1970 Alabama 500
# 1970 Alabama 500

The 1970 Alabama 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on April 12, 1970, at Alabama International Motor Speedway (now Talladega Superspeedway) in Talladega, Alabama. As the inaugural running of what is now known as the GEICO 500, it helped to serve as a prime example of Talladega races yet to come.

Nord Krauskopf's Bobby Isaac won the pole position, and the race was won by Petty Enterprises's Pete Hamilton.

## Background

Alabama International Motor Speedway (AIMS), later known as Talladega Superspeedway, is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a Tri-oval and was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France 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 the NASCAR series such as the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the NASCAR Truck Series. The track is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66 miles (4.28 km), and the track at its peak had a seating capacity of 175,000 spectators.

## Qualifying

| Grid | No. | Driver | Manufacturer | Team/Owner |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 71 | Bobby Isaac | '69 Dodge | K&K Insurance Racing |
| 2 | 17 | David Pearson | '69 Ford | Holman-Moody |
| 3 | 99 | Charlie Glotzbach | '69 Dodge | Nichels Engineering |
| 4 | 22 | Bobby Allison | '69 Dodge | Mario Rossi |
| 5 | 6 | Buddy Baker | '69 Dodge | Owens Racing |
| 6 | 40 | Pete Hamilton | '70 Plymouth | Petty Enterprises |
| 7 | 32 | Dick Brooks | '70 Plymouth | Brooks Racing |
| 8 | 43 | Richard Petty | '70 Plymouth | Petty Enterprises |
| 9 | 14 | Freddy Fryar | '70 Plymouth | Bill Ellis |
| 10 | 79 | Frank Warren | '69 Plymouth | Frank Warren |
| 11 | 72 | Benny Parsons | '69 Ford | DeWitt Racing |
| 12 | 59 | Richard Brickhouse | '70 Ford | Tom Pistone |
| 13 | 37 | Don Tarr | '69 Dodge | Don Tarr |
| 14 | 64 | Elmo Langley | '69 Ford | Langley Racing |
| 15 | 45 | Bill Seifert | '69 Ford | Bill Seifert |
| 16 | 25 | Jabe Thomas | '69 Plymouth | Don Robertson |
| 17 | 47 | Raymond Williams | '69 Ford | Bill Seifert |
| 18 | 24 | Cecil Gordon | '68 Ford | Gordon Racing |
| 19 | 63 | Jimmy Crawford | '69 Chevrolet | Crawford Racing |
| 20 | 51 | Dub Simpson | '69 Chevrolet | Bill Strong |
| 21 | 21 | Cale Yarborough | '69 Mercury | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 22 | 48 | James Hylton | '69 Ford | James Hylton Motorsports |
| 23 | 31 | Jim Vandiver | '69 Dodge | Jim Vandiver |
| 24 | 30 | Dave Marcis | '69 Dodge | Marcis Auto Racing |
| 25 | 10 | Bill Champion | '69 Ford | Bill Champion |
| 26 | 62 | Ron Keselowski | '69 Dodge | John Keselowski |
| 27 | 68 | Larry Baumel | '69 Ford | Allan Schlauer |
| 28 | 81 | Dave Alonzo | '69 Dodge | Dave Alonzo |
| 29 | 86 | John Sears | '69 Dodge | Dennis Gallion |
| 30 | 89 | Butch Hirst | '69 Ford | Morris Davis |
| 31 | 74 | Bill Shirey | '69 Plymouth | Bill Shirey |
| 32 | 34 | Wendell Scott | '69 Ford | Scott Racing |
| 33 | 06 | Neil Castles | '69 Dodge | Neil Castles |
| 34 | 19 | Henley Gray | '69 Ford | Henley Gray |
| 35 | 76 | Ben Arnold | '69 Ford | Ben Arnold |
| 36 | 39 | Friday Hassler | '69 Chevrolet | James Hanley |
| 37 | 84 | Bobby Mausgrover | '69 Dodge | Buster Davis |
| 38 | 07 | Coo Coo Marlin | '69 Chevrolet | Cunningham-Kelley Racing |
| 39 | 7 | Alton Jones | '68 Ford | Ben Arnold |
| 40 | 96 | E.J. Trivette | '68 Ford | |
| Failed to qualify |||||
| | 57 | Johnny Halford | Dodge | Ervin Pruitt |
| | 67 | Dick May | Ford | Ron Ronacher |
| | 70 | J.D. McDuffie | Ford | McDuffie Racing |
| WD | 33 | Wayne Smith | Chevrolet | Wayne Smith |

Failed to qualify: Dick May (#67), J.D. McDuffie, Johnny Halford (#57), Wayne Smith

## Race report

The ABC broadcast picked up the action just after halfway at about lap 100. One of the announcers highlighted what had happened during the untelevised part of the race by showing scale models of the cars that started up front and talking about where they were now. However, the race was hard to watch on television as the announcers and apparently even NASCAR officials struggled to figure out who was leading at the end; making for a very poor and unprofessional finish. The TV crew thought Bobby Isaac was the leader and was confused when Hamilton was given the checkered flag. The broadcast crew left the air before the victory lane interview, thinking that Pete Hamilton won the race.

