View source for 1967 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)

{{InfoboxLost
|title=<center>1967 Firecracker 400</center>
|image=1967firecracker4001.jpg
|imagecaption=Program for the race.
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
}}
The '''''1967 Firecracker 400''''' was the 28th race of the 1967 NASCAR Grand National Series. Occurring on 4th July at the Daytona International Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by Cale Yarborough, with Ford achieving a clean sweep as the top four were driving 1967 Fords. The race was noted for a very close finish between Yarborough, Dick Hutcherson and Darel Dieringer.

==Background==
The ''1967 Firecracker 400'' was the ninth running of the event, with its name a reference to the fact it was held on the United States' Independence Day.<ref name="firecracker">[https://www.forbes.com/sites/davecaldwell/2019/07/03/farewell-to-a-firecracker-of-a-nascar-tradition/?sh=350c69d875a0 ''Forbes'' detailing the origin of the Firecracker 250, and its reporting on its 2019 name change.] Retrieved 13 Jan '22</ref> It was also the fourth 1967 NASCAR Grand National Series event to be held at Daytona International Speedway,<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1967/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1967 NASCAR Grand National Series calendar.] Retrieved 13 Jan '22</ref> after the Twin 125s and the Daytona 500, which in 1967 occurred on 26th February and was won by Mario Andretti.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1967_Daytona_500/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing results for the 1967 Daytona 500.] Retrieved 13 Jan '22</ref> The Firecracker 400 also has ties to the modern Coke Zero Sugar 400 race, having dropped the Firecracker name in 2019.<ref name="firecracker"/>

Heading into the event, LeeRoy Yarborough aimed to break the qualifying record for the Firecracker 400 that he set the year before.<ref name="beach">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1873&dat=19670628&id=Gm8eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n8kEAAAAIBAJ&pg=852,6217114 ''Daytona Beach Morning Journal'' reporting on Yarborough's aim to break his Firecracker qualifying speed record.] Retrieved 13 Jan '22</ref> Such was the level of competition aiming to compete in the event, including NASCAR's top stars and USAC competitors like Andretti and A. J. Foyt, many drivers believed that the 180mph target would need to be broken to take pole.<ref name="beach"/> Qualifying commenced on 2nd July, with Dieringer winning the pole position with an average speed of just under 180mph at 179.802mph, ahead of Cale Yarborough and Richard Petty in a 1967 Plymouth.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1967/07/02/archives/dieringer-leads-qualifiers-for-daytona-race-tuesday.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Dieringer winning the pole position.] Retrieved 13 Jan '22</ref><ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/?orderBy=1&series=W&raceId=1967-28 ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the start order and results of the race.] Retrieved 13 Jan '22</ref> David Pearson in a 1967 Ford, Andretti, and four other drivers also successfully qualified for the race at this stage.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1967/07/03/archives/pearson-leads-race-qualifiers-andretti-also-gains-spot-for.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on other drivers who qualified for the race.] Retrieved 13 Jan '22</ref> A qualifying race to determine the final 20 starters for the race occurred the day after, with Frank Warren in a 1966 Chevrolet winning the race and $200 in prize money ahead of 1965 Plymouth driver Bobby Wawak and Roy Mayne in a 1966 Chevrolet.<ref>[http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=10646 ''Ultimate Racing History'' detailing results of the qualifying race.] Retrieved 13 Jan '22</ref>

==The Race==
With the racers and starting order decided, the 1967 Firecracker 400 occurred on 4th July. Buddy Baker, who qualified 5th in a 1967 Dodge, shot into the lead on the first lap. He remained in contention for the first position until retiring on lap 17 following a suspension failure. The race featured 41 lead changes, primarily between Cale Yarborough, Dieringer, Pearson, and Bobby Isaac in a 1967 Dodge. Pearson led the most laps at 56, and also led the most consecutive laps at 19 from lap 105-123, before being overtaken by Dieringer.<ref name="results"/> Aside from Pearson leading from 136-139, the race primarily centred on a duel between Dieringer and Yarborough, with frequent overtakes from the 140th lap onwards. Then, on lap 157, Hutcherson took the lead from Yarborough, but the latter was able to reassume the lead on the final lap to take victory and $15,725 in prize money. Hutcherson finished second ahead of Dieringer, with Pearson in fourth, thus achieving a clean sweep for Ford.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1967/07/05/archives/cale-yarborough-firecracker-victor-fords-gain-sweep-at-daytona-race.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Yarborough winning the race and the Ford clean sweep.] Retrieved 13 Jan '22</ref><ref name="results"/>

The race notably marked Yarborough's first win for the Woods Brothers,<ref>[http://www.floridastockcars.com/gallery3/v/Daytona/Cale+Yarborough_s+first+win+for+the+Wood+Brothers+came+in+the+1967+Firecracker+400___.jpg.html ''Florida Stock Cars'' stating the race was Yarborough's first win for the Woods Brothers.] Retrieved 13 Jan '22</ref> later winning the 1968 Daytona 500 with the team.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1968_Daytona_500/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing Yarborough's win at the 1968 Daytona 500 for the Woods Brothers.] Retrieved 13 Jan '22</ref> Also of note was that the race featured Gary Bettenhausen spinning down the backstretch on lap 3, where his 1966 Ford ended up on a dirt embankment that caused it to end up upside down. He ultimately escaped uninjured.<ref>[http://www.the-fastlane.co.uk/cpdb/crashphotos_view.php?editid1=453 ''The Fastlane'' providing photos of Bettenhausen's crash.] Retrieved 13 Jan '22</ref>

==Availability==
Some footage of the race remains publicly accessible from a mostly silent ''eFootage'' clip showcasing a crash featuring Andretti, the restart of the race, and the drivers reaching the chequered flag. 

