The ''1964 Capital City 300'' was a

NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. It is considered to be one of the top ranked motorsports organizations in ...

Grand National Series The name NASCAR Grand National Series refers to former names of the following NASCAR series: *National-level stock car series: **NASCAR Cup Series (the top NASCAR series, known as NASCAR Grand National Series between 1950 and 1970, then the NASCAR ...

event that was held on September 14, 1964, at Virginia State Fairgrounds (now Richmond Raceway) in

Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...

. Notable drivers who appeared at this race were

Elmo Langley Elmo Harold Langley (August 21, 1928 – November 21, 1996) was an American NASCAR driver and owner. Langley primarily used the number 64 on his race cars during his NASCAR career. Racing career Langley began his racing career racing modified ...

Wendell Scott Wendell Oliver Scott Sr. (August 29, 1921 – December 23, 1990) was an American stock car racing driver. He was the first African-American driver and team owner to compete and win in all divisions of NASCAR at its highest level. Scott began his ...

Tiny Lund DeWayne Louis "Tiny" Lund (November 14, 1929 – August 17, 1975) was an American stock car racer. He was a journeyman racer-for-hire in the top level NASCAR Grand National Series, running partial seasons for a number of years, including a vict ...

Roy Tyner William Leroy "Roy" Tyner (January 3, 1934 – February 23, 1989) was a ''NASCAR Grand National'' driver from Red Springs, North Carolina, United States. NASCAR career Driver Tyner participated in the 1968 Fireball 300 in addition to the 1959 ...

, and

Richard Petty Richard Lee Petty (born July 2, 1937), nicknamed "the King", is an American former stock car racing driver who competed from 1958 to 1992 in the former NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series (now called the NASCAR Cup Series), most nota ...

. There were 33 American-born drivers on the grid; no foreigners attempted to qualify for this racing event. Vehicles registered from this race varied in year models from 1962 to 1964. NASCAR team owners that were fortunate enough to afford the 1964 model of stock car vehicles found that their vehicles could exceed in the right circumstances; bringing in an era of unlimited horsepower. Having this level of speed within the sanctioned NASCAR events brought forth many events in addition to tragedies throughout the year in addition to the remainder of the 1960s.

Background

In 1953, Richmond International Raceway began hosting the

with

Lee Petty Lee Arnold Petty (March 14, 1914 – April 5, 2000) was an American stock car racing driver who competed during the 1950s and 1960s. He is the patriarch of the Petty racing family. He was one of the early pioneers of NASCAR and one of its f ...

winning that first race in Richmond. The original track was paved in 1968. In 1988, the track was re-designed into its present ''D''-shaped configuration The name for the raceway complex was "Strawberry Hill" until the Virginia State Fairgrounds site was bought out in 1999 and renamed the "Richmond International Raceway".

Race report

During this race, there were lead changes between Billy Wade,

Junior Johnson Robert Glenn Johnson Jr. (June 28, 1931 – December 20, 2019), better known as Junior Johnson, was an American professional stock car racing driver, engineer, and team owner as well as an entrepreneur. He won 50 NASCAR races in his career befor ...

, and

Cotton Owens Everett "Cotton" Owens (May 21, 1924 – June 7, 2012) was an American NASCAR driver. For five straight years (1957–61), Owens captured at least one Grand National Series win. Owens was known as "the King of the Modifieds" for his successes i ...

. The transition to purpose-built racecars began in the early 1960s and occurred gradually over that decade. Changes made to the sport by the late 1960s brought an end to the "strictly stock" vehicles of the 1950s. 300 laps were completed in more than two hours; with

defeating his employee

David Pearson David or Dave Pearson may refer to: * David Pearson (librarian) (born 1955), British librarian and scholar * David Pearson (racing driver) (1934–2018), American car racing champion * David Pearson (geologist) (born 1942), Canadian scientist, acad ...

by only a lap. Pearson was 29 years old on the day that the race was held; he was considered to be on the prime of his career recording seven short track victories throughout the summer of 1964. At this time, Pearson was trying to swallow more than he could chew in his NASCAR career so Owens had to teach him a lesson in the

pragmatic Pragmatism is a philosophical movement. Pragmatism or pragmatic may also refer to: * "Pragmaticism", Charles Sanders Peirce's post-1905 branch of philosophy * Pragmatics, a subfield of linguistics and semiotics * ''Pragmatics'' (journal), an aca ...

side of stock car racing. As Owens' last win in his NASCAR career, this event served to remind the spectators who watched this event that not even the biggest NASCAR superstars are totally immune to losing their optimal racing performance during their twilight years.