A crowd of 36,000 was present at the race.

32 lead changes occurred between eight drivers: Buddy Baker, Hamilton, Isaac, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Richard Brickhouse, Charlie Glotzbach and Bobby Allison.

Bill Shirey blew his engine on lap 3 while Dale Alonzo inflicted terminal damage on lap 10. Further engine failures on the vehicles of Don Tarr on lap 17, Richard Brickhouse on lap 25, Bobby Mausgrover on the same lap, and E.J. Trivette on lap 73. Henley Gray's steering forced his exit on lap 78. Jim Vandiver overheated his vehicle on lap 93. Two more engine failures as Raymond Williams had to leave the race on lap 107 and Charlie Glotzbach on lap 117. Bill Champion's vehicle developed an oil leak on lap 125 while Bobby Allison lost his engine on lap 126. Elmo Langley could not continue the race due to a faulty engine on lap 149. Water pump issues took Ron Keselowski of the race while Alton Jones had to settle for a 24th-place finish due to engine problems on lap 155. Longtime Alabama independent driver Ben Arnold fielded cars for Alton Jones and himself. Cale Yarborough lost several laps on pit road when his car wouldn't refire, while Richard Petty lost a couple more laps himself when the crew had to go under the hood of the #43 Plymouth.

Notable crew chiefs at this race included Harry Hyde, Dale Inman, Maurice Petty, Tom Vandiver, Tom Ingram, Dick Hutcherson and Glen Wood.

### Baker's accident

Even though Buddy Baker led the most laps with 101 (along with having a nine-second distance between Pete Hamilton by lap 170), pit road problems allowed Hamilton to lap him. Baker began to close in on Hamilton. However, Baker's tire blew heading into the fourth turn on lap 175; fragments of the tire would ultimately damage the engine cooler that resulted in a serious fire for his Dodge. Baker attempted to put out the fire by spinning into the grass.

Baker suffered second-degree burns to the legs and face but was subsequently released from the hospital. When asked about the incident, Baker stated, "it was the scariest thing that ever happened to me. I don't really mind losing this time; I'm just happy to be alive." Baker would finish 12th, as Hamilton led the final 18 laps to give him the victory, with a 44-second lead over second-place finisher Isaac; Pearson, Benny Parsons and Yarborough closed out the top five. The win was Hamilton's second of the season, and Hamilton would eventually win the second Talladega race.

## Finishing order

Source:

