1969 Motor Trend 500
Encyclopedia
The 1969 Motor Trend 500 was a NASCAR
Grand National Series (now Sprint Cup Series) race that took place on February 1, 1969 at the now defunct Riverside International Raceway
in the American
community of Riverside
, California
.
spanning 2.7 miles (4.3 km). Although A.J. Foyt won the pole position with a qualifying speed of 110.323 mi/h, Richard Petty
would win the race by beating Foyt with a margin of 25 seconds using a 1969 Ford
Torino
vehicle. More than forty-six thousand fans would watch the race live to see 44 vehicles start (and only 13 of them finish the race). Most of the DNFs were caused by engine
issues. Ford
vehicles and Chevrolet
vehicles made up most of the starting grid. Other notable drivers included: LeeRoy Yarbrough
(who would be the highest finishing driver with an engine problem), Ray Elder
, Neil Castles
, Mario Andretti
(his final start), and Elmo Langley
. West Coast racer Marty Kinerk made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at this event. However, he would only compete at two races before leaving for the NASCAR Winston West Series (now K&N Pro Series West).
The entire race was completed under the green flag
without any laps being taken for either yellow or red flags. Average speeds for the entire race approached 105.498 mi/h and the duration of the race was four hours, forty-five minutes, and thirty-seven seconds. The race's top prize would be $19,650 in American dollars ($ when inflation is taken into effect). The overall winnings of this race would be $79,660 in American dollars ($ in today's money).
* Driver failed to finish race
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Grand National Series (now Sprint Cup Series) race that took place on February 1, 1969 at the now defunct Riverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway was a race track or road course in Riverside, California. The track was in operation from September 22, 1957, to July 2, 1989...
in the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
community of Riverside
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Summary
One hundred and eighty-six laps were done on a paved road courseRoad racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
spanning 2.7 miles (4.3 km). Although A.J. Foyt won the pole position with a qualifying speed of 110.323 mi/h, Richard Petty
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
would win the race by beating Foyt with a margin of 25 seconds using a 1969 Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
Torino
Ford Torino
The Ford Torino is an intermediate automobile produced by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market between 1968 and 1976. The car was named after the city of Turin , which is considered the Detroit of Italy...
vehicle. More than forty-six thousand fans would watch the race live to see 44 vehicles start (and only 13 of them finish the race). Most of the DNFs were caused by 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...
issues. Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
vehicles and Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
vehicles made up most of the starting grid. Other notable drivers included: LeeRoy Yarbrough
LeeRoy Yarbrough
Lonnie "LeeRoy" Yarbrough was a NASCAR racer. His best season was 1969 when he won seven races, tallied 21 finishes in the top-ten and earned $193,211...
(who would be the highest finishing driver with an engine problem), Ray Elder
Ray Elder
Raymond Marvin Elder was a former NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver.He participated primarily in west coast races at Riverside International Raceway and Ontario Motor Speedway from 1967 to 1978. He won races at Riverside in 1971 and 1972 driving for Fred Elder...
, Neil Castles
Neil Castles
Neil "Soapy" Castles is a retired NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver that participate from 1957 to 1976.-History:...
, Mario Andretti
Mario Andretti
Mario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR...
(his final start), and Elmo Langley
Elmo Langley
Elmo Langley was a NASCAR driver and owner. Langley primarily used the number "64" on his race cars during his NASCAR career.-Racing career:...
. West Coast racer Marty Kinerk made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at this event. However, he would only compete at two races before leaving for the NASCAR Winston West Series (now K&N Pro Series West).
The entire race was completed under the green flag
Green flag
-National flags:*The Flag of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya is a plain green flag.*Irish nationalism was traditionally represented with a green flag...
without any laps being taken for either yellow or red flags. Average speeds for the entire race approached 105.498 mi/h and the duration of the race was four hours, forty-five minutes, and thirty-seven seconds. The race's top prize would be $19,650 in American dollars ($ when inflation is taken into effect). The overall winnings of this race would be $79,660 in American dollars ($ in today's money).
Finishing order
- Richard Petty
- A.J. Foyt (only other car to finish on lead lap)
- David Pearson
- Al UnserAl UnserAlfred "Al" Unser is a former American automobile racing driver, the younger brother of fellow racing drivers Jerry and Bobby Unser, and father of Al Unser, Jr....
- James HyltonJames HyltonJames Harvey Hylton is a part-time race car driver. He is a two-time winner in NASCAR and competes in the ARCA RE/MAX Series,finishing 16th in points in 2006. He made headlines while attempting to qualify for the 2007 Daytona 500 at age 72...
- LeeRoy Yarbrough* (highest finishing driver not to finish the race)
- Ray ElderRay ElderRaymond Marvin Elder was a former NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver.He participated primarily in west coast races at Riverside International Raceway and Ontario Motor Speedway from 1967 to 1978. He won races at Riverside in 1971 and 1972 driving for Fred Elder...
