1976 Cam 2 Motor Oil 400
Encyclopedia
The 1976 Cam 2 Motor Oil 400 was a NASCAR
Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on June 20, 1976 at Michigan International Speedway
in the American community of Brooklyn
, Michigan
.
by three car lengths in front of an audience of 46,000 members. There were 17 lead changes and three cautions were done in 20 laps out of the 200 laps of regulation racing. It took two hours and fifty minutes for the checkered flag to end the race. While Richard Petty
earned the pole position with a speed of 158.569 miles per hour (255.2 km/h), the average speed of the race was 141.148 miles per hour (227.2 km/h). Joe Frasson
"earned" his last-place finish due to an engine
problem on lap 2. All 36 of the drivers on the racing grid were American
-born males. The field was dominated by Chevrolet
vehicles because they were cheaper to operate in the 1970s as opposed to Ford
and Mercury
vehicles.
Cale Yarborough would re-take the points lead after this race and eventually become the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
champion. David Pearson would also consider the 1976 NASCAR Cup Series season to be his "personal playground" with fast and consistent results throughout the year.
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...
Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on June 20, 1976 at Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
in the American community of Brooklyn
Brooklyn, Michigan
Brooklyn is a village in Jackson County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,176. It is located just off U.S. Highway 12 Brooklyn (formerly Swainsville) is a village in Jackson County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Summary
David Pearson managed to defeat Cale YarboroughCale Yarborough
William Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships...
by three car lengths in front of an audience of 46,000 members. There were 17 lead changes and three cautions were done in 20 laps out of the 200 laps of regulation racing. It took two hours and fifty minutes for the checkered flag to end the race. While 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...
earned the pole position with a speed of 158.569 miles per hour (255.2 km/h), the average speed of the race was 141.148 miles per hour (227.2 km/h). Joe Frasson
Joe Frasson
Joseph "Joe" Frasson is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver with four finishes in the top five and nineteen finishes in the top ten under his belt. He has experienced 20284 laps of racing and an overall career windfall of $148,930...
"earned" his last-place finish due to an engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
problem on lap 2. All 36 of the drivers on the racing grid were American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born males. The field was dominated by Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
vehicles because they were cheaper to operate in the 1970s as opposed to Ford
Ford 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...
and Mercury
Mercury (automobile)
Mercury was an automobile marque of the Ford Motor Company launched in 1938 by Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford, to market entry-level luxury cars slotted between Ford-branded regular models and Lincoln-branded luxury vehicles, similar to General Motors' Buick brand, and Chrysler's namesake brand...
vehicles.
Cale Yarborough would re-take the points lead after this race and eventually become the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1976 in NASCAR
The 1976 NASCAR Grand National Winston Cup Series season began on Sunday, January 18 and ended on Sunday, November 21. Cale Yarborough, driving the #11 Junior Johnson Holly Farms Chevrolet scored his first of three consecutive NASCAR Grand National Series Winston Cup Championships...
champion. David Pearson would also consider the 1976 NASCAR Cup Series season to be his "personal playground" with fast and consistent results throughout the year.