The 1962 Southeastern 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on July 29, 1962, at Bristol International Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee.

1962 Southeastern 500
Race details[1]
Race 36 of 53 in the 1962 NASCAR Grand National Series season
Layout of Bristol Motor Speedway
Layout of Bristol Motor Speedway
Date July 29, 1962 (1962-July-29)
Official name Southeastern 500
Location Bristol International Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee
Course 0.500 mi (0.800 km)
Distance 500 laps, 250.0 mi (400.0 km)
Weather Warm with temperatures of 79 °F (26 °C); wind speeds of 8.9 mph (14.3 km/h)
Average speed 75.276 mph (121.145 km/h)
Attendance 15,000[2]
Pole position
Driver Jim Stephens
Time 22.300 seconds
Most laps led
Driver Junior Johnson Owens Racing
Laps 166
Winner
No. 42 Jim Paschal Petty Enterprises
Television in the United States
Network untelevised
Announcers none

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.

Race report

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A lineup of 44 American-born drivers made the starting grid for this 500-lap event. Fireball Roberts earned the pole position with a lap of 80.321 mph (129.264 km/h) qualifying. Approximately 4% of this race was run under a caution flag. The model years ranged from 1960 to 1962; with most drivers using a Pontiac or a Chevrolet. Although official NASCAR records state that Joe Weatherly started in 13th place, he often preferred to call the position as "12A.[2]"

While Fireball Roberts and Junior Johnson dominated the first 100 laps, Fred Lorenzen and Jim Paschal would rule the final 100 laps of this race. Fifteen thousand fans would see an event that lasted three hours and nineteen minutes. Worth McMillion was the lowest-finishing driver to complete the event; he was 68 laps behind.[2]

Paschal would go on to defeat Lorenzen by half a lap at an average speed of 75.276 mph (121.145 km/h) for the race; in a 1962 Plymouth Belvedere. Although he was not a member of the Petty family, his victory was a great asset for Petty Enterprises and would eventually pave the way for non-family members to belong in the organization. Allan Harley was given the credit for the last-place finish due to car handling issues on lap 5. Eleven drivers did not have their winnings recorded by NASCAR officials.[2] Notable crew chiefs in this race included Bud Moore, Herman Beam, Glen Wood, Banjo Matthews and Lee Petty.[3]

Individual earnings for each driver varied from $3,930 ($39,585 when adjusted for inflation) to $100 ($1,007 when adjusted for inflation). The total purse for this event was $17,925 ($180,551 when adjusted for inflation).[4]

Qualifying

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Grid No. Driver Manufacturer Speed[5] Qualifying time[5] Owner
1 22 Fireball Roberts '62 Pontiac 80.717 22.300 Jim Stephens
2 6 Junior Johnson '62 Pontiac 79.893 22.530 Cotton Owens
3 72 Bobby Johns '62 Pontiac 79.751 22.570 Shorty Johns
4 28 Fred Lorenzen '62 Ford 79.646 22.600 Holman-Moody
5 61 Sherman Utsman '62 Ford 79.470 22.650 Sherman Utsman
6 54 Jimmy Pardue '62 Pontiac 79.400 22.670 Jimmy Pardue
7 21 Marvin Panch '62 Ford 79.330 22.690 Wood Brothers
8 29 Nelson Stacy '62 Ford 79.295 22.700 Holman-Moody
9 47 Jack Smith '62 Pontiac 79.225 22.720 Jack Smith
10 20 Emanuel Zervakis '62 Mercury 79.190 22.730 Emanuel Zervakis

Failed to qualify: John Dodd Jr. (#38), Paul Lewis (#58), Darel Dieringer (#90), Al White (#31)[5]

Top 10 finishers

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Pos[2] Grid No. Driver Manufacturer Laps Winnings Laps led Time/Status
1 12 42 Jim Paschal Plymouth 500 $3,930 77 3:19:16
2 4 28 Fred Lorenzen Ford 500 $2,370 121 Lead lap under green flag
3 16 43 Richard Petty Plymouth 500 $1,540 47 Lead lap under green flag
4 14 46 Johnny Allen Pontiac 498 $1,270 60 +2 laps
5 8 29 Nelson Stacy Ford 498 $875 0 +2 laps
6 13 8 Joe Weatherly Pontiac 498 $900 0 +2 laps
7 11 4 Rex White Chevrolet 494 $650 0 +6 laps
8 21 41 Bunkie Blackburn Plymouth 491 $550 0 +9 laps
9 19 11 Ned Jarrett Chevrolet 491 $675 0 +9 laps
10 6 54 Jimmy Pardue Pontiac 491 $450 0 +9 laps

Timeline

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Section reference:[2]

Fireball Roberts
Junior Johnson
Fred Lorenzen
Richard Petty
Fred Lorenzen
Johnny Allen
Richard Petty
Junior Johnson
Richard Petty
Fred Lorenzen
Jim Paschal
Fred Lorenzen
Jim Paschal
1
21
41
61
81
101
121
141
161
181
201
221
241
261
281
301
321
341
361
381
401
421
441
461
481

References

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  1. ^ Weather information for the 1962 Southeastern 500 at The Old Farmers' Almanac
  2. ^ a b c d e f 1962 Southeastern 500 racing information at Racing Reference
  3. ^ Crew chief information at Racing Reference
  4. ^ 1962 Southeastern 500 racing information at Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet
  5. ^ a b c Qualifying information at Racing Reference
Preceded by
1962 untitled race at Rambi Raceway
NASCAR Grand National Season
1962
Succeeded by