1972 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:28, 1 February 2023

Program for the race.

Status: Partially Found

The 1972 Daytona 500 was the 2nd race of the 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 20th February at the Daytona International Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by A.J. Foyt in a 1971 Mercury, dominating the event following the retirement of Richard Petty in a 1972 Plymouth.

Background

The 1972 Daytona 500 was the 14th running of the event, with the annual race typically lasting 500 miles in length.^[1] Since its inception in 1959, the Daytona 500 has become the most prestigious race on the Cup Series calendar, including being defined as "The Great American Race", offering the largest prize pot and generally defining a driver's career.^[2] The race would be one of two main 1972 Winston Cup races at Daytona International Speedway, the other being the Firecracker 400,^[3] which in 1972 occurred on 4th July and was won by David Pearson in a 1971 Mercury.^[4]

Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Bobby Isaac winning the pole position in a 1972 Dodge with a speed of 186.632 mph, Foyt taking second.^[5]^[6]^[1] The Twin 125s then commenced, which helped determine who qualified for the Daytona 500, as well as its starting order.^[7] Isaac won the first race, which proved infamous following the fatal accident of Friday Hassler.^[6] Meanwhile, Foyt won the second race.^[6]

The Race

With the starting order decided, the 1972 Daytona 500 commenced on 20th February.^[1] Foyt shot into the lead on the first lap, holding it until Allison took over on lap 4.^[1] Foyt regained the first position on lap 6 however, and began a duel with Richard Petty when the latter took the lead briefly on lap 21.^[8]^[1] Some of the favourites, including 1972 Dodge driver Buddy Baker and Isaac, hit problems.^[9]^[8] Baker retired after 18 laps following a collision with Walter Ballard in a 1971 Ford, causing the latter to flip over.^[9] Ballared ultimately escaped uninjured.^[9] Meanwhile Isaac experienced issues with his Dodge from the start, eventually retiring after 19 laps because of an engine failure.^[9]^[8]^[1] Allison also proved unable to challenge for the win after experiencing valve issues.^[9]

The battle for the first position was therefore primarily between Foyt and Petty, with the two contributing towards the race having 13 lead changes.^[9]^[8]^[1] But while The King was leading on lap 81, his Plymouth's engine failed, allowing Foyt to take over.^[9]^[8]^[1] In fact, Foyt would be unchallenged for the remainder of the race, leading 120 consecutive laps and achieving a record average speed for the Daytona 500 at 161.550 mph.^[9]^[8]^[1] This was despite a phony caution being declared to try and create further action upon the restart.^[9] He therefore claimed victory and $38,400 in prize money, with Charlie Glotzbach in a 1971 Dodge finishing second, and 1970 Dodge driver Jim Vandiver taking third.^[9]^[8]^[1] Post-race, Foyt believed his main challenge following Petty's retirement was dealing with boredom, stating "when it's close you race heads-up all day but after Petty fell out there was no competition".^[8]

Availability

According to NASCAR on TV, 45 minutes of highlights were televised by ABC on 26th February 1972, alongside speed-skating.^[10] This broadcast has yet to publicly resurface. Nevertheless, all Daytona 500s have at least some footage that is publicly available courtesy of the DVD set Daytona 500: 50 Years The Greatest American Race.^[11]

Gallery

Videos

Highlights of the race.

Clips of the race.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 ^1.7 ^1.8 ^1.9 Racing-Reference detailing qualifying and race results for the event. Retrieved 14 Apr '22
↑ Sportskeeda detailing the Daytona 500 and its importance to NASCAR. Retrieved 14 Apr '22
↑ Racing-Reference detailing the 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup calendar. Retrieved 14 Apr '22
↑ Racing-Reference detailing the results of the 1972 Firecracker 400. Retrieved 14 Apr '22
↑ The New York Times reporting on Bobby Isaac winning the pole position. Retrieved 14 Apr '22
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 ^6.2 The New York Times reporting on the Twin 125s results and the death of Friday Hassler. Retrieved 14 Apr '22
↑ Draftkings Nation detailing the purpose of the Twin races. Retrieved 14 Apr '22
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 ^8.3 ^8.4 ^8.5 ^8.6 ^8.7 RacersReunion detailing the race and providing photos and newspaper clippings of it. Retrieved 14 Apr '22
↑ ^9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 ^9.3 ^9.4 ^9.5 ^9.6 ^9.7 ^9.8 ^9.9 The New York Times reporting on Foyt winning the race. Retrieved 14 Apr '22
↑ NASCAR on TV detailing the ABC broadcast of the race. Retrieved 14 Apr '22
↑ Daytona 500: 50 Years The Greatest American Race 2008 containing highlights of the race. Retrieved 14 Apr '22

[results-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 ^1.7 ^1.8 ^1.9 Racing-Reference detailing qualifying and race results for the event. Retrieved 14 Apr '22

[2] Sportskeeda detailing the Daytona 500 and its importance to NASCAR. Retrieved 14 Apr '22

[3] Racing-Reference detailing the 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup calendar. Retrieved 14 Apr '22

[4] Racing-Reference detailing the results of the 1972 Firecracker 400. Retrieved 14 Apr '22

[pole-5] The New York Times reporting on Bobby Isaac winning the pole position. Retrieved 14 Apr '22

[twinresults-6] 6.0 ^6.1 ^6.2 The New York Times reporting on the Twin 125s results and the death of Friday Hassler. Retrieved 14 Apr '22

[7] Draftkings Nation detailing the purpose of the Twin races. Retrieved 14 Apr '22

[reunion-8] 8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 ^8.3 ^8.4 ^8.5 ^8.6 ^8.7 RacersReunion detailing the race and providing photos and newspaper clippings of it. Retrieved 14 Apr '22

[nyt-9] 9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 ^9.3 ^9.4 ^9.5 ^9.6 ^9.7 ^9.8 ^9.9 The New York Times reporting on Foyt winning the race. Retrieved 14 Apr '22

[10] NASCAR on TV detailing the ABC broadcast of the race. Retrieved 14 Apr '22

[11] Daytona 500: 50 Years The Greatest American Race 2008 containing highlights of the race. Retrieved 14 Apr '22

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{InfoboxLost
 |title=<center>1972 Daytona 500</center>
-|image=1972daytona5001.jpg
+|image=1972daytona5002.jpg
-|imagecaption=Foyt celebrating his win in Victory Lane.
+|imagecaption=Program for the race.
 |status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
 }}
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
    |description2 =Clips of the race.
 }}
-===Images===
-<gallery mode=packed heights=250px>
-daytona5002.jpg|Program for the race.
-daytona5003.jpg|Foyt during the race.
-</gallery>
 ==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)]]
@@ Line 46: / Line 40: @@
 *[[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 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
-*[[1967 Rebel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
+*[[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 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 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)]]