1966 Firecracker 400
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 28 of 49 in the 1966 NASCAR Grand National Series season | |||
Track map of Daytona International Speedway showing mainly the speedway.
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| Date | July 4, 1966 | ||
| Official name | Firecracker 400 | ||
| Location | Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility 2.500 mi (4.023 km) |
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| Distance | 160 laps, 400 mi (643 km) | ||
| Weather | Temperatures reaching up to 93 °F (34 °C); wind speeds up to 12 miles per hour (19 km/h) | ||
| Average speed | 153.813 miles per hour (247.538 km/h) | ||
| Attendance | 46,200 | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Jon Thorne | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Sam McQuagg | Ray Nichels | |
| Laps | 126 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 98 | Sam McQuagg | Ray Nichels | |
The 1966 Firecracker 400 was a NASCAR Grand National Series (now Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series) event that was held on July 4, 1966, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
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.
Forty-six thousand and two hundred stock car racing fans would watch this live event from the start until the finish. It took two hours and thirty-six minutes to completely finish the race. Four cautions were given out for twenty-three laps. The average speed of the race was 153.813 miles per hour (247.538 km/h).Sam McQuagg would beat Darel Dieringer by racing the entire duration of the race exactly one minute and six seconds faster than Darel.
This was the first time that a rear spoiler would be used in any NASCAR Cup Series race. On the day of the race, the factory engineers at Dodge would install this new invention on McQuagg's car (which would eventually cause him to go several miles per hour faster than his opponents).
Individual winnings for this event ranged from the winner's share of $13,600 ($100,388.92 when considering inflation) to the last-place finisher's share of $350 ($2,583.54 when considering inflation). A grand total of $55,105 was handed out to every qualifying driver who participated in this racing event ($406,759.68 when considering inflation).
† signifies that the driver is known to be deceased
* Driver failed to finish race
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