The1965 Fireball 200was aNASCARGrand National Seriesevent that was held on February 28, 1965, atAsheville-Weaverville SpeedwayinWeaverville, North Carolina.The name of the race was likely a homage to the late Fireball Roberts who died the year before in Charlotte.
| Race details[1][2] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 6 of 55 in the1965 NASCAR Grand National Seriesseason | |||
| Date | February 28, 1965 | ||
| Official name | Fireball 200 | ||
| Location | Asheville-Weaverville Speedway,Weaverville, North Carolina | ||
| Course |
Permanent racing facility 0.500 mi (0.804 km) | ||
| Distance | 200 laps, 100 mi (151 km) | ||
| Weather | Chilly with temperatures of 64.9 °F (18.3 °C); wind speeds of 8.9 miles per hour (14.3 km/h) | ||
| Average speed | 75.678 miles per hour (121.792 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Bondy Long | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Ned Jarrett | Bondy Long | |
| Laps | 199 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 11 | Ned Jarrett | Bondy Long | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | untelevised | ||
| Announcers | none | ||
The transition to purpose-built racecars began in the early 1960s and occurred gradually over that decade. Changes made to the sport by the late 1960s brought an end to the "strictly stock" vehicles of the 1950s.
Race report
editTwo hundred laps took place on a pavedoval trackspanning 0.500 miles (0.805 km) for a grand total of 100.0 miles (160.9 km).[2]It took an hour and nineteen minutes for the race to reach its conclusion;Ned JarrettdefeatedDick Hutchersonby an unknown length of time in front of 6500 people.[2]Notable speeds were: 75.678 miles per hour (121.792 km/h) as the average speed and 84.230 miles per hour (135.555 km/h) as the pole position speed.[2]Two cautions were given for an unknown number of laps.[2]
Total winnings for this race were $4,490 ($43,411 when adjusted for inflation).[3]
Most of the stock car owners were independent with only three "corporate" racing teams showing up for the event.Buddy Bakerended up as the last-place finisher; he would only finish nine laps out of the regulation length of 200 laps due to a problem with the back of his Plymouth vehicle. Most of the starting grid would drive automobiles designed by theFord Motor Company;with the now-dominantChevroletbrand only fielding three vehicles.[4]
Notable crew chiefs who actively participated in the race were Lanty McClung, Herb Nab, and John Ervin.[5]
Qualifying
edit| Grid[2] | No. | Driver | Manufacturer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Ned Jarrett | '65 Ford | Bondy Long |
| 2 | 49 | G.C. Spencer | '64 Ford | G.C. Spencer |
| 3 | 29 | Dick Hutcherson | '65 Ford | Holman-Moody |
| 4 | 26 | Junior Johnson | '65 Ford | Junior Johnson |
| 5 | 10 | Cale Yarborough | '64 Ford | Gary Weaver |
| 6 | 38 | Neil Castles | '64 Dodge | Buck Baker |
| 7 | 19 | J.T. Putney | '65 Chevrolet | Herman Beam |
| 8 | 55 | Tiny Lund | '64 Ford | Lyle Stelter |
| 9 | 37 | Bub Strickler | '64 Ford | Bub Strickler |
| 10 | 75 | Gene Black | '64 Ford | C.L. Crawford |
Timeline
editSection reference:[2]
- Start of race: Ned Jarrett started the race in the pole position.
- Lap 9: The rear end of Buddy Baker's vehicle became problematic, ending his day on the track.
- Lap 16: Doug Cooper had problems with his engine; forcing him to leave the race.
- Lap 36: The differential on Doug Moore's vehicle became problematic, forcing him to finish in 19th place in a 21-car grid.
- Lap 50: Gene Black's radiator developed problems on this lap.
- Lap 63: Wendell Scott's oil pressure became a safety issue, causing him to exit the event.
- Lap 105: Dick Hutcherson takes over the lead from Ned Jarrett.
- Lap 106: Ned Jarrett takes over the lead from Dick Hutcherson.
- Lap 124: Barry Brooks had a terminal crash, forcing him to withdraw from the event.
- Lap 171: The bell housing on Frank Weathers' vehicle became problematic.
- Lap 176: Junior Johnson developed problems with his vehicle's differential.
- Finish: Ned Jarrett was officially declared the winner of the event.
Finishing order
editSection reference:[2]
- Ned Jarrett (No. 11)
- Dick Hutcherson (No. 29)
- Cale Yarborough(No. 10)
- G.C. Spencer(No. 49)
- Danny Byrd(No. 08)
- J.T. Putney(No. 19)
- Neil Castles(No. 38)
- Bub Strickler(No. 37)
- Ned Setzer(No. 16)
- Tiny Lund(No. 55)
- Bob Derrington(No. 68)
- Junior Johnson* (No. 26)
- Gene Hobby(No. 99)
- Frank Weathers* (No. 81)
- Barry Brooks* (No. 61)
- Darel Dieringer* (No. 31)
- Wendell Scott* (No. 34)
- Gene Black* (No. 75)
- Doug Moore* (No. 58)
- Doug Cooper* (No. 60)
- Buddy Baker* (No. 86)
* Driver failed to finish race
References
edit- ^"1965 Fireball 200 weather information".The Old Farmers' Almanac.Retrieved2012-08-30.
- ^abcdefgh"1965 Fireball 200 information".Racing Reference.Retrieved2011-01-18.
- ^"Total prize purse for the 1965 Fireball 200".Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet.Retrieved2014-04-05.
- ^"Additional 1965 Fireball 200 information".Driver Averages. Archived fromthe originalon 2014-04-07.Retrieved2014-04-05.
- ^"1965 Fireball 200 crew chiefs information".Racing Reference.Retrieved2018-08-28.