1962 Volunteer 500
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 17 of 53 in the 1962 NASCAR Grand National Series season | |||
Layout of Bristol Motor Speedway
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| Date | April 29, 1962 | ||
| Official name | Volunteer 500 | ||
| Location | Bristol International Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility 0.533 mi (0.857 km) |
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| Distance | 500 laps, 266.5 mi (428.8 km) | ||
| Weather | Warm with temperatures approaching 79 °F (26 °C); wind speeds up to 14 miles per hour (23 km/h) | ||
| Average speed | 73.397 miles per hour (118.121 km/h) | ||
| Attendance | 17,000 | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Banjo Matthews | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Bobby Johns | Shorty Johns | |
| Laps | 430 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 72 | Bobby Johns | Shorty Johns | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | untelevised | ||
| Announcers | none | ||
The 1962 Volunteer 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series (now Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series) event that was held on April 29, 1962, at Bristol International Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee.
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; most of the cars were trailered to events or hauled in by trucks.
This 500-lap event lasted for a duration of three hours and 24 minutes. Thirty-six drivers managed to qualify for this racing event; with Fireball Roberts earning a pole position start due to his qualifying speed of 81.374 miles per hour (130.959 km/h). Fireball Roberts, Richard Petty and Bobby Johns would dominate the opening laps while Richard Petty and Bobby Johns would dominate the closing laps. John would later credit his win in this event to having a sense of consistency; rather than accelerating the car to full throttle all the time.
Larry Frank was the last-place finisher of this event due to his car overheating on lap 29. George Green would become the final driver to finish the event while David Pearson's faulty lug bolts would prevent him from acquiring a "top five" finish. Most of the vehicles in this race were Pontiac or Chevrolet. All of the drivers were born in the United States of America; no foreigners attempted to qualify for this racing event. Bobby Johns would eventually defeat Fireball Roberts by a margin of six laps; making Johns the only finisher on the lead lap.Gene Blackburn would retire from NASCAR Cup Series racing after this event.
Individual earnings for each driver ranged from the winner's share of $4,405 ($34,876.55 when adjusted for inflation) to the meager earnings of $100 ($791.75 when adjusted for inflation) that was given to several low-ranked drivers. NASCAR only authorized a total sum of $17,865 to the qualifying drivers of this event ($141,445.99 when adjusted for inflation).
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