From a replay of Car & Track on Speed, the 1968 American 500 at Rockingham NC. As always, Bud Lindemann is on hand to narrate the event held on October 27th 1968.
You're exactly right. The Rock could be driven in different ways and was a driver's track. There were multiple grooves which made for tremendous RACING. Harry Gant usually ran well at The Rock and there was a "Harry Gant Line" that the commentators would refer to. Late in the race the Sun was a problem for the drivers as they went into turn 1 and all the way through the 2nd turn. I was at The Rock when Mark Martin won his first race, driving the Strohs Light #6. Went to several races there and have great memories of it. Was a NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup diehard fan from the 1st time I saw a race on Wide World of Sports in 1970. Went to 50+ races over the years. When Brian Brain-dead France took control it was the death knell of the sport. Dropping tracks like Rockingham, North Wilkesboro, Nashville; changing the date for the Southern 500 and dropping the Rebel 400; devising a points system that changes seemingly every year and makes it where consistentcy in every race over the entire year means nothing --- I haven't kept up with NASCAR for the past 15 years. I'm bitter about what France 3 and his cronies did to my sport and will probably be so until my last day. Thankfully I can find these races on places like RUclips.
Very cool race! Very interestingly, Bud Lindemann was right about this being Richard Petty's only superspeedway win in 1968. The roadrunner was about as aerodynamic as a brick in 1968, and was even less competitive in 1969 winning only twice! (which is were the super bird comes in.) Though this was Petty's only superspeedway win in 1968, he did also win 14 more times (15 total in 1968) on shorter tracks, even the last race held at a very underrated track, the occoneechee speedway that year! Thanks for sharing this!
They called it the Rock one the most difficult tracks of all to set up a car for perhaps the most blown up engines of all tracks in the golden age of Nascar.
I was too, I had just come from Vietnam in 1967, came home on a friday was invited to go to the race on Sunday, I remember when one of the cars backfired, I hit the ground muttering incoming, that was my first race, we went to Rockingham every race for the next 10 years, I loved Rockingham, shameful they pulled the plug on a great track.
@@bobblount7183 You must have some courage to do a tour of duty, to be honest I don't know how anyone could survive those situations. I worked for a guy in Australia who was only 5ft 7 about 140 pounds his mate got shot and was a bit bigger than him and he carried him on his shoulder for about 4 hours with the viet cong chasing him. Both survived. Cheers to you from Australia. I love the sound of these nascar V8s
Don't know why they had to apologize for Bud L. They chopped him at the knees before we could decide for ourselves what to think of him. I remember seeing this when it aired and thinking "leave the poor guy alone. He's fine."
Every one's so scared of being politically correct to the point I find it offensive I think I'm going to need some me time with my emotional support animal not once did I hear him to remind the blacks to use the appropriate bathroom and to use the rear entrance
I was at Rockingham,often. The track dates were not helpful,usually after Daytona,cold and sometimes snowing,then late in the year ,october or later,also usually bad weather. If Mr DeWitt could have gotten some more desirable race dates,the track may have survived.
USAC HOFers Don White (finished 6th in a second Nichels car to Goldsmith, 5 laps behind) and Butch Hartman (10th, Dodge, 22 laps behind) ran this race.
@@evanst.martin9332 oh yeah, same here, never missed a Milwaukee USAC stock or indy race after 1969 indy 500. My dad took me to see it live at the Majeska theater then he took me to my first live race, the 69’ Rex Mays classic. We lived 2 miles from the track. We were Bowsher fans (Foyt teammate) but every car on the track was gorgeous to me
Yes, 358 is the limit now. In 1968, 430 was the max size and CID * 9.36# was the weight, with the minimum weight being 3650# (390 CID). aerowarriors.com/rules/nosearch/68nrS20-1.html#b.
The car that a Donnie A. drove in this race was sold not long afterwards to Harry Gailey . Harry lived in Clermont, Georgia and had body shop and auto salvage business. He bought the car from Banjo after he put the stock front end sheet metal on the car. George Elliott’s Dahlonega Ford Sales and George Avery’s Dahlonega Equipment Co. were primary sponsors. Harry raced the car briefly then sold it to George Elliott who had Charles Barrett drive the car with updated sheet metal. I worked on 3 different race cars that Harry owned. All have passed on except for Donnie. Mike
I drove a 69 Roadrunner when I was young. Was my brother in law's car. Midnight purple. 440 wedge head. Dual points. And built strong. Also had a 68 383 magnum Charger. Both were terrible pieces of crap but they were fun to drive when they ran.
