two wins at Hickory and Richmond
in the following events, followed by Hutcherson's win at Hillsboro on the 18th. The last September event was held at Martinsville, and the record books show that Lorenzen won the event. The Martinsville race was noteworthy in its final outcome, due to a controversy once again. Originally Lorenzen was declared the winner; but, he was disqualified for having a fuel tank larger than the rules permitted. Three days after the event, NASCAR restored Lorenzen's victory with the justification that the fuel tank was purchased from Firestone, and thus within the spirit of the rules.
The final three events of the 1966 NASCAR season held in October were won by Dick Hutcherson, LeeRoy Yarbrough
, and Fred Lorenzen winning the season finale. Hutcherson won at North Wilkesboro, Yarbrough at Charlotte, and Lorenzen took the final victory at Rockingham. The 500 miles (804.7 km) Rockingham event was filled with popular drivers, and proved to be the final race for 2 legends of the sport. Both Ned Jarrett
, and Junior Johnson
made their final appearances as drivers at the event. Jarrett finished third, and Johnson came home in a respectful fifth place finish on October 30, 1966
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Grand National championships for David Pearson, whose 15 wins through the season was second only to Tim Flock
Tim Flock
Julius Timothy Flock was one of NASCAR's early pioneers, and a two time series champion. He was a brother to NASCAR's second female driver Ethel Mobley and NASCAR pioneers Bob Flock and Fonty Flock.- NASCAR career :...
's 18 victories in 1955
1955 in NASCAR
The 1955 NASCAR Grand National Season began on November 7, 1954 and ended on October 30, 1955. Even though the season was resolved in the course of two different years, all NASCAR personnel were allowed to have their traditional two-month silly season that traditionally comes between mid-November...
at that time. NASCAR allowed the return of the Chrysler Hemi engine
Chrysler Hemi engine
The Chrysler Hemi engine, known by the trademark Hemi, is a series of V8 engines built by Chrysler with a hemispherical combustion chamber. Three different types of Hemi engines have been built by Chrysler for automobiles: the first from 1951–1958, the second from 1964–1971, and the third...
in 1966, and at the same time Ford decided to boycott NASCAR for the season. Pearson captured the championship with 35,638 points over second place James Hylton
James Hylton
James Harvey Hylton is a part-time race car driver. He is a two-time winner in NASCAR and competes in the ARCA RE/MAX Series,finishing 16th in points in 2006. He made headlines while attempting to qualify for the 2007 Daytona 500 at age 72...
who finished the season with no wins, but 33,638 points for his consistency and efforts.
1966 Season Recap
The 1966 NASCAR season was affected by FordFord Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
's withdrawal from the series, and NASCAR allowing Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
drivers to run the Hemi engine. While Ford's departure had the effect of lowering attendance, the strong Hemi engine coupled with reduced competition meant that Chrysler drivers were particularly successful during the season. David Pearson in his Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
s took a total of 15 victories, Richard Petty
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
in his Plymouth
Plymouth (automobile)
Plymouth was a marque of automobile based in the United States, produced by the Chrysler Corporation and its successor DaimlerChrysler.-Origins:...
captured another 8, and Paul Goldsmith
Paul Goldsmith
Paul Goldsmith is a motorcycle Hall of Famer, Motorsports Hall of Fame of America inductee and former USAC and NASCAR driver.- Motorcycle career :...
, Jim Paschal
Jim Paschal
James Roy "Jim" Paschal, Jr. was a NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup driver. He won twenty-five races and twelve poles over his career. Elected to the "Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame" in 1977, he won the World 600 in 1964 and the 1967 Charlotte Motor Speedway...
, Earl Balmer, LeeRoy Yarbrough
LeeRoy Yarbrough
Lonnie "LeeRoy" Yarbrough was a NASCAR racer. His best season was 1969 when he won seven races, tallied 21 finishes in the top-ten and earned $193,211...
, Jim Hurtubise
Jim Hurtubise
In 1957, Hurtubise started his NASCAR career running two races. Over the next twenty years, he would race 36 races, winning one race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and amassing eleven top ten finishes.-Award:...
, Marvin Panch
Marvin Panch
Marvin Panch Marvin Panch Marvin Panch (born May 28, 1926, in Menomonie, Wisconsin, is a former NASCAR driver.-Early career:He started his racing career as a car owner in Oakland, California. One week, his driver did not show up, and he raced the car to a third place finish...
