1973 Daytona 500

1973 Daytona 500

Race details
Race 2 of 28 in the 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
1973 Daytona 500 program cover
Date	February 18, 1973 (1973-02-18)
Location	Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
Course	Permanent racing facility 2.5 mi (4.023 km)
Distance	200 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km)
Weather	Cold with temperatures of 54.9 °F (12.7 °C); wind speeds of 12 miles per hour (19 km/h)
Average speed	157.205 miles per hour (252.997 km/h)
Attendance	103,000
Pole position
Driver	Buddy Baker	K&K Insurance Racing
Qualifying race winners
Duel 1 Winner	Buddy Baker	Nord Krauskopf
Duel 2 Winner	Coo Coo Marlin	H.B. Cunningham
Most laps led
Driver	Buddy Baker	K&K Insurance Racing
Laps	156
Winner
No. 43	Richard Petty	Petty Enterprises
Television in the United States
Network	ABC's Wide World of Sports
Announcers	Jim McKay Jackie Stewart Chris Economaki

The 1973 Daytona 500, the 15th running of the event, was won by Richard Petty on February 18, 1973, at Daytona International Raceway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Four cautions slowed the race for 28 laps. A crowd of over one hundred thousand came to see a field of 38 American and two Canadians (Earl Ross and Vic Parsons). The average speed for the race was 157.205 miles per hour (252.997 km/h) while Buddy Baker achieved the pole position with a speed of 185.662 miles per hour (298.794 km/h). Bobby Isaac would finish second to Richard Petty by more than two laps.

Both Hollar and Jett participated in qualifying and were supposed to start in the 125s (Hollar was supposed to start 38th in race 1 and Jett was supposed to start 26th in race 2), but for whatever reason neither driver ended up participating.

Background

Daytona International Speedway, the track where the race will be held.

Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, that is one of six superspeedways to hold NASCAR races, the others being Michigan International Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway. The standard track at Daytona is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long. The track also features two other layouts that utilize portions of the primary high speed tri-oval, such as a 3.56-mile (5.73 km) sports car course and a 2.95-mile (4.75 km) motorcycle course. The track's 180-acre (73 ha) infield includes the 29-acre (12 ha) Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing. The speedway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

The track was built by NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. to host racing that was being held at the former Daytona Beach Road Course and opened with the first Daytona 500 in 1959. The speedway has been renovated three times, with the infield renovated in 2004, and the track repaved in 1978 and 2010.

The Daytona 500 is regarded as the most important and prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar. It is also the series' first race of the year; this phenomenon is virtually unique in sports, which tend to have championships or other major events at the end of the season rather than the start. Since 1995, U.S. television ratings for the Daytona 500 have been the highest for any auto race of the year, surpassing the traditional leader, the Indianapolis 500 which in turn greatly surpasses the Daytona 500 in in-track attendance and international viewing. The 2006 Daytona 500 attracted the sixth largest average live global TV audience of any sporting event that year with 20 million viewers.

Speedweeks

32-year-old Buddy Baker believed it was finally his year. He had won the pole (see above), and in the first Twin 125 race, Baker fought off the effects of an ear infection and beat Cale Yarborough, 1968 champion of the Daytona 500, in a sprinted duel. In that first race, a 26-year-old Tennessee rookie named Darrell Waltrip, had one of the most impressive runs. Driving his own 1971 Mercury, Waltrip finished sixth and captured the eleventh starting spot for his first 500.

Another Tennessee driver stole the spotlight that day, Coo Coo Marlin, a 41-year-old journeyman whose best finish in four previous 500s was 18th, shocked the crowd by passing David Pearson with 6 laps to go to win the second twin 125. Richard Petty finished fourth in the first Twin 125 and was not happy with his Dodge until his crew made major suspension changes the day before the race.

Race Summary

Race morning dawned gray and rainy. Similar to the 1979 race, the race was started under caution and began with 13 laps under yellow to have the cars help dry the track. Once under green Baker led the first 33 laps as Yarborough, Petty, Issac, and Pearson clung tenaciously to him. Petty lead for the first time on lap 37. But as the race continued, Baker took over. He took the lead from Issac on lap 40 and led 17 circuits. Then he led laps 71 through 102 before Yarborough squeezed past. But Baker took over again on lap 109.

By this time, Petty was out of sequence with the field. he cut a right rear tire on lap 88 and was forced to the pits. he lost a lap. He would make up the lap when the leaders pitted, but lose it when he pitted again.

With 50 laps to go, Baker was in front. He had dominated, leading 119 of the first 150 circuits, even as Yarborough stubbornly hung with him. As usual, engine problems took their toll. Pete Hamilton the 1970 winner who had qualified second, was first out on lap 33. David Pearson's engine expired after 63 laps. Bobby Allison and Coo Coo Marlin's engines also blew.

On lap 155, John Utsman's engine blew and he spun just past the finish line. Petty was back on the lead lap with Baker, but about to head for the pits. Petty just missed the spinning car. The yellow flag gave Petty another break. It allowed him to pit with Baker and remain on the lead lap. Meanwhile, Yarborough's engine quit during the caution period. He was out of the race. Yarborough had led six times for 25 laps and his spirited challenge of Baker had kept the fans entertained all afternoon.

Now it was down to Petty and Baker. They were the only drivers still on the lead lap. Baker led laps 165 through 184, but both drivers needed one more quick stop for fuel. Petty came in first. He waited until the last moment before diving off turn four on lap 189 and screamed into his pit. Petty's car spewed tire smoke as he slid to a perfect stop. Five gallons and 8.4 seconds later, Petty was on his way.

