1963 Turkey Day 200
Encyclopedia
The 1963 Turkey Day 200 was a 200-lap race that took place on November 22, 1962 at the Tar Heel Speedway in the American
community of Randleman
, North Carolina
.
Being a ¼-mile track, the entire race only spanned 50 miles (80.5 km). Three thousand and five hundred people attended this live racing event which ended in one hour and three minutes. Twenty-three American
drivers and one Canadian
driver (Jim Bray
) participated in this race. Notable speeds were: 47.544 mi/h for the average speed and 51.933 mi/h for the pole position speeds. These slow speeds would not look out of place on a modern day American Interstate highway
. The winner (Jim Paschal
who raced for Petty Enterprises
) would receive $575 in winnings ($ in today's money) while the last place driver (Ned Jarrett
) would walk away with $100 in prize winnings ($ in today's money). Glen Wood
would lead the most laps (173) before finishing the race in 15th place due to an engine
problem.
Since 2001, NASCAR has never organized a race this late in the year for its NASCAR Cup Series because NASCAR now mandates a 12-week silly season
.
* Driver failed to finish race
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
community of Randleman
Randleman, North Carolina
Randleman is a city in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,557 at the 2000 census. It is the home of NASCAR's Petty family, the Richard Petty Museum, and the Victory Junction Gang Camp.-Geography:...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
Summary
This race, while being in the 1963 season happened after November 1, 1962. This put the racing event in the 1963 points season.Being a ¼-mile track, the entire race only spanned 50 miles (80.5 km). Three thousand and five hundred people attended this live racing event which ended in one hour and three minutes. Twenty-three American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
drivers and one Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
driver (Jim Bray
Jim Bray
Jim Bray was a competitive artistic roller skater. He won several national titles in Singles and Pairs. At the age of 18 he gave up his amateur status to star in the roller disco movie Roller Boogie starring Linda Blair. This would be his only film appearance...
) participated in this race. Notable speeds were: 47.544 mi/h for the average speed and 51.933 mi/h for the pole position speeds. These slow speeds would not look out of place on a modern day American Interstate highway
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
. The winner (Jim Paschal
Jim Paschal
James Roy "Jim" Paschal, Jr. was a NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup driver. He won twenty-five races and twelve poles over his career. Elected to the "Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame" in 1977, he won the World 600 in 1964 and the 1967 Charlotte Motor Speedway...
who raced for Petty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises was a NASCAR racing team based in Randleman, North Carolina, USA. The team was owned by Richard Petty, his son Kyle Petty, and Boston Ventures. At the time of its folding the team operated the #43 and #45 Dodge Chargers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Petty Enterprises ran from...
) would receive $575 in winnings ($ in today's money) while the last place driver (Ned Jarrett
Ned Jarrett
Ned Jarrett is a retired race car driver and two-time NASCAR champion.Jarrett was best known for his calm demeanor, and he became known as "Gentleman Ned Jarrett", yet he was an intense competitor when he put his two hands on the steering wheel of a NASCAR Grand National stock car...
) would walk away with $100 in prize winnings ($ in today's money). Glen Wood
Glen Wood
Glen Wood is a former NASCAR driver from Stuart, Virginia. He founded the legendary Wood Brothers Racing team in 1953, and won four races over an eleven year racing career. In 1998, he was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers. On June 14, 2011, it was announced that Wood will be inducted in...
would lead the most laps (173) before finishing the race in 15th place due to an engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
problem.
Since 2001, NASCAR has never organized a race this late in the year for its NASCAR Cup Series because NASCAR now mandates a 12-week silly season
Silly season
The silly season is the period lasting for a few summer months typified by the emergence of frivolous news stories in the media. This term was known by the end of the 19th century and listed in the second edition of Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable and remains in use at the start of the 21st...
.
Finishing order
- Jim Paschal
- Joe Weatherly
- Tommy IrwinTommy IrwinThomas Andrew Irwin was a Major League Baseball player. An alumnus of the University of North Carolina, Irwin was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in and played three games for them in October...
- David Pearson
- Maurice Petty
- Curtis CriderCurtis CriderCurtis Crider was a pioneer in NASCAR's early years.He was one of the hardest working and underfinanced racers to ever drive the stock car circuit. Landing in a lake eventually earned him the nickname "Crawfish." Like most early NASCAR racers, Crider was a bootlegger and delievered moonshine to...
- Sherman UtsmanSherman UtsmanSherman Utsman is a retired NASCAR Grand National driver.From the age of 24 to the age of 31, Sherman has competed in and 5304 laps of racing. Most of his rides were with the 1962 Ford Galaxie bearing the #6 number. Sherman is related to fellow drivers Dub, John, Larry, and Layman Utsman...
- Jimmy PardueJimmy PardueJimmy Pardue is a former race car driver who lived in North Wilkesboro, North America, USA.-Summary:He made his debut in 1955 at Martinsville, where he finished 28th after suffering hub problems in his Chevrolet Bel Air vehicle. He made his first full-time attempt in 1960 where he had eleven top-tens...
- George GreenGeorge GreenGeorge Green was a British mathematical physicist who wrote An Essay on the Application of Mathematical Analysis to the Theories of Electricity and Magnetism...
- Wendell ScottWendell ScottWendell Oliver Scott was an American stock car racing driver from Danville, Virginia. He is the only black driver to win a race in what is now the Sprint Cup Series. According to a 2008 biography of Scott, he broke the color barrier in Southern stock car racing on May 23, 1952, at the Danville...
- Richard Petty*
- Jack Deniston
- Ray Hughes
- Bill FosterBill FosterBill Foster may refer to:* Bill Foster , U.S. Congressman , physicist* Bill Foster , Negro League baseball player* Bill Foster Bill Foster may refer to:* Bill Foster (Illinois politician) (born 1955), U.S. Congressman (D-IL), physicist* Bill Foster (baseball) (1904–1978), Negro League baseball...
- Glen WoodGlen WoodGlen Wood is a former NASCAR driver from Stuart, Virginia. He founded the legendary Wood Brothers Racing team in 1953, and won four races over an eleven year racing career. In 1998, he was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers. On June 14, 2011, it was announced that Wood will be inducted in...
* - Jim Bray
- Sam Fogle
- G.C. SpencerG.C. SpencerG. C. Spencer July 9, 1925 in Owensboro, Kentucky – September 20, 2007 in Johnson City, Tennessee was a NASCAR driver who competed in 415 Grand National/Winston Cup races from 1958 to 1977...
* - Lyle Stetler*
- Fred Harb*
- Herman BeamHerman BeamHerman Beam was a NASCAR Grand National driver and team owner from Johnson City, Tennessee who was active as a driver from 1957 until 1963. He is famous for holding the longest streak of races without a DNF, with 84, from 1961 until 1963...
- John Hoffman*
- Larry ThomasLarry Thomas (NASCAR driver)Larry Thomas was a NASCAR Grand National driver from Thomasville, NC. Thomas died in a non-racing related car crash during the start of the 1965 NASCAR season.-Driving career:...
* - Ned JarrettNed JarrettNed Jarrett is a retired race car driver and two-time NASCAR champion.Jarrett was best known for his calm demeanor, and he became known as "Gentleman Ned Jarrett", yet he was an intense competitor when he put his two hands on the steering wheel of a NASCAR Grand National stock car...
*
* Driver failed to finish race