1970 Greenville 200
Encyclopedia
The 1970 Greenville 200 was a NASCAR
Grand National Series racing event that took place on June 27, 1970 at Greenville-Pickens Speedway
in the American
community of Greenville
, South Carolina
. The series is now referred to as the Sprint Cup Series.
defeat Bobby Allison
by ½ of a lap. The pole position was earned by the eventual race winner with a qualifying speed of 82.372 mi/h while the average speed of the race was 74.345 mi/h. It took one hour and thirty-three seconds for the race to reach its conclusion. All twenty-nine competitors were born in the United States of America
with no foreign-born drivers unlike today. Notable drivers in the field included: Richard Petty
, Benny Parsons
, Elmo Langley
(died of a heart attack after driving the pace car at an exhibition race in Japan), Roy Tyner
(murdered in his vehicle), and J.D. McDuffie
(killed after colliding with turn 5 at the 1991 Budweiser At The Glen race at Watkins Glen International
).
The winner's purse was considered to be $1,500 ($ in today's money).
† signifies that the driver is known to be deceased
* Driver failed to finish race
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 Series racing event that took place on June 27, 1970 at Greenville-Pickens Speedway
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...
in the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
community of Greenville
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. The series is now referred to as the Sprint Cup Series.
Race information
Seven thousand racing fans were in attendance to see Bobby IsaacBobby Isaac
Bobby Isaac is a former NASCAR Grand National champion.-Early life:Isaac grew up on a farm near Catawba, North Carolina, the second youngest of nine children...
defeat 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....
by ½ of a lap. The pole position was earned by the eventual race winner with a qualifying speed of 82.372 mi/h while the average speed of the race was 74.345 mi/h. It took one hour and thirty-three seconds for the race to reach its conclusion. All twenty-nine competitors were born in the United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with no foreign-born drivers unlike today. Notable drivers in the field included: 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...
, Benny Parsons
Benny Parsons
Benjamin Stewart Parsons was an American NASCAR driver, and later an announcer/analyst on TBS, ESPN, NBC and TNT...
, Elmo Langley
Elmo Langley
Elmo Langley was a NASCAR driver and owner. Langley primarily used the number "64" on his race cars during his NASCAR career.-Racing career:...
(died of a heart attack after driving the pace car at an exhibition race in Japan), Roy Tyner
Roy Tyner
William Leroy "Roy" Tyner was a retired Native American NASCAR Grand National driver from Red Springs, North Carolina, USA.-Driver:...
(murdered in his vehicle), and J.D. McDuffie
J.D. McDuffie
John Delphus McDuffie was a NASCAR Winston Cup driver. He raced in the top division of NASCAR from 1963 to 1991. McDuffie had 106 top-tens in his Cup Series career...
(killed after colliding with turn 5 at the 1991 Budweiser At The Glen race at Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen International is an auto race track located near Watkins Glen, New York, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. The facility is owned by International Speedway Corporation...
).
The winner's purse was considered to be $1,500 ($ in today's money).
Finishing order
- Bobby Isaac†
- Bobby Allison
- Dick BrooksDick BrooksRichard "Dick" Brooks was an American NASCAR driver. Born in Porterville, California, he was the 1969 NASCAR Rookie of the Year, and went on to win the 1973 Talladega 500...
† - James HyltonJames HyltonJames 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...
- Benny ParsonsBenny ParsonsBenjamin Stewart Parsons was an American NASCAR driver, and later an announcer/analyst on TBS, ESPN, NBC and TNT...
† - Elmo LangleyElmo LangleyElmo Langley was a NASCAR driver and owner. Langley primarily used the number "64" on his race cars during his NASCAR career.-Racing career:...
† - Jabe ThomasJabe ThomasCerry Ezra "Jabe" Thomas is a retired NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver who competed from the mid 1960s through the late 1970s. His son Ronnie was also a NASCAR Cup Series driver; competing from 1977 to 1989.-Career:Thomas drove 75243 laps of racing and earned $295,497 in total...
- Bill ChampionBill ChampionBuford Billy Champion , is a retired American professional baseball player, a right-handed pitcher who played in 202 games in the Major Leagues from -. He would play for the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies.-External links:...
- Ed NegreEd NegreEd Negre is a retired NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver who raced from 1955 to 1979....
- Ken Meisenhelder (the only Chevrolet entry for the race)
- Wendell ScottWendell ScottWendell 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...
† - J.D. McDuffie† (the only Buick entry for the race)
- Ben Arnold
- Neil CastlesNeil CastlesNeil "Soapy" Castles is a retired NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver that participate from 1957 to 1976.-History:...
* - Bill SeifertBill SeifertBill Seifert is a retired NASCAR Sprint Cup Series who raced from 1966 to 1979.-Summary:Seifert raced 41,875 laps for . His grand total for race winnings is $147,831 USD . Seifert's average career start is 21st and his average career finish is 19th...
- Lee GordonLee GordonFor the rock and roll promoter see Lee Gordon Lee "Stubby" Gordon was a jazz musician and the Cleveland bandsman who conducted the Rhythm Masters orchestra and wrote the music for songs such as "Tell Me Dreamy Eyes" , "Worryin' Blues" , and "Rippin' It Off." He was the first to broadcast...
- Johnny HalfordJohnny HalfordJohnny Halford is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver who raced from 1969 to 1978.-Summary:He would earn one top ten finish in the 1972 Firecracker 400 while leading 16 laps out of 6924 - the equivalent of . Halford's average starting position would be 24th while he would finish 21st on...
* - Roy Tyner†
- Richard Petty* (crashed into the wall at lap 138)
- Dave MarcisDave MarcisDave Marcis is a retired driver on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit whose career spanned five decades. Marcis won five times over this tenure, twice at Richmond, including his final win in 1982...
- Raymond Williams*
- Frank WarrenFrank Warren (NASCAR driver)Frank Warren is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver who raced from 1963 to 1980.Out of 88863 laps finished in his career, Warren had led 72 of them. Warren's total career earnings were $625,886 and while his average finish was 20th place in his entire career. The total amount of miles...
* - Henley GrayHenley GrayHenley Gray is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver whose career spanned from 1964 to 1977.-Summary:...
* - John Sears*†
- Earl Brooks*
- Cecil GordonCecil GordonCecil Gordon was a NASCAR driver. He is not related to Sprint Cup driver Jeff Gordon although the two drivers drove in car number 24....
* - Pete Hazelwood*
- Bill ShireyBill ShireyBill Shirey is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver who accomplished three finishes in the "top ten" and has driven for 9588 laps - the equivalent of . He started 24th on average and also finished an average of 24th place...
* - John Jennings*
† signifies that the driver is known to be deceased
* Driver failed to finish race