The 1970 American 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on November 15, 1970, at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina. Jim Paschal qualified the #40 vehicle for Pete Hamilton.
Race report Twenty thousand people watched Cale Yarborough win the race which lasted 4 hours, 14 minutes, and 24 seconds. The average speed was while the pole speed was . There were seven cautions that lasted for forty-six laps and the margin of victory was four seconds. As the penultimate race in NASCAR's Grand National era, this race was crucial for people wanting to win the 1970 NASCAR Grand National Championship. Bobby Isaac finished the race in 7th place, good enough for him to clinch the championship.
492 laps were completed on the paved oval track spanning . The winner's purse was $20,445 ($ when adjusted for inflation) while last place (40th) paid $540 ($ when adjusted for inflation). Drivers who were eliminated from the race had to deal with engine problems, crashes, transmission problems, and problems with their fan pulley (in addition to their rear end). Pete Hamilton would drive in his final race for Petty Enterprises here while Cale Yarborough would complete his final race for the Wood Brothers. Future winning team owner Hoss Ellington would retire from driving after this race.Retirements from NASCAR at Race Database Cale Yarborough would eventually transfer himself to the USAC Indy Car Series in 1971.
Notable crew chiefs in this race included Herb Nab, Junie Donlavey, Harry Hyde, Dale Inman, Maurice Petty, Tom Vandiver and Banjo Matthews.
Qualifying Grid Driver Manufacturer Owner 1 99 Charlie Glotzbach '69 Dodge 136.496 26.823 Ray Nichels 2 21 Cale Yarborough '69 Mercury 135.985 26.923 Wood Brothers 3 22 Bobby Allison '69 Dodge 135.985 27.037 Mario Rossi 4 32 Dick Brooks '70 Plymouth 135.282 27.063 Dick Brooks 5 71 Bobby Isaac '69 Dodge 135.072 27.105 Nord Krauskopf 6 17 David Pearson '69 Ford 135.052 27.109 Holman-Moody 7 43 Richard Petty '70 Plymouth 134.988 27.122 Petty Enterprises 8 30 Dave Marcis '69 Dodge 134.196 27.282 Dave Marcis 9 6 Buddy Baker '69 Dodge 134.176 27.286 Cotton Owens 10 40 Pete Hamilton '70 Plymouth 133.984 27.326 Petty Enterprises
Failed to qualify: Dick Poling (#65), Roy Mayne (#46)
Finishing order Section reference:
Cale Yarborough Ford David Pearson Mercury Bobby Allison Donnie Allison Buddy Baker Richard Petty Bobby Isaac James Hylton Friday Hassler Buddy Young Joe Frasson Neil Castles Elmo Langley Jabe Thomas Pete Hamilton* Jim Vandiver Ben Arnold J.D. McDuffie Raymond Williams Wendell Scott* Cecil Gordon Johnny Halford Roy Mayne Larry Baumel Bill Champion* Frank Warren Hoss Ellington* Henley Gray LeeRoy Yarbrough* John Sears* Charlie Glotzbach* Dave Marcis* Benny Parsons* Bill Seifert* Tiny Lund* Bill Shirey* Bill Dennis* Roy Tyner* Dick Brooks* Buddy Arrington*
* Driver failed to finish race
Timeline Section reference:
References