Tony Willman ... Born ... AAA driver 1926 to 1941, died in a midget race at Thompson, CT on October 12, 1941.
1934
Bobby Unser ... Born ... One of the greatest Indycar racing stars of all time, Unser was twice the USAC/Indy Car champion (1968 and 1974) and three times winner of the Indianapolis 500. The brother of Al Unser and Jerry Unser, the father of Robby Unser, and the uncle of Al Unser, Jr. and Johnny Unser. He was the undisputed king of the Pikes Peak hillclimb, winning the championship 13 times. An accomplished Sprint Car driver he also ran in 19 Indy 500's He is one of seven drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 three times, and one of only two to have won the 500 in three different decades (1968, 75, 81).
1937
Roger S. Penske ... Born ... A national sports car driving champion (1964); established the Penske racing team in 1961; co-founder of Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART). Penske Racing has won 12 Indianapolis 500s and 9 CART points titles.
1959
Scott Brayton ... Born ... USAC/CART driver 1981 to 1996. Scott tragically lost his life in a fatal crash during practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Six days before the accident, Scott captured his second consecutive Indy 500 pole position.
Daytona Beach ... The first races on the 2.5 mile Daytona International Speedway took place, twin 100 mile qualifiers for the first 'Daytona 500'. One for Convertibles and one for Hardtops. The Convertible race started 21 cars with Glen Wood, Richard Petty, Marvin Panch and Shorty Rollins pulling clear of the field. The foursome swapped the lead 5 times in the last 9 laps before Rollins edged Panch by a bumper for the win. In the Hardtop 100, Bob Welborn moved his Chevy from 7th starting to the lead by lap 2, but couldn't shake Denver's Fritz Wilson. Welborn beat Wilson's T-Bird by a half car length to take the win. Peruvian driver Eduardo Dibos finished 5th.
1969
David Pearson and Bobby Isaac won the twin 125 mile NASCAR Grand National qualifying races at Daytona International Speedway. Pearson earlier had become the first driver to break the 190 mph barrier at Daytona.
1972
A.J. Foyt drove the Wood Brothers Mercury to an easy win in the Daytona 500. In a field already weakened by the factories pull-out, other contenders suffered problems. When leader Richard Petty retired with engine trouble on lap 81, Foyt took over and led to the checkered. Foyt finished nearly 2 laps in front of Charlie Glotzbach, driving the Cotton Owens Dodge.
1977
Cale Yarborough was unbeatable, winning the 125-mile qualifying race, the International Race of Champions event and the 500. The only thing he didn't win was the pole position, which went to Donnie Allison.
1983
Cale Yarborough rebounded to win the Daytona 500 after earlier crashing the Rainier Racing Monte Carlo on his second qualifying lap. Yarborough took the lead from Buddy Baker on the last lap and pulled to a five length win as Bill Elliott edged Baker and Joe Ruttman across the line in a three wide battle for second. Ruttman led the most laps in the Benfield Chevy.
ONE DAY
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