1970 American 500
# 1970 American 500

The 1970 American 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on November 15, 1970, at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina. Jim Paschal qualified the #40 vehicle for Pete Hamilton.

## Race report

Twenty thousand people watched Cale Yarborough win the race which lasted 4 hours, 14 minutes, and 24 seconds. The average speed was 117.811 miles per hour (189.598 km/h) while the pole speed was 136.496 miles per hour (219.669 km/h). There were seven cautions that lasted for forty-six laps and the margin of victory was four seconds. As the penultimate race in NASCAR's Grand National era, this race was crucial for people wanting to win the 1970 NASCAR Grand National Championship. Bobby Isaac finished the race in 7th place, good enough for him to clinch the championship.

492 laps were completed on the paved oval track spanning 1.017 miles (1.637 km). The winner's purse was $20,445 ($154,065 when adjusted for inflation) while last place (40th) paid $540 ($3,768 when adjusted for inflation). Drivers who were eliminated from the race had to deal with engine problems, crashes, transmission problems, and problems with their fan pulley (in addition to their rear end). Pete Hamilton would drive in his final race for Petty Enterprises here while Cale Yarborough would complete his final race for the Wood Brothers. Future winning team owner Hoss Ellington would retire from driving after this race. Cale Yarborough would eventually transfer himself to the USAC Indy Car Series in 1971.

Notable crew chiefs in this race included Herb Nab, Junie Donlavey, Harry Hyde, Dale Inman, Maurice Petty, Tom Vandiver and Banjo Matthews.

### Qualifying

| Grid | No. | Driver | Manufacturer | Speed | Qualifying time | Owner |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 99 | Charlie Glotzbach | '69 Dodge | 136.496 | 26.823 | Ray Nichels |
| 2 | 21 | Cale Yarborough | '69 Mercury | 135.985 | 26.923 | Wood Brothers |
| 3 | 22 | Bobby Allison | '69 Dodge | 135.985 | 27.037 | Mario Rossi |
| 4 | 32 | Dick Brooks | '70 Plymouth | 135.282 | 27.063 | Dick Brooks |
| 5 | 71 | Bobby Isaac | '69 Dodge | 135.072 | 27.105 | Nord Krauskopf |
| 6 | 17 | David Pearson | '69 Ford | 135.052 | 27.109 | Holman-Moody |
| 7 | 43 | Richard Petty | '70 Plymouth | 134.988 | 27.122 | Petty Enterprises |
| 8 | 30 | Dave Marcis | '69 Dodge | 134.196 | 27.282 | Dave Marcis |
| 9 | 6 | Buddy Baker | '69 Dodge | 134.176 | 27.286 | Cotton Owens |
| 10 | 40 | Pete Hamilton | '70 Plymouth | 133.984 | 27.326 | Petty Enterprises |

Failed to qualify: Dick Poling (#65), Roy Mayne (#46)

## Finishing order

Section reference:

* Cale Yarborough
* David Pearson
* Bobby Allison
* Donnie Allison
* Buddy Baker
* Richard Petty
* Bobby Isaac
* James Hylton
* Friday Hassler
* Buddy Young
* Joe Frasson
* Neil Castles
* Elmo Langley
* Jabe Thomas
* Pete Hamilton*
* Jim Vandiver
* Ben Arnold
* J.D. McDuffie
* Raymond Williams
* Wendell Scott*
* Cecil Gordon
* Johnny Halford
* Roy Mayne
* Larry Baumel
* Bill Champion*
* Frank Warren
* Hoss Ellington*
* Henley Gray
* LeeRoy Yarbrough*
* John Sears*
* Charlie Glotzbach*
* Dave Marcis*
* Benny Parsons*
* Bill Seifert*
* Tiny Lund*
* Bill Shirey*
* Bill Dennis*
* Roy Tyner*
* Dick Brooks*
* Buddy Arrington*
* Driver failed to finish race

## Timeline

Section reference:

