Daytona 500 Auto Race Daytona International Speedway 51904 (1966)

Synopsis

Produced by Dynamic Films, this color movie celebrates the 8th annual 1966 Daytona 500. The picture, produced by the Daytona International Speedway, opens on a rainy field as a mist filled the air — a problem that plagued the qualifying time trials for the race. Petty is shown at mark 00:55 after he had set a new qualifying track record of 176.65 mph. There is a series of spin-outs, skids, and crashes as we see more time trials and tweaks made to automobiles until finally, race day arrive ( 04:34 ) — along with more rain. The race finally gets underway starting at mark 06:42 with footage of Petty and Paul Goldsmith pulling away from the pack in the early laps. The men trade positions with the lead changing hands 14 times in the first half of the race we learn at mark 09:16, as the cars average 170.535 mph. Petty regains the lead at mark 09:41, only to be challenged by Yarborough at mark 10:39 with 14 laps remaining. Petty charges and takes back the lead (mark 12:42 ) while traveling 176.817 mph. As the rain begins falling the racers head into their final lap and Petty takes the checkered flag in the second consecutive race shortened by rain. Richard Lee Petty (born July 2, 1937), nicknamed The King, is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. He is best known for winning the NASCAR Championship seven times (Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson are the only other drivers to accomplish this feat), winning a…

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Details

Running time

14 minutes

Language

English

Collection

Ephemeral Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

• Stock Footage