, Paul Lewis, and Sam McQuagg
Sam McQuagg
Samuel "Sam" McQuagg was an American former NASCAR Rookie of the Year driver. He died of cancer on January 3, 2009 at the age of 73...
all reached pole position in MoPar
Mopar
Mopar is the automobile parts and service arm of Chrysler Group LLC. The term was first used by Chrysler in the 1920s and has been in continuous use ever since. Mopar parts are original equipment manufactured parts for Chrysler vehicles...
powered equipment. By the end of the 1966 NASCAR season, Chrysler vehicles drove to victory lane a total of 34 times in 49 events, after winning only six races in the 1965 season
1965 in NASCAR
1965 in NASCAR was a year that contained many changes. Due to the increasing speeds of the cars, and the concerns for safety, NASCAR outlawed the Chrysler hemi engine. Chrysler responded by withdrawing their support, and drivers like Richard Petty, David Pearson, Paul Goldsmith, Bobby Isaac were...
. Pearson, nicknamed "The Silver Fox", won his 15 events in 42 starts that season with a total of 35,638 points over second place Hylton (33,688 points), and 1964 season champion Richard Petty (22,952 points). While newcomer Hylton was unable to win an event in 1966, his 20 top five finishes, and 32 top ten finishes earned him not only second place in the point standings, but NASCAR Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Rookie of the Year
The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year....
honors as well. When the season was concluded Dodge won the "NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship
NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship
The NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship is awarded by NASCAR to the most successful manufacturer over a season, as determined by a points system based on race results. The Constructors' Championship was first awarded in 1952, to Hudson....
" with 310 points over Plymouth (277 points) and third place Ford (261 points).
The Races
The 1966 NASCAR season opened at Augusta Speedway on November 14, 1965 with Richard Petty winning the season opening event in a 1965 Plymouth. NASCAR then ventured to Riverside International RacewayRiverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway was a race track or road course in Riverside, California. The track was in operation from September 22, 1957, to July 2, 1989...
where Dan Gurney
Dan Gurney
Daniel Sexton Gurney is an American racing driver, race car constructor, and team owner.The son of a Metropolitan Opera star, he was born in Port Jefferson, New York, but moved to California as a teenager...
took the checkered flag in a 1965 Ford. After the January 23rd Riverside event, the drivers and teams traveled to Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
in Florida for the 1966 Daytona 500
1966 Daytona 500
The 1966 Daytona 500 was won by Richard Petty driving a 1966 Plymouth on February 27, 1966. Petty drove his number 43 to victory in just over three hours after starting the race on the pole. There were four caution flags which slowed the race for 22 laps. Petty came from two laps down to win the...
. Paul Goldsmith and Early Balmer took the qualifying events, while Richard Petty notched his first and only Daytona 500 pole position. Petty came from two laps down during the competition to win by more than a full lap when the race was halted 2 laps shy of scheduled 500 miles (804.7 km) mile event due to thunderstorms. In March Paul Goldsmith won at Rockingham Speedway, Dick Hutcherson at Bristol
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
, and Jim Hurtubise captured the checkered flag at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
. Hutcherson's victory at Bristol was by more than 4 laps over the closest competitor, Paul Lewis, when crashes and attrition left only seven cars of the 38 starters running at the end of the Southeastern 500 (now known as Food City 500
Food City 500
The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races...
. On April 3, Pearson finally found his way to victory lane in the first of four consecutive victories at Hickory Motor Speedway
Hickory Motor Speedway
Hickory Motor Speedway is a short track located in Hickory, North Carolina. It is one of stock car racing's most storied venues, and is often referred to as "The World's Most Famous Short Track" and the "Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars"....
. He followed up with wins at Columbia Speedway
Columbia Speedway
Columbia Speedway was an oval racetrack located in Cayce, a suburb of Columbia, South Carolina. It was the site of auto races for NASCAR's top series from 1951 through 1971. For most of its history, the racing surface was dirt. The races in April and August 1970 were two of the final three Grand...
, Greenville
Greenville-Pickens Speedway
Greenville-Pickens Speedway is a race track located in Pickens County, South Carolina, just west of Greenville, South Carolina, USA, and just east of Easley, South Carolina. The track hosts weekly NASCAR sanctioned races. Several touring series visit the track each year, including the Whelen...