These old track were better than the cookie cutter tracks of today. Then again, the cookie cutter tracks were made for cookie cutter cars. The cars of today probably couldn't handle those old tracks.
These Car & Track shows were well after the event had run. Since this race was late in 1968, the broadcast probably happened in 1969. It's possible it wasn't shown until 1970, but I don't think they were that late. It was one of the few ways to see any racing action at the time. Wide World of Sports, occasionally, was the other.
All those beautiful ‘68 Torinos that fastback design was such an advantage Chrysler later had to put ridiculous giant wings and new noses on their brick cars.
Hollywood should do a movie about Richard Petty, John Krasinskl (The Office) would be perfect. Stop at 16:39 and tell me that doesn't look John Krasinski. Also a movie about Wendel Scott played by John C.Reilly. I mean, come on! They got Matt Damon to play Carroll Shelby!
@Flame Resistant Troll ; Good morning and thanks! John C. Riley would be perfect. They look like twins! I think he could honor Wendell Scott far better than Richard Pryor. Mr.Riley wouldn't even have to wear "blackface". That would keep the leftist from crying racism. They'll find something to scream about though. Plus Mr. Riley has Nascar experience in "Talladega Nights. Hollywood would object as well... too bad... :(
Back when racing was real and where are the GMC cars at now nascar makes the rules to favour Chevy. That's why I don't watch Not A Secret Chevy Arrange Rules anymore.
Everyone loves Bud Lindemann.
Perfect racetrack. NASCAR made a huge mistake turning its back on this and North Wilkes as well. Shame they don’t run here anymore.
YES DON'T FORGET YOUR ROOTS NASCAR!
Also Bowman-Grey Stadium
@@andrewrcmadwilkinson6999 They have become too good for us peasants. They want high tone city dudes. Look how that's worked out!
You're exactly right. The Rock could be driven in different ways and was a driver's track. There were multiple grooves which made for tremendous RACING. Harry Gant usually ran well at The Rock and there was a "Harry Gant Line" that the commentators would refer to. Late in the race the Sun was a problem for the drivers as they went into turn 1 and all the way through the 2nd turn. I was at The Rock when Mark Martin won his first race, driving the Strohs Light #6. Went to several races there and have great memories of it. Was a NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup diehard fan from the 1st time I saw a race on Wide World of Sports in 1970. Went to 50+ races over the years. When Brian Brain-dead France took control it was the death knell of the sport. Dropping tracks like Rockingham, North Wilkesboro, Nashville; changing the date for the Southern 500 and dropping the Rebel 400; devising a points system that changes seemingly every year and makes it where consistentcy in every race over the entire year means nothing --- I haven't kept up with NASCAR for the past 15 years. I'm bitter about what France 3 and his cronies did to my sport and will probably be so until my last day. Thankfully I can find these races on places like RUclips.
Thank Bruton Smith he's the man that bought the tracks and move their race dates to new tracks.
Look at those racing machines you have to love them this is racing real street cars !
Love those years cars looked like cars Take me back
Real machines that looked like what was driven on the streets back then and fans could identify their favorite make of car ....now not so much !
Definitely - and im from the UK
They're doing a decent job making them look like the real things now but back then the were the real things
Very cool race! Very interestingly, Bud Lindemann was right about this being Richard Petty's only superspeedway win in 1968. The roadrunner was about as aerodynamic as a brick in 1968, and was even less competitive in 1969 winning only twice! (which is were the super bird comes in.) Though this was Petty's only superspeedway win in 1968, he did also win 14 more times (15 total in 1968) on shorter tracks, even the last race held at a very underrated track, the occoneechee speedway that year! Thanks for sharing this!
They called it the Rock one the most difficult tracks of all to set up a car for perhaps the most blown up engines of all tracks in the golden age of Nascar.
I've been a Richard Petty fan since I was six years old. In a few weeks I'll be sixty one.
Happy birthday!
I was at this race.
Rockingham was a nice track.
United we Stand Must bring back some memories?