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Make | Team/Owner | Sponsor | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 6 | 40 | Pete Hamilton | '70 Plymouth | Petty Enterprises | 7-Up | 188 | 19 | running | 150 | $26,650 |
| 2 | 1 | 71 | Bobby Isaac | '69 Dodge | K&K Insurance Racing | K & K Insurance | 188 | 3 | running | 147 | $12,500 |
| 3 | 2 | 17 | David Pearson | '69 Ford | Holman-Moody | Purolator | 187 | 7 | running | 144 | $8,675 |
| 4 | 11 | 72 | Benny Parsons | '69 Ford | DeWitt Racing | L.G. DeWitt | 187 | 0 | running | 141 | $5,825 |
| 5 | 21 | 21 | Cale Yarborough | '69 Mercury | Wood Brothers Racing | 60 Minute Cleaners | 183 | 12 | running | 138 | $4,425 |
| 6 | 9 | 14 | Freddy Fryar | '70 Plymouth | Bill Ellis | Bill Ellis | 182 | 0 | running | 135 | $3,000 |
| 7 | 8 | 43 | Richard Petty | '70 Plymouth | Petty Enterprises | 7-Up | 181 | 0 | running | 132 | $2,500 |
| 8 | 22 | 48 | James Hylton | '69 Ford | James Hylton Motorsports | Hylton Engineering | 180 | 0 | running | 129 | $2,300 |
| 9 | 33 | 06 | Neil Castles | '69 Dodge | Neil Castles | Howard Furniture | 179 | 0 | running | 126 | $2,200 |
| 10 | 38 | 07 | Coo Coo Marlin | '69 Chevrolet | Cunningham-Kelley Racing | Cunningham-Kelley | 177 | 0 | running | 123 | $2,000 |
| 11 | 10 | 79 | Frank Warren | '69 Plymouth | Frank Warren | | 176 | 0 | running | 120 | $1,885 |
| 12 | 5 | 6 | Buddy Baker | '69 Dodge | Owens Racing | Cotton Owens | 175 | 101 | spin/fire | 117 | $1,860 |
| 13 | 7 | 32 | Dick Brooks | '70 Plymouth | Brooks Racing | Bestline Products | 175 | 0 | running | 114 | $1,785 |
| 14 | 36 | 39 | Friday Hassler | '69 Chevrolet | James Hanley | James Hanley | 175 | 0 | running | 111 | $1,760 |
| 15 | 16 | 25 | Jabe Thomas | '69 Plymouth | Don Robertson | Don Robertson | 174 | 0 | running | 108 | $1,710 |
| 16 | 30 | 89 | Butch Hirst | '69 Ford | Morris Davis | Morris Davis | 169 | 0 | running | 105 | $1,685 |
| 17 | 24 | 30 | Dave Marcis | '69 Dodge | Marcis Auto Racing | Lunda Construction | 168 | 0 | running | 102 | $1,685 |
| 18 | 15 | 45 | Bill Seifert | '69 Ford | Bill Seifert | | 167 | 0 | running | 99 | $1,635 |
| 19 | 29 | 86 | John Sears | '69 Dodge | Dennis Gallion | Dennis Gallion | 167 | 0 | running | 96 | $1,610 |
| 20 | 32 | 34 | Wendell Scott | '69 Ford | Scott Racing | | 165 | 0 | running | 93 | $1,585 |
| 21 | 18 | 24 | Cecil Gordon | '68 Ford | Gordon Racing | | 164 | 0 | running | 90 | $1,560 |
| 22 | 20 | 51 | Dub Simpson | '69 Chevrolet | Bill Strong | Bill Strong | 162 | 0 | running | 87 | $1,535 |
| 23 | 35 | 76 | Ben Arnold | '69 Ford | Ben Arnold | | 160 | 0 | running | 84 | $1,510 |
| 24 | 39 | 7 | Alton Jones | '68 Ford | Ben Arnold | Ben Arnold | 155 | 0 | engine | 81 | $1,485 |
| 25 | 26 | 62 | Ron Keselowski | '69 Dodge | John Keselowski | Kaye Engineering | 153 | 0 | water pump | 78 | $1,460 |
| 26 | 27 | 68 | Larry Baumel | '69 Ford | Allan Schlauer | Auto Lad | 150 | 0 | running | 75 | $1,435 |
| 27 | 14 | 64 | Elmo Langley | '69 Ford | Langley Racing | | 149 | 0 | engine | 72 | $1,435 |
| 28 | 19 | 63 | Jimmy Crawford | '69 Chevrolet | Crawford Racing | Crawford Racing | 143 | 0 | running | 69 | $1,385 |
| 29 | 4 | 22 | Bobby Allison | '69 Dodge | Mario Rossi | Coca-Cola | 126 | 40 | engine | 66 | $1,410 |
| 30 | 25 | 10 | Bill Champion | '69 Ford | Bill Champion | | 125 | 0 | oil leak | 63 | $1,335 |
| 31 | 3 | 99 | Charlie Glotzbach | '69 Dodge | Nichels Engineering | Dow Chemicals | 117 | 4 | engine | 60 | $1,385 |
| 32 | 17 | 47 | Raymond Williams | '69 Ford | Bill Seifert | Bill Seifert | 107 | 0 | engine | 57 | $1,285 |
| 33 | 23 | 31 | Jim Vandiver | '69 Dodge | Jim Vandiver | | 93 | 0 | overheating | 54 | $1,285 |
| 34 | 34 | 19 | Henley Gray | '69 Ford | Henley Gray | | 78 | 0 | steering | 51 | $1,285 |
| 35 | 40 | 96 | E.J. Trivette | '68 Ford | | | 73 | 0 | engine | 48 | $1,210 |
| 36 | 37 | 84 | Bobby Mausgrover | '69 Dodge | Buster Davis | Buster Davis | 25 | 0 | engine | 45 | $1,210 |
| 37 | 12 | 59 | Richard Brickhouse | '70 Ford | Tom Pistone | Pepsi-Cola | 25 | 2 | engine | 42 | $1,210 |
| 38 | 13 | 37 | Don Tarr | '69 Dodge | Don Tarr | Coca-Cola | 17 | 0 | engine | 39 | $1,160 |
| 39 | 28 | 81 | Dave Alonzo | '69 Dodge | Dave Alonzo | | 10 | 0 | crash | 36 | $1,110 |
| 40 | 31 | 74 | Bill Shirey | '69 Plymouth | Bill Shirey | | 3 | 0 | engine | 33 | $1,085 |
| Failed to qualify ||||||||||||
| | | 57 | Johnny Halford | Dodge | Ervin Pruitt | | | | | | |
| | | 67 | Dick May | Ford | Ron Ronacher | | | | | | |
| | | 70 | J.D. McDuffie | Ford | McDuffie Racing | | | | | | |
| WD | | 33 | Wayne Smith | Chevrolet | Wayne Smith | | | | | | |