, and Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
, before Jim Paschal broke his streak at North Wilksboro
North Wilkesboro Speedway
North Wilkesboro Speedway was a short track that held races in NASCAR's top three series from NASCAR's inception in 1949 until its closure in 1996...
and repeated at Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
. On May 7, Richard Petty started a string of three consecutive wins at Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...
, Hampton, and Macon. After Ford's announcement of their boycott of NASCAR on April 7, only 2.500 fans attend the May 13th event in which Darel Dieringer
Darel Dieringer
Darel Dieringer was a NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver.-Summary:...
captures the win at Monroe in a 125 miles (201.2 km) contest.
Even though Ford had withdrawn their financial support from NASCAR in April, the series opened June at Spartanburg, S.C. with a resounding domination of the event by Ford vehicles. The Fords lead every lap of the 100 miles (160.9 km) event, and Elmo Langley found victory lane at the 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) venue when promoters refused to allow the Chrysler cars to run; because of the Ford boycott. Pearson then won a 100 miles (160.9 km) event at Maryville, followed by another Petty victory at Weaverville. Tiny Lund
Tiny Lund
DeWayne Louis "Tiny" Lund was a NASCAR driver. He was ironically nicknamed "Tiny" due to his rather large and imposing size.-Background:...
broke into the winners circle at Beltsville, and Pearson notched another checkered flag at the Greenville in his 1964 Dodge to close out the month of June.
On July 4
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
, 1966 the fans, drivers, and teams returned to Daytona for the Firecracker 400 (now Coke Zero 400
Coke Zero 400
The Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona is a 160 lap, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held annually, beginning in 1959, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida; the second major stock car event held at Daytona on the Sprint Cup circuit...
), and second year driver Sam McQuagg drove his Dodge 400 miles (643.7 km) to capture his first NASCAR win. McQuaggs Dodge Charger
Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger is an American automobile manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler. There have been several different Dodge vehicles, built on three different platforms and sizes, all bearing the Charger nameplate...
was equipped with an aluminum strip attached to the decklid
Decklid
The decklid is the cover over the trunk/boot of motor vehicles that allows access to the main storage or luggage compartment...
of his car, and the rear spoiler
Spoiler (automotive)
A spoiler is an automotive aerodynamic device whose intended design function is to 'spoil' unfavorable air movement across a body of a vehicle in motion. Spoilers on the front of a vehicle are often called air dams, because in addition to directing air flow they also reduce the amount of air...
makes its debut in NASCAR racing. The following weekend NASCAR legend Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
drives 100 miles (160.9 km) to victory lane in Oxford, Maine. The win is Allison's first major NASCAR win, and Cheverolet's first visit to victory circle since October 13, 1963. Pearson grabbed another win the following week at Fonda Speedway in New York, and Allison captured a second win at Islip NY. Paul Goldsmith and Paul Lewis garnered wins at Bristol and Maryville respectively, and Richard Petty closed out the month of July with a win at Nashville.
NASCAR started the month of August at the Atlanta International Raceway, but not without controversy. David Pearson was disqualified from the Dixie 400 prior to the start of the race; with the explication that his Dodge was illegal. Fred Lorenzen was allowed to run, even though it was determined that some of the aerodynamic enhancements made to his Junior Johnson Ford were not approved. NASCAR Bill France admitted that the "rules were bent" in order to lure Ford back to competition. Petty won the event over second place finisher Buddy Baker, with Wendell Scott
Wendell Scott
Wendell Oliver Scott was an American stock car racing driver from Danville, Virginia. He is the only black driver to win a race in what is now the Sprint Cup Series. According to a 2008 biography of Scott, he broke the color barrier in Southern stock car racing on May 23, 1952, at the Danville...
taking the seventh place finish and the highest for the Ford drivers in the 400 miles (643.7 km) event at the 1.5 miles (2.4 km) paved venue in Atlanta. Pearson returned to the track, and victory lane for the twelfth time in 1966 at the next event on August 18 at Columbia; an event that witnessed driver Curtis Turner
Curtis Turner
Curtis Turner was an early NASCAR driver. In addition to his success in racing, he made a fortune, lost it, and remade it buying and selling timberlands. Throughout his life he developed a reputation for drinking and partying...
finish third while wearing a three-piece business suit as a promotion for his sponsor Holly Farms
Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods, Inc. is a multinational corporation based in Springdale, Arkansas, that operates in the food industry. The company is the world's second largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork only behind Brazilian JBS S.A., and annually exports the largest percentage of beef out of...