I was too, I had just come from Vietnam in 1967, came home on a friday was invited to go to the race on Sunday, I remember when one of the cars backfired, I hit the ground muttering incoming, that was my first race, we went to Rockingham every race for the next 10 years, I loved Rockingham, shameful they pulled the plug on a great track.
@@bobblount7183 You must have some courage to do a tour of duty, to be honest I don't know how anyone could survive those situations. I worked for a guy in Australia who was only 5ft 7 about 140 pounds his mate got shot and was a bit bigger than him and he carried him on his shoulder for about 4 hours with the viet cong chasing him. Both survived.
Cheers to you from Australia. I love the sound of these nascar V8s
i was there from oklahoma in 1997 seen ricky rudd win in his #10 ford thunderbird was a great race loved the track
Now that's good old racing when racing was racing awesome 👌 👏 👍 😍
Don't know why they had to apologize for Bud L. They chopped him at the knees before we could decide for ourselves what to think of him. I remember seeing this when it aired and thinking "leave the poor guy alone. He's fine."
badad0166 I always thought the same thing. The intro on Speedvision was unneeded.
I agree he was fine.
what happend to Bud L?
Every one's so scared of being politically correct to the point I find it offensive I think I'm going to need some me time with my emotional support animal not once did I hear him to remind the blacks to use the appropriate bathroom and to use the rear entrance
@@sillygoose2508 racist comment.
WHY? Why why why could I not have been there?!? This is SO great!!
I feel you born just a little to late dam
I was
Bring them back! There are enough remanufactured replacement parts to have a fully supported classic stock car circuit.
All my favorite cars!!!!!
Great stuff, thanks for sharing!!
THANKS FOR THE POST
This was the first time I went to a NASCAR race and Richard won and that was just great for me to see it.
Red Farmer is the only driven this race STILL competing today at age 91!
I was at Rockingham,often. The track dates were not helpful,usually after Daytona,cold and sometimes snowing,then late in the year ,october or later,also usually bad weather. If Mr DeWitt could have gotten some more desirable race dates,the track may have survived.
All cars today looke exactly the same. You have to see the emblems the paste on them to tell what car is what model. Not one piece on them is stock.
Petty had one good pit crew. Always fun to watch him run!!!!
I wish they still ran at Rockingham it's a damn shame I have lot's of memories at Rockingham
The Torinos and Chargers/Road Runners were battling very hard at the time. This was just before the Aero Wars was going to begin.
Are you deliberately haunting me on RUclips?
Bud is the man
Weird thing is these look like a modern street stock still today. It just isn't "stock car" racing anymore.
The land of grits and greens. Love it.
USAC HOFers Don White (finished 6th in a second Nichels car to Goldsmith, 5 laps behind) and Butch Hartman (10th, Dodge, 22 laps behind) ran this race.
Watched both of those guys win a lot at Milwaukee. Don is my all time stock car hero!
@@evanst.martin9332 oh yeah, same here, never missed a Milwaukee USAC stock or indy race after 1969 indy 500. My dad took me to see it live at the Majeska theater then he took me to my first live race, the 69’ Rex Mays classic. We lived 2 miles from the track. We were Bowsher fans (Foyt teammate) but every car on the track was gorgeous to me
Lots of work being put into this track currently, tax money too. Maybe a race in its future?
Quite a variation of cubic inches displayed on the hoods? What were the rules at that time? Nascar today is 358 c.i. correct me if I'm wrong.
Yes, 358 is the limit now. In 1968, 430 was the max size and CID * 9.36# was the weight, with the minimum weight being 3650# (390 CID). aerowarriors.com/rules/nosearch/68nrS20-1.html#b.
NASCAR has favored GM for a while now with their 358 CI Rule . 350 + 0.60 over = 358 . Perfect for them .
the low-key approach was better than the present day, in your face method. the drivers were more relaxed.
Bud was cool
The #57 car reported as crashed at 8:46 was actually owned/driven by Ervin Pruett. The #76 car was driven by James Sears...just sayin’
Here comes the judge. Great line
So sad. Back in those days, the only way you could get camera time if you drove a Chevy was to crash.