Ned Jarrett Ned Jarrett (born October 12, 1932) is an American former race car driver and broadcaster. He is a two-time NASCAR Grand National Series champion. Because of his calm demeanor, he became known as "Gentleman Ned Jarrett". He is the father of form ...

qualified for the pole position for this race with a top speed of . Meanwhile, the average speed of the race would be a mere . Two of the drivers who finished in the "top ten" (Jarrett and

) had problems with their engines during the later laps of the race. Doug Yates, then an independent driver/owner, finished in last-place due to an oil pressure issue on the first lap. Eleven notable crew chiefs participated in this race; including Bud Moore,

Herman Beam Herman Beam (December 11, 1929 – August 27, 1980) was a NASCAR Grand National Series driver and team owner from Johnson City, Tennessee who was active as a driver from 1957 until 1963. He is famous for holding the longest streak of races wit ...

Banjo Matthews Edwin Keith "Banjo" Matthews (February 14, 1932 – October 2, 1996) was an American NASCAR driver, car owner, and builder. As a driver, he had 13 top ten finishes in 51 starts. He was the car builder for the 1976 to 1978 NASCAR Cup Series cha ...

Dale Inman Dale Inman (born August 19, 1936) is a retired NASCAR Grand National/ Winston Cup Series crew chief. He is best known for being the crew chief of Richard Petty at Petty Enterprises during three decades. They won 188 races and seven championsh ...

and Jimmy Helms. Individual track earnings for this event ranged from the winner's share of $2,400 ($ when adjusted for inflation) to the last-place finisher's share of $150 ($ when adjusted for inflation). The total prize purse was $12,535 ($ when adjusted for inflation).Racing information for the ''1964 Capital City 300''
at Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet

Qualifying

Finishing order

Section reference: # Cotton Owens† (No. 5) # David Pearson† (No. 6) #

(No. 41) # Larry Thomas† (No. 19) #

* (No. 11) #

Neil Castles Henry Neil Castles (October 1, 1934 – August 4, 2022) was an American NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver. He raced from 1957 to 1976, and won the NASCAR Grand National East Series in 1972. Early life Castles was born in Ma ...

(No. 88) #

† (No. 9) #

* (No. 27) # Mark Hurley (No. 32) #

E.J. Trivette E. J. Trivette (born June 6, 1936, in Deep Gap, North Carolina, Deep Gap, North Carolina, United States, US) is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver. Career In his thirteen-year career, Trivette has raced 177 races and has accomplished twe ...

(No. 52) #

Jimmy Pardue James Mansfield Pardue (October 26, 1930 – September 22, 1964) was a NASCAR race car driver who lived in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern regio ...

† (No. 54) #

Buddy Arrington Buddy Rogers Arrington (July 26, 1938 – August 2, 2022) was an American NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. Racing career Arrington has the second-most starts without a win, and finished in the top 10 of NASCAR points twice; in 1 ...

(No. 78) #

Worth McMillion Hollingsworth "Worth" McMillion (October 6, 1926 – June 5, 2015) was a NASCAR Grand National driver who participated from 1962 to 1969 for 62 races. Career His first event was the 1962 untitled race at South Boston Speedway while his final eve ...

* (No. 83) # Billy Wade*† (No. 1) # Doug Cooper (No. 60) #

*† (No. 64) #

Bobby Isaac Robert Vance Isaac (August 1, 1932 – August 14, 1977) was an American stock car racing driver. Isaac made his first NASCAR appearance in 1961, and quickly forged a reputation of one of the toughest competitors of the 1960s and 1970s. He was most ...