. Turner said they: "wanted me to wear a suit, but they didn't specify what kind. So I wore my best." Darel Dieringer won the next event at Weaverville in his 1966 Mercury, followed by another win by Allison at Beltsville. Pearson got another victory to finish off the month of August at Winston-Salem.
The first event of September was held at Darlington, and Darel Dieringer roped in the victory in his 1966 Mercury. Pearson gathered up another two wins at Hickory and Richmond
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series...
in the following events, followed by Hutcherson's win at Hillsboro on the 18th. The last September event was held at Martinsville, and the record books show that Lorenzen won the event. The Martinsville race was noteworthy in its final outcome, due to a controversy once again. Originally Lorenzen was declared the winner; but, he was disqualified for having a fuel tank larger than the rules permitted. Three days after the event, NASCAR restored Lorenzen's victory with the justification that the fuel tank was purchased from Firestone, and thus within the spirit of the rules.
The final three events of the 1966 NASCAR season held in October were won by Dick Hutcherson, LeeRoy Yarbrough
LeeRoy Yarbrough
Lonnie "LeeRoy" Yarbrough was a NASCAR racer. His best season was 1969 when he won seven races, tallied 21 finishes in the top-ten and earned $193,211...
, and Fred Lorenzen winning the season finale. Hutcherson won at North Wilkesboro, Yarbrough at Charlotte, and Lorenzen took the final victory at Rockingham. The 500 miles (804.7 km) Rockingham event was filled with popular drivers, and proved to be the final race for 2 legends of the sport. Both Ned Jarrett
Ned Jarrett
Ned Jarrett is a retired race car driver and two-time NASCAR champion.Jarrett was best known for his calm demeanor, and he became known as "Gentleman Ned Jarrett", yet he was an intense competitor when he put his two hands on the steering wheel of a NASCAR Grand National stock car...
, and Junior Johnson
Junior Johnson
Robert Glenn Johnson, Jr. , better known as Junior Johnson, is a retired moonshiner in the rural South who became one of the early superstars of NASCAR in the 1950s and 1960s. He won 50 NASCAR races in his career before retiring in 1966...
made their final appearances as drivers at the event. Jarrett finished third, and Johnson came home in a respectful fifth place finish on October 30, 1966
1966 Season Statistics
| Finish | Driver | Races | Wins | Poles | Top 5 | Top 10 | Laps Led | Points | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 42 | 15 | 7 | 26 | 33 | 3174 | 35638 | $78,194 | |
| 2 | 41 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 32 | 155 | 33688 | $38,722 | |
| 3 | 39 | 8 | 15 | 20 | 22 | 2924 | 22952 | $94,666 | |
| 4 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 22468 | $21,901 | |
| 5 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 452 | 22078 | $54,609 | |
| 6 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 21702 | $23,052 | |
| 7 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 30 | 74 | 21432 | $25,191 | |
| 8 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 32 | 21208 | $18,653 | |
| 9 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 20446 | $19,034 | |
| 10 | 33 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 714 | 19910 | $23,419 | |
| 11 | 47 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 20 | 308 | 19116 | $22,455 | |
| 12 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 515 | 18214 | $52,529 | |
| 13 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 167 | 17616 | $23,254 | |
| 14 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 759 | 16404 | $30,984 | |
| 15 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 175 | 16068 | $29,529 | |
| 16 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 14 | 67 | 15352 | $17,826 | |
| 17 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 183 | 15308 | $38,431 | |
| 18 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 252 | 15188 | $28,130 | |
| 19 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 15028 | $26,721 | |
| 20 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 14856 | $13,221 | |
| 21 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 14504 | $14,900 | |
| 22 | 41 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 142 | 14302 | $21,335 | |
| 23 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 782 | 12454 | $37,305 | |
| 24 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 385 | 12266 | $16,920 | |
| 25 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 11074 | $10,390 |
See also
- 1966 Myers Brothers 2501966 Myers Brothers 250The 1966 Myers Brothers 250 was a NASCAR Grand National Series race that took place on August 27, 1966 at Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.-Summary:...
- 1966 Daytona 5001966 Daytona 500The 1966 Daytona 500 was won by Richard Petty driving a 1966 Plymouth on February 27, 1966. Petty drove his number 43 to victory in just over three hours after starting the race on the pole. There were four caution flags which slowed the race for 22 laps. Petty came from two laps down to win the...