(sponsored by his father Fred ElderFred ElderFred Elder is a former NASCAR Winston Cup Series race car owner whose primary manufacturer was Dodge.-Summary:His career spanned from 1968 to 1976; employing legendary NASCAR driver Ray Elder through 26 races of his career....
) - Scott CainScott CainScott Cain is the winner of the third Australian Popstars competition in 2002.In his earlier years he was a member of a band named Funkapation, who released the album Peanut Butter Brick in 2000. In the same year Funkapation competed in the Hastings Valley Battle of the Bands earning Scott the...
- John Sears
- Harold Hardesty
- Ray Johnstone
- Dick Bown
- Neil Castles
- Henley GrayHenley GrayHenley Gray is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver whose career spanned from 1964 to 1977.-Summary:...
- Bobby AllisonBobby AllisonRobert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
* - Randy Dodd*
- Marvin Sjolin (lowest finishing driver to finish the race)
- Mario AndrettiMario AndrettiMario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR...
* - Elmo LangleyElmo LangleyElmo Langley was a NASCAR driver and owner. Langley primarily used the number "64" on his race cars during his NASCAR career.-Racing career:...
* - Paul Dorrity*
- Don TarrDon TarrDonald "Don" James Tarr was a Welsh international hooker who played club rugby for Swansea and Cardiff, county rugby for Hampshire and invitational rugby for the Barbarians...
* - Roger McCluskeyRoger McCluskeyRoger McCluskey was an American race car driver. He was from Tucson, Arizona.He won championship titles in three divisions of USAC -Sprints, Stocks, and Champ Cars. He won the USAC Sprint Car title in 1963 and 1966, the USAC Stock car title in 1969 and 1970. The Champ Car title in 1973...
* - Wendell Parnell*
- Cale YarboroughCale YarboroughWilliam Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships...
* - Frank Burnett*
- Dan GurneyDan GurneyDaniel Sexton Gurney is an American racing driver, race car constructor, and team owner.The son of a Metropolitan Opera star, he was born in Port Jefferson, New York, but moved to California as a teenager...
* - Sam Rose*
- Robert Link*
- J.D. McDuffieJ.D. McDuffieJohn Delphus McDuffie was a NASCAR Winston Cup driver. He raced in the top division of NASCAR from 1963 to 1991. McDuffie had 106 top-tens in his Cup Series career...
* - Cliff Garner*
- Jerry OliverJerry OliverJerry Oliver is a former American basketball coach who served as the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team during the 1969-70 season and for the final game of the 1970-71 season....
* - Ralph Arnold*
- Don WhiteDon WhiteDon White or Donald White may refer to:* Donald C. White , Pennsylvania state senator* Donald J. White , Environmental Strategist* Don White , English rugby union footballer...
* - Marty Kinerk*
- Jack McCoyJack McCoyJohn James "Jack" McCoy is a fictional character in the television drama Law & Order, created by Michael S. Chernuchin and played by Sam Waterston since 1994. He is the second-longest tenured character on the show, after Lt. Anita Van Buren . On January 28, 2009, McCoy's character ended the longest...
* - Robert HaleRobert HaleRobert Hale may refer to:* Robert Hale , physician of Beverly, Massachusetts* Robert Beverly Hale , art writer and curator* Robert F. Hale , Under Secretary of Defense and Assistant Secretary of the Air Force...
* - Parnelli JonesParnelli JonesRufus Parnell "Parnelli" Jones , is a retired American racing driver and racecar owner. He is most remembered for his 1963 Indianapolis 500 win, and almost winning the 1967 Indy 500 in a turbine car...
* - Bobby IsaacBobby IsaacBobby Isaac is a former NASCAR Grand National champion.-Early life:Isaac grew up on a farm near Catawba, North Carolina, the second youngest of nine children...
* - Guy Jones*
- Dave James*
- Joe FrassonJoe FrassonJoseph "Joe" Frasson is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver with four finishes in the top five and nineteen finishes in the top ten under his belt. He has experienced 20284 laps of racing and an overall career windfall of $148,930...
* - Jim CookJim CookJames "Jim" Preston Cook was a stock car racer who competed in the NASCAR Grand National Series and NASCAR Pacific Coast Late Model Series. Born in Illinois, Cook lived in Boston before relocating west across the United States to Norwalk, California.-Biography:Cook began racing in Boston...
* - Johnny SteeleJohnny SteeleJohn "Johnny" Steele was a Scottish former footballer and manager.Steele signed for Barnsley from Ayr United for £2,500 in June 1938. He died of a stroke on January 14, 2008, at the age of 91.-Managerial stats:...
* - Bob England*
* Driver failed to finish race