Baker came in the next lap. He did not enter the pits as quickly. His stop took 9.9 seconds. When both cars reached full speed, Petty had a 4.4-second lead. Baker immediately began closing the gap. With six laps remaining, he was only 2.5 seconds behind. Suddenly, Baker's engine blew. It was over.

Petty won his fourth Daytona 500, he would win three more. Waltrip finished his first 500 in 12th. His first and only Daytona 500 win didn't come until 1989.

First Daytona 500 starts for Hershel McGriff, Darrell Waltrip, Ed Negre, John Utsman, Marty Robbins, and Earl Ross. Only Daytona 500 starts for Vic Parsons and Larry Smith. Last Daytona 500 starts for Jabe Thomas, Ray Elder, Ron Keselowski, Maynard Troyer, John Sears, Red Farmer, Tiny Lund, Neil Castles, Gordon Johncock, and Pete Hamilton.

Race results

Pos	Grid	No.	Driver	Entrant	Manufacturer	Laps	Winnings	Laps led	Time/Status
1	7	43	Richard Petty	Petty Enterprises	1973 Dodge	200	$36,100	17	3:10:50
2	10	15	Bobby Isaac	Bud Moore Engineering	1973 Ford	198	$17,300	1	+2 Laps
3	9	6	Dick Brooks	Cotton Owens	1973 Dodge	197	$9,800	0	+3 Laps
4	8	50	A. J. Foyt	A. J. Foyt Enterprises	1973 Chevrolet	196	$7,020	0	+4 Laps
5	6	04	Hershel McGriff	Beryl Jackson	1972 Plymouth	195	$6,025	0	+5 Laps
6	1	71	Buddy Baker	Nord Krauskopf	1972 Dodge	194	$14,725	156	Engine
7	12	48	James Hylton	James Hylton	1971 Mercury	194	$4,525	0	+6 Laps
8	16	90	Ramo Stott	Donlavey Racing	1971 Mercury	193	$4,095	0	+7 Laps
9	36	67	Buddy Arrington	Buddy Arrington	1972 Dodge	192	$2,900	0	+8 Laps
10	27	45	Vic Parsons	Bill Seifert	1971 Mercury	190	$2,945	0	+10 Laps
11	24	05	David Sisco	Charlie McGee	1972 Chevrolet	190	$2,750	0	+10 Laps
12	11	95	Darrell Waltrip	Darrell Waltrip	1971 Mercury	188	$2,625	0	+12 Laps
13	14	18	Joe Frasson	Joe Frasson	1973 Dodge	188	$2,275	0	+12 Laps
14	17	92	Larry Smith	Harley Smith	1971 Mercury	187	$2,200	0	+13 Laps
15	32	25	Jabe Thomas	Don Robertson	1973 Dodge	187	$2,470	0	+13 Laps
16	34	79	Frank Warren	Frank Warren	1973 Dodge	182	$2,435	0	+18 Laps
17	28	8	Ed Negre	Ed Negre	1971 Mercury	182	$2,445	0	+18 Laps
18	15	96	Ray Elder	Fred Elder	1972 Dodge	180	$1,985	0	Engine
19	26	30	Walter Ballard	Vic Ballard	1972 Chevrolet	174	$2,415	0	Clutch
20	39	88	Ron Keselowski	Roger Lubinski	1972 Dodge	168	$1,500	0	+32 Laps
21	31	24	Cecil Gordon	Cecil Gordon	1972 Chevrolet	155	$2,175	0	+45 Laps
22	3	11	Cale Yarborough	Richard Howard	1973 Chevrolet	154	$4,250	25	Engine
23	21	60	Maynard Troyer	Joe Nagle	1973 Ford	150	$1,825	0	Engine
24	25	49	John Utsman	G. C. Spencer	1972 Dodge	145	$1,780	0	Engine
25	29	12	Bobby Allison	Bobby Allison Motorsports	1973 Chevrolet	141	$3,735	0	Engine
26	22	70	J. D. McDuffie	McDuffie Racing	1971 Chevrolet	129	$2,260	0	Engine
27	33	2	Dave Marcis	Penske Racing	1973 Matador	125	$1,325	0	Rear end
28	18	31	Jim Vandiver	O. L. Nixon	1972 Dodge	123	$1,300	0	Overheating
29	4	14	Coo Coo Marlin	H. B. Cunningham	1972 Chevrolet	118	$2,775	0	Engine
30	13	72	Benny Parsons	L. G. DeWitt	1972 Chevrolet	101	$2,195	0	Engine
31	40	4	John Sears	J. Marvin Mills	1973 Dodge	65	$2,060	0	Steering
32	23	97	Red Farmer	Willie Humphries	1972 Ford	65	$1,665	0	Transmission
33	20	21	David Pearson	Wood Brothers Racing	1971 Mercury	63	$2,200	1	Engine
34	37	42	Marty Robbins	Marty Robbins	1972 Dodge	63	$1,515	0	Crash
35	35	17	Bill Dennis	H. J. Brooking	1972 Chevrolet	62	$1,225	0	Engine
36	19	55	Tiny Lund	Carl Price	1972 Chevrolet	54	$1,510	0	Rear end
37	38	06	Neil Castles	Neil Castles	1972 Dodge	38	$1,430	0	Engine
38	5	28	Gordon Johncock	Hoss Ellington	1972 Chevrolet	35	$1,800	0	Oil leak
39	30	52	Earl Ross	Allan Brooke	1973 Chevrolet	34	$1,385	0	Engine
40	2	9	Pete Hamilton	Jack Housby	1972 Plymouth	33	$2,000	0	Engine
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