| Race details[1] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 10 of 30 in the1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season | |||
 Layout of Talladega Superspeedway | |||
| Date | May 4, 1975 (1975-05-04) | ||
| Official name | Winston 500 | ||
| Location | Alabama International Motor Speedway,Talladega, Alabama | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 2.660 miles (4.280 km) | ||
| Distance | 188 laps, 500.1 mi (804.8 km) | ||
| Weather | Temperatures of 80.1 °F (26.7 °C); wind speeds of 9.9 miles per hour (15.9 km/h) | ||
| Average speed | 144.948 miles per hour (233.271 km/h) | ||
| Attendance | 65,000[2] | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Bud Moore Engineering | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Buddy Baker | Bud Moore Engineering | |
| Laps | 99 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 15 | Buddy Baker | Bud Moore Engineering | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | CBS | ||
| Announcers | Ken Squier | ||
The1975 Winston 500 was an automobile race at theAlabama International Motor Speedway on May 4, 1975.
The tenth race of 30 in the 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National season, it started 50 cars and ran 500.1 miles. It was the sixth annual late-April/early May running at Talladega and the fifth under Winston cigarettes sponsorship.
Talladega Superspeedway, originally known asAlabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is amotorsports complex located north ofTalladega, Alabama. It is located on the formerAnniston Air Force Base in the small city ofLincoln. The track is aTri-oval and was constructed byInternational Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by theFrance Family, in the 1960s. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line - located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts theNASCAR series such as theCup Series,Xfinity Series, and theCraftsman Truck Series. Talladega Superspeedway is the longestNASCAR oval with a length of 2.66 miles (4.28 km), and the track at its peak had aseating capacity of 175,000 spectators.[3]
Five-timeFormula One World Driver ChampionJuan Manuel Fangio (Argentina, 1951, 1954–57) was the honorary starter for the event. Ed Negre drove Dean Dalton's car, and Dean Dalton drove Ed Negre's car.
The pole and race were won byBuddy Baker, driving the 1975 Ford Torino ofBud Moore. Buddy Baker's win the first for Ford in NASCAR's "Modern Era." It snapped a long losing streak for the brand dating back to Bobby Allison's win atMiddle Georgia Raceway back in November 1971.[2] This race brought on the best finish of Harry Jefferson who finished in sixth place.[2]
His primary challengers wereBobby Allison,David Pearson,Richard Petty,Dick Brooks,Dave Marcis, andDarrell Waltrip.
The race lead changed 51 times among 11 drivers and was slowed by five cautions for 45 laps. There were several accidents.[2] Baker dominated in terms of laps led, but he didn't have the best car.[2] Cale Yarborough rocketed through the field from 24th starting spot until his windshield kept breaking. Petty was one of the best cars along with Pearson.[2] Cecil "Flash" Gordon led a couple laps early in this race when he stayed out and the leaders pitted.[2] The #24 Chevrolet wasn't upfront for long as Dick Brooks and Darrell Waltrip passed him not long after the restart.[2] Gordon's good run eventually ended in a blown engine that saw him spun in his own oil and slide into the infield off Turn 4.[2]
Donnie Allison blew his engine while leading Lap 12 and a two-car crash ensued; among those involved were Daytona 500 winnerBenny Parsons. LaterMarty Robbins was involved in a fiery crash withRamo Stott andJames Hylton. The worst accident happened toRichard Petty. On Lap 141 while leading his left-front wheel bearing caught fire. He pitted while his young brother-in-law Randy Owens was fitting a hose to a pressurized water tank; the tank exploded high into the air and landed several yards from Petty, killing Owens.[2] Another unusual event was Darrell Waltrip finishing in the top five despite being put out with engine problems on lap 182.[2] Baker crowded off a last-lap bid by Pearson for the win, his first since 1973 and the first for team owner Bud Moore since 1966.[2]
The winner of the race won $28,275 ($165,226 when adjusted for inflation) while the last-place driver walked away with $905 ($5,288 when adjusted for inflation).[4]
| Pos[2] | Grid | No. | Driver | Manufacturer | Laps | Laps led | Points | Time/Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 15 | Buddy Baker | '75Ford | 188 | 99 | 185 | 3:26:59 |
| 2 | 4 | 21 | David Pearson | '73 Mercury | 188 | 27 | 175 | +1 car length |
| 3 | 7 | 90 | Dick Brooks | '73Ford | 188 | 6 | 170 | Lead lap under green flag |
| 4 | 22 | 17 | Darrell Waltrip | '75Chevrolet | 182 | 6 | 165 | Engine failure |
| 5 | 24 | 14 | Coo Coo Marlin | '75Chevrolet | 182 | 8 | 160 | +6 laps |
| 6 | 15 | 95 | Harry Jefferson | '73Ford | 181 | 0 | 150 | +7 laps |
| 7 | 23 | 41 | Grant Adcox | '75Chevrolet | 181 | 0 | 146 | +7 laps |
| 8 | 38 | 37 | Bruce Jacobi | '75Chevrolet | 180 | 0 | 142 | +8 laps |
| 9 | 14 | 60 | Joe Mihalic | '75Chevrolet | 179 | 0 | 138 | +9 laps |
| 10 | 18 | 96 | Richard Childress | '75Chevrolet | 177 | 0 | 134 | +13 laps |
| Pos | Driver | Points[2] |
|---|---|---|
1 | Richard Petty | 1598 |
2 | Dave Marcis | 1359 |
| 3 | James Hylton | 1301 |
4 | Benny Parsons | 1296 |
| 5 | Darrell Waltrip | 1279 |
| 6 | Cecil Gordon | 1276 |
| 7 | Richard Childress | 1264 |
| 8 | Dick Brooks | 1225 |
| 9 | David Pearson | 1124 |
| 10 | Buddy Baker | 1123 |
| Preceded by | NASCAR Winston Cup Season 1975 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Talladega spring race 1975 | Succeeded by |