*† (No. 45) #

Darel Dieringer Darel Eugene Dieringer Sr. (June 1, 1926 – October 28, 1989) was an American professional stock car racing driver. He ran 181 NASCAR Grand National Series races during his career, notably racing for Bud Moore Engineering and Junior Johnson & As ...

*† (No. 16) # Gene Hobby* (No. 99) #

Roy Mayne Roy Mayne (May 16, 1935 – January 5, 1998) was an American professional stock car racing Stock car racing is a form of Auto racing, automobile racing run on oval track racing, oval tracks and road courses. It originally used Production ve ...

*† (No. 09) #

*† (No. 34) #

Jim Paschal James Roy Paschal, Jr. (December 5, 1926 – July 5, 2004) was a NASCAR Grand National Series and Winston Cup Series driver. Career summary Paschal won twenty-five races and twelve poles over his career. Elected to the "Stock Car Racing Hal ...

*† (No. 43) #

Curtis Crider Curtis "Crawfish" Crider (October 7, 1930 – December 21, 2012) was an American stock car racing driver, and a pioneer in the early years of NASCAR. Career Born in Danville, Virginia, he was one of the hardest working and underfinanced racers t ...

* (No. 02) #

Buck Baker Elzie Wylie Baker Sr. (March 4, 1919 – April 14, 2002), better known as Buck Baker, was an American stock car racing, stock car racer. Born in Richburg, South Carolina, Richburg, South Carolina, Baker began his NASCAR career in 1949 and won his ...

*† (No. 3) # Jack Anderson* (No. 20) # Doug Moore* (No. 58) #

Don Branson Donald L. Branson (June 2, 1920 – November 12, 1966) was an American racecar driver. Career Born in Rantoul, Illinois, Branson drove in the USAC Championship Car series and also in sprint cars, racing champ cars in the 1956–1966 seasons ...

*† (No. 0) # Bob Cooper* (No. 61) # Joe Cote* (No. 01) #

Steve Young Jon Steven Young (born October 11, 1961) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, most notably with the San Francisco 49ers. He also played for the Tampa Bay Bu ...

* (No. 86) #

*† (No. 55) # Bob Derrington* (No. 68) # Doug Yates* (No. 72) ''† signifies that the driver is known to be deceased''
''* Driver failed to finish race''

Timeline

Section reference: * Start of race: Billy Wade started out with the pole position. * Lap 10: Junior Johnson took over the lead from Billy Wade. * Lap 11: Steve Young had problems dealing with his vehicle's oil line. * Lap 15: Handling problems with the vehicle knocked Joe Cote out of the race. * Lap 41: The rear end of Doug Cooper's vehicle came off in a dangerous manner. * Lap 65: Don Branson had a terminal crash. * Lap 66: Billy Wade took over the lead from Junior Johnson. * Lap 67: Doug Moore had a terminal crash. * Lap 99: Oil pressure issues managed to relegate Jack Anderson to the sidelines. * Lap 101: The rear end of Buck Baker's vehicle came off in an unsafe manner. * Lap 116: Jim Paschal's rear end endured enough damage to render his vehicle unsafe for further racing. * Lap 132: Junior Johnson took over the lead from Billy Wade. * Lap 159: Radiator problems managed to send Wendell Scott to the sidelines. * Lap 170: Cotton Owens took over the lead from Junior Johnson. * Lap 175: Roy Mayne's engine stopped working properly after racing at high speeds for a long period of time. * Lap 182: Engine problems managed to destroy Darel Dieringer's chance at a respectable finish. * Lap 188: Junior Johnson took over the lead from Cotton Owens. * Lap 203: Billy Wade managed to blow his engine while he was racing. * Lap 206: Worth McMillion would lose the rear end of his vehicle. * Lap 223: Jimmie Pardue managed to lose the rear end of his vehicle, causing him to leave early for safety reasons. * Lap 264: Junior Johnson had to leave the race due to engine problems. * Lap 265: Cotton Owens took over the lead from Junior Johnson. * Lap 280: Ned Jarrett's engine blew while he was racing. * Finish: Cotton Owens was officially declared the winner of the event.

References

{{authority control Capital City 300 Capital City 300 NASCAR races at Richmond Raceway