September 5, 1960 – A deadly Southern 500

NASCAR’s Southern 500 is one of the sport’s most storied races. With the exception of 2005-2008 (renamed for Dodge sponsorship), the Southern 500 has been held every year at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina since 1950. The race, historically run during Labor Day weekend, has been the site for a variety of incredible NASCAR feats, including Bill Elliott winning the Winston Million in 1985, and Jeff Gordon doing so in 1997. The race was also Darrell Waltrip’s final career victory in 1992. However, the 1960 Southern 500, held on this day of that year, is famous for more catastrophic reasons.

Above: David Pearson makes a pit stop with his 1959 Chevrolet during his first Southern 500 NASCAR Cup race at Darlington Raceway. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images). Top: The fatal wreck at the 1960 Southern 500

Some 80,000 people crowded the speedway to watch 48 cars duke it out for 500 miles. Those spectators would witness some grueling wrecks, starting when one car crashed into the pit area, injuring Ankrum “Spook” Crawford. The worst was yet to come. 

Highlights from the 1960 Southern 500. See the fatal wreck at 13:54 and Lee Petty crashing at 19:16

Later in the race Bobby Johns crashed into the pits, killing mechanics Paul McDuffie and Charles Sweatland, as well as race official Joe Taylor. While the deadliest part of the race was over, several more wrecks marred the event, which Richard Petty led for 106 laps. Pole-sitter Glenn “Fireball” Roberts suffered a broken axle, leading to a ninth place finish for him. With just 50 laps to go Petty spun out after racing on the cord for too long, thus losing the lead and finishing 6th. 

Paul McDuffie

While the wreckage was cleared, controversy would hit the finish line. Rex White would initially be declared the winner, but after officials revisited the scoresheets it was discovered he had been credited with an extra lap. When the mix up was cleared it was Buck Baker who ultimately took the checkers from behind the wheel of a 1960 Pontiac.

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. Holly Tinkham

    Dunia sepakbola dapat anda update dengan isu tentang perlombaan, klasemen, jadwal bola, prediksi lomba dan kabar-transfer pemain yang akan melengkapi website anda. Aku tunggu update dari situs anda

  2. Aurelio Ursiak

    Website anda amat informatif dan menolong tiap-tiap pengunjung yang sedang mencari isu-info seperti yang anda sediakan di web anda. Tentu laman anda amat menarik untuk dibaca, sebab aku malahan merasa terbantu oleh tiap artikel-artikel yang anda unggah. Makasih!

  3. Fonda Weary

    Akhir-akhir ini banyak komentar jahat dari para penyokong regu sepakbola kepada regu lawan. Apakah ini akan berimbas besar pada kulitas pemain sepakbola? Jangan komentar jahat-jahat kepada siapa saja. Yang sepatutnya kita lakukan yaitu menunjang tiap-tiap permainan yang diwujudkan.

  4. Lucila Hjalmarson

    Aku kurang sependapat dengan artikel anda. Aku berkeinginan anda dapat membenarkan tulisan yang telah anda unggah di website kami. Terima beri banyak untuk semua berita yang anda berikan namun untuk kebaikan kita seluruh, anda dapat berikan sedikit tambahan berita dimana aktivitas yang anda lakukan.

Comments are closed.

The best way to support This Day in Automotive History is to become a monthly subscriber on Facebook.

Subscriber benefits include:

  • Most importantly, you’re supporting great content about Automotive History
  • Early access to content on Facebook
  • Discounts on our store
  • Special live videos

If you learned something today, please buy me a beer!

No payment method connected. Contact seller.

This Day in Automotive History - the book!

This Day In Automotive History

By Brian Corey

This book tells fascinating tales, bringing individual days to life with short stories, photographs and illustrations.

This Day in Automotive History

This Day in Automotive History is a transportation history, car history and general automotive history website dedicated to providing informative and entertaining content.

We encourage you to share our page and connect with us on Facebook or sign up for our automotive history newsletter. If you’d like your car featured, reach out to us!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER!

Connect with us on Facebook or sign up for our automotive history newsletter to keep in touch.