John Paul, Jr.... Born ...A former race car driver in CART and the Indy Racing League and winner of the 1982 12 Hours of Sebring while co-driving with his father John Paul, Sr.
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1961
Joe Weatherly won the inaugural 10 lap 'American Challenge Cup' race at Daytona International Speedway. The race was open only to winners of NASCAR Grand National "superspeedway" races. Weatherly drew the pole, but had only led lap 1 until making an outside move to beat Fireball Roberts to the line by 3 feet. Junior Johnson finished 3rd and Cotton Owens 4th giving Pontiac a sweep of the top 4. Weatherly averaged 154.905 mph for the 9 minute, 41 second race. 11 of the 17 eligible drivers competed.
Paul Goldsmith , driving the Nichels Engineering #99, won the 100-lap USAC Stock Car race at the Ascot Stadium, Gardena, CA.
Bobby Allison, Taking the lead from Buddy Baker with 11 laps to go, drove the Bud Moore Ford to the Daytona 500 win. Allison and Baker had collided during a 125-mile qualifying race three days earlier, forcing both to start well back in the field (Allison started 33rd). Baker blew the engine in the M.C. Anderson Chevy with 5 laps left to move Cale Yarborough into second, 33.2 seconds behind Allison.
Cale Yarborough drove the Rainier-Lundy Chevrolet past Darrell Waltrip in the last mile to win the Daytona 500 for the second straight year. The race came down to a six driver battle for the honors. Dale Earnhardt edged Waltrip for second with Neil Bonnett, Bill Elliott and Harry Gant following closely.
Jack Hewitt won the World of Outlaws Sprint Car race at the Ascot Park, Gardena, CA. Steve Kinser was second followed by Sammy Swindell, Mark Kinser and Bobby Allen.
Ben Rhodes won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series BRAKEBEST PADS 159 AT DAYTONA PRESENTED BY O'REILLY on the infield road course at the Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL. Sheldon Creed was second followed by John H. Nemechek, Todd Gilliland and Riley Herbst.
ONE DAY
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