@@ChristopherHageeYes indeed! I was there that day with my family and Mario was really hooked up. What he later revealed about that race is remarkable. Ford wanted him to race one of their cars for the publicity but they much preferred Lorenzen to win. Andretti got the crew to swap his car's motor out for Lorenzen's more powerful V8! The rest is history. Andretti was nobody's fool, that's for sure. 😂
This is way better than current NASCAR. I just like the diverse types of cars and they were closer to stock and the action had much more variety. Less money involved also meant people were there more for the love of the racing. I dunno.
If ABC's televising the Daytona 500 for the first time in 1963 made it the biggest race on the NASCAR circuit, and one of the world's biggest auto races, having none other than the legendary Curt Gowdy call the 1966 race legitimized it as one of the major sports events in the nation, if not the world. It was likely the only time Gowdy ever broadcast an auto race, but just his name and reputation as one of the great sportscasters of all time elevated the Daytona 500 into one of the world's great sporting events. And although he would be an expert analyst on other races ABC Sports did from 1965-'70 (as well a few IndyCar races ESPN did in the early 1980s), this would also mark the only time that Rodger Ward would ever serve in that capacity for a Daytona 500 broadcast.
in 1966 Gowdy wasn't exactly considered an expert analyst - he was still young , making his bones - having said this , Curt was so much more knowledgeable and entertaining ( dude had pipes) than the announcers of today - Today's media people are about as capable as a whistle on a plow
Back when cars DID NOT have sponsor covered cars running. Love it. And REAL cars not cookie cutter templates, plus pushrod iron engines. And drivers were courteous. Not the demo derby of today's drivers.
@@m42037 yes but those are nitro burning rides that run for just seconds. This I think is the closed course records like a race track circuit were the speed all the way around counts rather than the top speed. But the NHRA was also really fast to
Just think, all of this will be banned some day in the near future and EVs can not out perform, out run or out endure these classic stock cars.. America is going backwards.
I was at that race, along with several buddies from NAS Jacksonville. Inside the fourth turn. Got a little wet and cold but still had a great time!
“There’s Mario Andretti. He’s going to be a real comer.” Priceless.
He (Italian-born Mario Andretti) would win race's IXth edition just yr. later (1967)
@@ChristopherHageeYes indeed! I was there that day with my family and Mario was really hooked up. What he later revealed about that race is remarkable. Ford wanted him to race one of their cars for the publicity but they much preferred Lorenzen to win. Andretti got the crew to swap his car's motor out for Lorenzen's more powerful V8! The rest is history. Andretti was nobody's fool, that's for sure. 😂
Thank you for another classic Nascar race.
This is way better than current NASCAR. I just like the diverse types of cars and they were closer to stock and the action had much more variety. Less money involved also meant people were there more for the love of the racing. I dunno.
I totally agree. We also had the incredible drama of BLOWN ENGINES! 😂
Late Curt Gowdy, Sr. called this race for ABC-TV Network
Yr. later (1967) late Jimmy McKay would call IXth Daytona "500" for ABC-TV Network
I watch all of these old races.
Same here; they are pure entertainment and real racing. Very dangerous too.
If ABC's televising the Daytona 500 for the first time in 1963 made it the biggest race on the NASCAR circuit, and one of the world's biggest auto races, having none other than the legendary Curt Gowdy call the 1966 race legitimized it as one of the major sports events in the nation, if not the world. It was likely the only time Gowdy ever broadcast an auto race, but just his name and reputation as one of the great sportscasters of all time elevated the Daytona 500 into one of the world's great sporting events. And although he would be an expert analyst on other races ABC Sports did from 1965-'70 (as well a few IndyCar races ESPN did in the early 1980s), this would also mark the only time that Rodger Ward would ever serve in that capacity for a Daytona 500 broadcast.
in 1966 Gowdy wasn't exactly considered an expert analyst - he was still young , making his bones - having said this , Curt was so much more knowledgeable and entertaining ( dude had pipes) than the announcers of today -
Today's media people are about as capable as a whistle on a plow
I was at that race too. We walked to the track my dad and me. Fred Lorenzen won.
Curt Gowdy . i never knew did Nascar races . Did i see #34 Wendell Scott going down the back straight away .? i lived up street from him for years
Chevrolet Return To NASCAR In 1971 And Buick Return To NASCAR In 1981
I watched that race with my father ...
185 MPH? Thats surprising.
Curt gowdy working for abc before doing nbc game of the week
Back when cars DID NOT have sponsor covered cars running. Love it. And REAL cars not cookie cutter templates, plus pushrod iron engines. And drivers were courteous. Not the demo derby of today's drivers.
Chris Economaki practically has a mohawk.
Why were some of your races made private?
I wondered the same, too, such as the 1965 National 400.
👍👍🏁🏁👍👍
MAGA
Never heard of the guy.😜🍻
he was from Canada
If I could start the 2025 Daytona 500 I would make more money coming in last, than he got for winning!!!😂😂😂😂😂😂
The world's fastest cars was in NHRA not NASCAR in 66 or today. NASCAR was cool back in these days (unlike modern NASCAR ) but he was incorrect
fastest stock car was the intent .i believe
@@zcam1969 That made no sense, the fastest stock cars? The fastest track was Daytona well at any rate... 🍾
@@m42037 they were the fastest cars at the ,check the record book .185 mph
@@zcam1969 In 66 NHRA they were doing 200
@@m42037 yes but those are nitro burning rides that run for just seconds. This I think is the closed course records like a race track circuit were the speed all the way around counts rather than the top speed. But the NHRA was also really fast to
Just think, all of this will be banned some day in the near future and EVs can not out perform, out run or out endure these classic stock cars.. America is going backwards.
Thank a liberal for that.