The car that a Donnie A. drove in this race was sold not long afterwards to Harry Gailey . Harry lived in Clermont, Georgia and had body shop and auto salvage business. He bought the car from Banjo after he put the stock front end sheet metal on the car. George Elliott’s Dahlonega Ford Sales and George Avery’s Dahlonega Equipment Co. were primary sponsors. Harry raced the car briefly then sold it to George Elliott who had Charles Barrett drive the car with updated sheet metal. I worked on 3 different race cars that Harry owned. All have passed on except for Donnie. Mike
I often wonder why Petty didn't run a Race hemi in the 43 Plymouth for this event?( 404 C.I.....never heard'a such
They must have made the 426 HEMI a shorter stroke to get the 404ci. on all those Dodges and Plymouth’s. ?
i do miss those mini bikes.
I'm glad you know when this race happened, because Speed sure didn't. That channel was a mess.
As corridas de antigamente eram bem emocionantes sem contar os carros que hoje são clássicos os tradicionais muscle car americanos em ação
I want a Plymouth GTX
A friend of mine in Bay Ridge Brooklyn back int he early 1980s had a Belvedere GTX with a 361 big block, man that car was wild !!
I drove a 69 Roadrunner when I was young. Was my brother in law's car. Midnight purple. 440 wedge head. Dual points. And built strong. Also had a 68 383 magnum Charger. Both were terrible pieces of crap but they were fun to drive when they ran.
@@JeromyBranch I owned a 69 Road Runner in the 80's and I would like to have another one.
13:35 here come the judge
the rock , nascar buried theirself when they abandoned it
Wendell Scott made the race and survived all the way to races finish, finishing 27 th, 291 laps behind...
Nice! And he did it with far less of a car than others. More STOCK. Was he in his yellow Torino here?
Red Torino #34, same as usual.
$795 was a nice chunk of change back then too. Certainly enough to patch up car and hauler, feed the kids and crew, get to next race
291 laps behind ?? holy moly !! I'm glad you mentioned Wendell, as I've always felt he never got the proper credit which he deserved.
Wendell Scott he's cool it's just too bad he did not have the sponsors like everyone else did because he would of kicked some butt
These old track were better than the cookie cutter tracks of today. Then again, the cookie cutter tracks were made for cookie cutter cars. The cars of today probably couldn't handle those old tracks.
Good track, but, sometimes it became Rainingham, good ol' times down there!
Dammit, I meant to say over there a few miles
From what ive seen it was also bitter cold for many a race.
And Darlington
I miss speedvision
HERE HERE
@ 10;00 1970 appears on the screen?
I've found a few of these with incorrect dates.
These Car & Track shows were well after the event had run. Since this race was late in 1968, the broadcast probably happened in 1969. It's possible it wasn't shown until 1970, but I don't think they were that late. It was one of the few ways to see any racing action at the time. Wide World of Sports, occasionally, was the other.
All those beautiful ‘68 Torinos that fastback design was such an advantage Chrysler later had to put ridiculous giant wings and new noses on their brick cars.
Is this 1970 or 1968?
1968. Buddy Baker drove the #3 in 1968 and the #6 in 1970 at the American 500. Also, #11 did not participate in 1970 but did in 1968.
at 2:11 it says 1970 on the screen. Weird.
Please correct the the thumbnail. Date is incorrect does not match video
Hollywood should do a movie about Richard Petty, John Krasinskl (The Office) would be perfect. Stop at 16:39 and tell me that doesn't look John Krasinski. Also a movie about Wendel Scott played by John C.Reilly. I mean, come on! They got Matt Damon to play Carroll Shelby!
On a side note that I am not sure if you are aware of
@@mikebeleutz7131 ; What might that be?
@Flame Resistant Troll ; Good morning and thanks! John C. Riley would be perfect. They look like twins! I think he could honor Wendell Scott far better than Richard Pryor. Mr.Riley wouldn't even have to wear "blackface". That would keep the leftist from crying racism. They'll find something to scream about though. Plus Mr. Riley has Nascar experience in "Talladega Nights. Hollywood would object as well... too bad... :(
@@cobracharmer6178 and days of thunder too
13:37 HERE COMES THE JUDGE!
Back when racing was real and where are the GMC cars at now nascar makes the rules to favour Chevy. That's why I don't watch Not A Secret Chevy Arrange Rules anymore.
Bud Lindemann was the corniest, most cringe-worthy commentator in the history of American sports.
And i loved him for it
08:51 There's your southern hospitality: Blacks not welcome.