1973 World 600
Encyclopedia
The 1973 World 600 was a NASCAR
Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on May 27, 1973 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
in Concord
, North Carolina
, U.S.A..
while Vic Parsons
was the only Canadian
.
Alton Jones would finish in last place due to an engine
problem on lap 2 out of the 400 laps that made up the race. Buddy Baker
defeated David Pearson by 1.8 seconds in front of 85,000 live audience members. This would become Pearson's first victory of 1973; with his only other victory that year at the 1973 Nashville 420. Six cautions were waved for 48 laps along with 23 different leaders made the race last four hours and twenty-six seconds long. Baker would qualify for the pole position
with a top speed of 158.051 miles per hour (254.4 km/h) while the average race speed was 134.89 miles per hour (217.1 km/h) - exactly 23.161 miles per hour (37.3 km/h) slower than the best qualifying speed. Other drivers in the top ten included: Cale Yarborough
, Bobby Isaac
, Benny Parsons
, Jim Vandiver
, Darrell Waltrip
, Cecil Gordon
, Dick Brooks
, and David Sisco
.
Cotton Owens
would retire as a NASCAR race car owner after this race. David Pearson would be prevented from tying Richard Petty's record of ten consecutive wins at this race. Billy Scott would make his NASCAR debut here. Bobby Allison
skipped this race to do the 1973 Indianapolis 500
; which was the most horrific Indianapolis 500
race in its 100+ year history.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on May 27, 1973 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
in Concord
Concord, North Carolina
Concord is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. According to Census 2010, the city has a current population of 79,066. It is the largest city in Cabarrus County and is the county seat. In terms of population, the city of Concord is the second largest city in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, U.S.A..
Summary
The racing grid consisted of 40 male drivers; 39 of them were born in the United States of AmericaUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
while Vic Parsons
Vic Parsons
Vic Parsons is a retired NASCAR driver from Willowdale, Ontario, Canada . He competed in nineteen Winston Cup Series events in his career with seven top-tens.-Cup career:...
was the only Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Alton Jones would finish in last place due to an engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
problem on lap 2 out of the 400 laps that made up the race. Buddy Baker
Buddy Baker
Elzie Wylie Baker, Jr. , nicknamed "Leadfoot" or more famously Buddy, is a former American NASCAR racecar driver.-Early life:...
defeated David Pearson by 1.8 seconds in front of 85,000 live audience members. This would become Pearson's first victory of 1973; with his only other victory that year at the 1973 Nashville 420. Six cautions were waved for 48 laps along with 23 different leaders made the race last four hours and twenty-six seconds long. Baker would qualify for the pole position
Pole position
The term "pole position", as used in motorsports, comes from the horse racing term where the number one starter starts on the inside next to the inside pole. The term made its way, along with several other customs, to auto racing. In circuit motorsports, a driver has pole position when he or she...
with a top speed of 158.051 miles per hour (254.4 km/h) while the average race speed was 134.89 miles per hour (217.1 km/h) - exactly 23.161 miles per hour (37.3 km/h) slower than the best qualifying speed. Other drivers in the top ten included: Cale Yarborough
Cale Yarborough
William Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships...
, Bobby Isaac
Bobby Isaac
Bobby Isaac is a former NASCAR Grand National champion.-Early life:Isaac grew up on a farm near Catawba, North Carolina, the second youngest of nine children...
, Benny Parsons
Benny Parsons
Benjamin Stewart Parsons was an American NASCAR driver, and later an announcer/analyst on TBS, ESPN, NBC and TNT...
, Jim Vandiver
Jim Vandiver
Jim Vandiver is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup driver that raced from 1968 to 1983.-Summary:...
, Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Lee Waltrip is a 3-time NASCAR Cup Series champion , 3-time runner-up , winner of the 1989 Daytona 500 and 5-time winner of the prestigeous Coca-Cola 600 ,...
, Cecil Gordon
Cecil Gordon
Cecil Gordon was a NASCAR driver. He is not related to Sprint Cup driver Jeff Gordon although the two drivers drove in car number 24....
, Dick Brooks
Dick Brooks
Richard "Dick" Brooks was an American NASCAR driver. Born in Porterville, California, he was the 1969 NASCAR Rookie of the Year, and went on to win the 1973 Talladega 500...
, and David Sisco
David Sisco
David Sisco is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver who has led 98 laps out of the 33668 that he raced in his entire career. Sisco also managed to earn $251,359 in his seven-year NASCAR career . His average starting position is 22nd place while he managed to finish in 19th place on average...
.
Cotton Owens
Cotton Owens
Everett "Cotton" Owens "the King of the Modifieds" was a NASCAR driver. For five straight years , Owens captured at least one Grand National series win.-Modified driving career:...
would retire as a NASCAR race car owner after this race. David Pearson would be prevented from tying Richard Petty's record of ten consecutive wins at this race. Billy Scott would make his NASCAR debut here. Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
skipped this race to do the 1973 Indianapolis 500
1973 Indianapolis 500
The 57th Indianapolis 500 was held at Indianapolis on Wednesday, May 30, 1973. The race was held over three days due to rain and 2 major accidents. After 133 laps , rain halted the race, and Gordon Johncock was declared the winner....
; which was the most horrific Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
race in its 100+ year history.