This was the 29th race in the 1961 52 race schedule that took the Grand National Division all over the US as NASCAR toured the country trying to establish a fan base.
A new 1961 Karman Ghia Cabriolet from Herb Anderson Volkswagen was the pace car for the event. The manufacturer rated this cars top speed at 87 mph. Qualifying Pole Speed for the race was 55.87 mph. The average Race Speed was 53.827 mph
The track opened at noon with qualifying from 2-5pm. Ticket prices were $3, $4 and $5. Minimum wage in June 1961 was $1 per hour, going to $1.15 per hour in September of 1961.
The race started at 8:00pm and ended 2 hours, 19 minutes later. Only 1 caution flag was brought out for an engine failure.
A total of 18 cars (all 1959-1961 models) started the race with 11 cars running at the end. It was first thought that Rex White had won the race. Analysis of the scoring information placed Emanuel Zervakis 1/4 lap ahead of White at the finish line.
Well known local drivers Ed Flemke and Ernie Gahan ran the race. Flemke broke an axel on lap 231 to finish 12th. Gahan logged 335 laps to finish 11th.
Photo courtesy of James "Fitzy" Fitzgibbons Collection
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Car #
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Money Won
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Laps Lead | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Driver | Home Town |
Age
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Start
|
Finish
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Owner/Sponsor/Car
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Laps
|
Status
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|||||||||||||||||||
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Monroe Shock Chevrolet -1960
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| Emanual Zervakis | Richmond, VA |
31
|
3
|
1
|
85
|
500/500
|
$2,250
|
running
|
361
|
|||||||||||||||||
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White-Clements Chevrolet - 1960
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||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rex White | Spartanburg, SC |
31
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
500/500
|
$1,000
|
running
|
125
|
|||||||||||||||||
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B.G. Holloway Chevrolet - 1961
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||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ned Jarrett | Newton, NC |
28
|
9
|
3
|
11
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$800
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running
|
14
|
||||||||||||||||||
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491/500
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Buck Baker Chrysler - 1961
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||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Buck Baker | Charlotte, NC |
41
|
5
|
4
|
86
|
476/500
|
$700
|
running
|
0
|
|||||||||||||||||
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Jim Reed Chevrolet - 1961
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||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jim Reed | Peekskill, NY |
35
|
4
|
5
|
7
|
473/500
|
$600
|
running
|
0
|
|||||||||||||||||
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Julian Petty Pontiac - 1961
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||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jim Paschal | High Point, NC |
35
|
2
|
6
|
14
|
467/500
|
$500
|
running
|
0
|
|||||||||||||||||
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Buzz Woodward Ford - 1959
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||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Buzz Woodward | Coatesville, PA |
?
|
11
|
7
|
90
|
456/500
|
$400
|
running
|
0
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Dominic Persicketti | Trenton, NJ |
?
|
14
|
8
|
27
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Ford - 1959
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450/500
|
$300
|
running
|
0
|
||||||||||||||||
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Matt DeMatthews Ford - 1961
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||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sammy Packard | Barrington, RI |
?
|
13
|
9
|
38
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444/500
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$275
|
running
|
0
|
|||||||||||||||||
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Wendell Scott Chevrolet - 1960
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||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wendell Scott | Danville, VA |
39
|
8
|
10
|
34
|
426/500
|
$250
|
running
|
0
|
|||||||||||||||||
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John Koszeln Chevrolet - 1959
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||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ernie Gahan | Dover, NH |
34
|
7
|
11
|
55
|
335/500
|
$225
|
running
|
0
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Ed Flemke | New Britain, CT |
30
|
17
|
12
|
60
|
Dodge - 1961
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231/500
|
$175
|
axel
|
0
|
||||||||||||||||
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Budd Olsen Chevrolet - 1960
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||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Budd Olsen | Paulsboro, NJ |
36
|
12
|
13
|
56
|
168/500
|
$175
|
DQ
|
0
|
|||||||||||||||||
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wheel bearing
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Harold Wilcox | Bangor, ME |
?
|
15
|
14
|
64
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Oldsmobile - 1959
|
112/500
|
$150
|
0
|
|||||||||||||||||
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rocker arm
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bob Devine | New Fairfield, CT |
?
|
10
|
15
|
24
|
Chevrolet - 1961
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92/500
|
$150
|
0
|
|||||||||||||||||
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Jimmy Pardue Chevrolet - 1961
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| Jimmy Pardue | North Wilkesboro, NC |
30
|
16
|
16
|
54
|
2/500
|
$150
|
piston
|
0
|
|||||||||||||||||
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Cafe Burgundy Ford - 1960
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| Hoss Kagle | Mt. Ranier, MD |
?
|
6
|
17
|
66
|
2/500
|
$125
|
engine
|
0
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Jimmy Mairs | Wheaton, MD |
?
|
18
|
18
|
57
|
Chevrolet - 1961
|
2/500
|
$125
|
con rod
|
0
|
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