1969 Sandlapper 200
Race details[1]
Race 45 of 54 in the 1969 NASCAR Grand National Series season
Date September 18, 1969 (1969-September-18)
Official name Sandlapper 200
Location Columbia Speedway, Columbia, South Carolina
Course Permanent racing facility
0.500 mi (0.804 km)
Distance 200 laps, 100 mi (160 km)
Weather Very hot with temperatures of 86 °F (30 °C); wind speeds of 8.9 miles per hour (14.3 km/h)
Average speed 70.23 mph (113.02 km/h)
Attendance 6,500[2]
Pole position
Driver
Nord Krauskopf
Most laps led
Driver Richard Petty Petty Enterprises
Laps 131
Winner
No. 71 Bobby Isaac Nord Krauskopf
Television in the United States
Network untelevised
Announcers none

The 1969 Sandlapper 200 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on September 18, 1969, at Columbia Speedway in Columbia, South Carolina.

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.

Background

Columbia Speedway was an oval racetrack located in Cayce, a suburb of Columbia, South Carolina. It was the site of auto races for NASCAR's top series from 1951 through 1971.[3] For most of its history, the racing surface was dirt. The races in April and August 1970 were two of the final three Grand National Series races ever held on a dirt track.[4]

The track was paved before hosting its last two Grand National races in 1971.

Race report

Bobby Isaac defeated Richard Petty by half a lap in front of a live audience of 6,500 NASCAR followers.[2][5][6] Notable crew chiefs that participated in the event were John Hill, Dick Hutcherson, Dale Inman and Harry Hyde.[7]

The first-place position of the race changed hands three times and the race lasted one hour and twenty-five minutes.[2][5][8] Only two caution flags were waved for 15 laps.[2][5] While Petty would qualify for the pole position with a top speed of 73.108 miles per hour (117.656 km/h) in qualifying, the average speed of the race winner would be 70.23 miles per hour (113.02 km/h).[2][5][6][8] The race was done on a dirt oval track and Isaac received $1,000 in prize winnings ($7,980 when adjusted for inflation).[2][5][8] There were 23 American-born drivers on the starting grid.[2]

Eldon Yarbrough, the brother of the late LeeRoy Yarbrough, would retire from NASCAR after this race with his only top ten finish in NASCAR history.[5] Wayne Gillette would withdraw from the race for reasons unknown and would finish the race in last place.[2][5][8] Johnny Halford would make his NASCAR debut here.[5]

Qualifying

Grid[2] No. Driver Manufacturer Owner
1 43Richard Petty'69 FordPetty Enterprises
2 71Bobby Isaac'69 DodgeNord Krauskopf
3 4John Sears'69 FordL.G. DeWitt
4 47Cecil Gordon'68 FordBill Seifert
5 0Frank Warren'67 ChevroletDon Tarr
6 17David Pearson'69 FordHolman-Moody Racing
7 45Bill Seifert'68 FordBill Seifert
8 8Ed Negre'67 PlymouthG.C. Spencer
9 48James Hylton'69 DodgeJames Hylton
10 10Bill Champion'68 FordBill Champion
11 70J.D. McDuffie'67 BuickJ.D. McDuffie
12 25Jabe Thomas'67 PlymouthDon Robertson
13 64Elmo Langley'68 FordElmo Langley
14 09E.J. Trivette'67 ChevroletE.C. Reid
15 04Ken Meisenhelder'67 OldsmobileKen Meisenhelder
16 76Ben Arnold'68 FordDon Culpepper
17 34Wendell Scott'67 FordWendell Scott
18 19Henley Gray'68 FordHarry Melton
19 08Wayne Gillette'69 ChevroletE.C. Reid
20 06Neil Castles'67 PlymouthNeil Castles

Top 10 finishers

Pos[2] Grid No. Driver Manufacturer Laps Winnings Laps led Time/Status
1 271Bobby IsaacDodge200$1,000691:25:26
2 143Richard PettyFord200$600131+0.5 laps
3 948James HyltonDodge196$4000+4 laps
4 34John SearsFord195$3500+5 laps
5 2356Eldon YarbroughFord194$3250+6 laps
6 1364Elmo LangleyFord190$3000+10 laps
7 1170J.D. McDuffieBuick189$2750+11 laps
8 1734Wendell ScottFord187$2700+13 laps
9 447Cecil GordonFord187$2650+13 laps
10 745Bill SeifertFord186$2600+14 laps

Timeline

Section reference: [2]

  • Start of race: Richard Petty started the race with the pole position but was quickly overtaken by Bobby Isaac.
  • Lap 3: Wayne Gillette quits the race due to personal reasons.
  • Lap 4: Richard Petty retook the lead from Bobby Isaac.
  • Lap 13: Ed Negre's transmission developed problems, forcing him out of the race.
  • Lap 34: Paul Dean Holt's engine stopped working properly, ending his race weekend prematurely.
  • Lap 45: The axle on Neil Castles' vehicle became problematic, ending his day on the track.
  • Lap 82: David Pearson had a terminal crash, forcing him to withdraw from the event.
  • Lap 108: Frank Warren's vehicle developed suspension problems, causing him to exit the race.
  • Lap 135: Bobby Isaac took over the lead from Richard Petty.
  • Finish: Bobby Isaac was officially declared the winner of the event.

References

  1. ↑ Weather information for the 1969 Sandlapper 200 at The Old Farmers' Almanac
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1969 Sandlapper 200 race information at Racing-Reference, retrieved 30 January 2012
  3. ↑ Columbia Speedway page of Racing-Reference website , retrieved 8 May 2007.
  4. ↑ Fielden, Greg, "NASCAR Cleans Up", Speedway Illustrated, September 2004.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1969 Sandlapper 200 race information at Race-Database.com
  6. 1 2 1969 Sandlapper 200 race information at DatabaseRacing.com
  7. ↑ Crew chief information at Racing Reference
  8. 1 2 3 4 1969 Sandlapper 200 racing information at FantasyRacingCheatSheet.com
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