However, according to ''NASCAR on TV'', 1 hour of highlights were broadcast by ABC on 8th July 1967, as part of its ''Wide World of Sports'' along with Queen Cup polo matches.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/nascarracingontv/home/the-races/monster-energy-cup-series/1967-nascar-grand-national-series/1967-firecracker-400 ''NASCAR on TV'' detailing ABC's coverage of the race.] Retrieved 13 Jan '22</ref> The footage is currently not publicly available, although ''Racing-Reference'' claims that highlights were uploaded onto YouTube at some point by TheRacer120, which could have contained the ABC coverage.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/video-links/?id=1967-28&series=W ''Racing-Reference'' listing video clips of the race, including a now-taken down video consisting of highlights uploaded by TheRacer120.] Retrieved 13 Jan '22</ref> However, the video has since been taken down.

==See Also==
*[[1960 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1960)]]       
*[[1960 Daytona Races (lost CBS and NBC televised footage of NASCAR prelude events to Daytona 500; 1960)]]           
*[[1961 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1961)]]     
*[[1962 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1962)]]           
*[[1962 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1962)]]           
*[[1963 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1963)]] 
*[[1963 Richmond 250 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series qualifying session and race; 1963)]]           
*[[1964 Atlanta 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]           
*[[1964 National 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
*[[1964 Richmond 250 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series qualifying session; 1964)]]  
*[[1965 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1965)]]           
*[[1965 Rebel 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1965)]]           
*[[1966 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1966)]]           
*[[1966 Southern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1966)]]           
*[[1967 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]           
*[[1967 Rebel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
*[[1968 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1968)]]    
*[[1970 Alabama 500 (found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]           
*[[1970 National 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]           
*[[1970 Wilkes 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]           
*[[1970 World 600 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]           
*[[1971 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]           
*[[1971 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]        
*[[1971 Myers Brothers 250 (lost footage and official documents of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]           
*[[1971 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]           
*[[1971 Rebel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]           
*[[1971 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1971)]]           
*[[1972 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]] 
*[[1972 Bowman-Gray 100 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand American Series race; 1972)]]       
*[[1972 Carolina 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]     
*[[1972 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]           
*[[1972 Firecracker 400 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]           
*[[1972 National 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]           
*[[1972 Rebel 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]           
*[[1973 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1973)]]           
*[[1973 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1973)]]           
*[[1974 Mason-Dixon 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1974)]]          
*[[1974 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1974)]]           
*[[1974 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1974)]]         
*[[1975 Champion Spark Plug 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]          
*[[1975 Dixie 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]           
*[[1975 Firecracker 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]           
*[[1975 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]           
*[[1975 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1975)]]           
*[[1975 World 600 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]           
*[[1976 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]         
*[[1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]           
*[[1976 Dixie 500 (lost CBS footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]           
*[[1976 Firecracker 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]           
*[[1976 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]          
*[[1976 Rebel 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]         
*[[1976 Riverside 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]          
*[[1976 Talladega 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]          
*[[1976 Winston 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]           
*[[1976 World 600 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]           
*[[1978 NAPA National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1978)]] 
*[[1979 Daytona ARCA 200 (lost footage of ARCA Racing Series race; 1979)]]           
*[[1979 Dixie 500 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1979)]]           
*[[1979 Southeastern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1979)]]    
*[[1981 Coca-Cola 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1981)]]    
*[[1981 CRC Chemicals 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1981)]]   
*[[1982 CRC Chemicals 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1982)]] 
*[[1982 Eastern 150 (lost footage of NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1982)]] 
*[[1982 Goody's Sportsman 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1982)]]           
*[[1982 Twin 125s race 1 (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]]   
*[[1982 Winston Western 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]] 
*[[1983 Goody's Sportsman 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1983)]]  
*[[1983 Mason-Dixon 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1983)]]  
*[[1983 Southern 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1983)]]           
*[[1984 Delaware 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1984)]] 
*[[1984 Goody's Sportsman 300 (lost footage of NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race; 1984)]]           
*[[1984 Warner W. Hodgdon Carolina 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1984)‎]]           
*[[1985 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1985)]]           
*[[1986 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1986)]]  
*[[1989 Busch Clash (lost footage of pre-season NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1989)]]
*[[1992 Atlanta 300 (lost footage of NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race; 1992)]]           
*[[1996 DeVilbiss SuperFinish 200 (partially found televised footage of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race; 1996)]]
*[[Jeff Gordon's 2008 UAW-Dodge 400 crash (lost on-board footage of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race crash; 2008)]]
*[[NASCAR (partially found uncut footage of stock car races; 1960-present)]]

==External Link==
*[https://www.efootage.com/videos/80101/firecracker-400-crash ''eFootage'' providing clips of the race.]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Lost recordings of sports events]]
[[Category:Partially found media]]