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| {{InfoboxLost
| | #REDIRECT [[1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Series (partially found footage and official documents of NASCAR races; 1971)]] |
| |title=<center>1971 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400</center>
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| |image=1971medalofhonorfirecracker4001.jpg
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| |imagecaption=Bobby Isaac (71) about to lap Joe Frasson (18) and Bill Dennis (90).
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| |status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1971 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400''''' was the 27th race of the 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 4th July at the Daytona International Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by Bobby Isaac in a 1971 Dodge, with Chrysler achieving a clean sweep as the top four were driving vehicles linked to the Chrysler brand. Isaac notably climbed from 21st in the race order to claim victory.
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| ==Background==
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| The ''1971 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400'' was the 13th 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 15 Jan '22</ref> The ''Medal of Honor'' part of its name was intended to show respect to those who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor, with the proceeding 1969 and later the 1973 versions of the race sharing that moniker.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20121015003450/https://www.nascar.com/2009/news/features/07/01/enterprise.inside.nascar.daytona.july.race/index.html Archived ''NASCAR'' explaining the ''Medal of Honor'' moniker.] Retrieved 15 Jan '22</ref> It was also the fourth 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Series event to be held at Daytona International Speedway,<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1971/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1971 NASCAR Grand National Series calendar.] Retrieved 15 Jan '22</ref> after the Twin 125s and the Daytona 500, which in 1971 occurred on 24th February and was won by Richard Petty.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1971_Daytona_500/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing results for the 1971 Daytona 500.] Retrieved 15 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"/>
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| Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Donnie Allison winning the pole position in a 1969 Mercury with a pole time of 49.119 seconds.<ref>[http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=9510 ''Ultimate Racing History'' detailing the start order and race results, and the pole time.] Retrieved 15 Jan '22</ref> Buddy Baker, also in a 1971 Dodge, qualified second, ahead of the 1971 Chevrolet driven by Charlie Glotzbach. Isaac qualified only 21st of the 40 competitors.<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1971_Medal_of_Honor_Firecracker_400/W/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the start order and results.] Retrieved 15 Jan '22</ref>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the starting order decided, the 1971 Firecracker 400 occurred on 4th July. Prior to the race starting, four of Chrysler-owned Dodge and Plymouth entries decided to incorporate older type wedge engines so that they could compete against the Fords, who had superior carburettor restrictors.<ref name="newyork">[https://www.nytimes.com/1971/07/05/archives/isaac-captures-firecracker-400.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Isaac winning he race.] Retrieved 15 Jan '22</ref> By lap 13, there had already been ten lead changes, with no driver successfully leading more than two laps by that point. In total, there would be 34 lead changes, with Isaac charging through the order to take the lead from Petty's 1971 Plymouth on lap 62.<ref name="results"/> 18 laps later, Tiny Lund in a 1969 Mercury crashed out, scrapping one of the walls for 800 feet and resting sideways against the barrier. Lund was taken away by ambulance, but suffered no serious injuries.<ref name="newyork"/>
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| After receiving competition from Petty, Baker and the 1971 Plymouth driven by Pete Hamilton, Issac overtook the latter on lap 136, and remained in the first position for the rest of the race.<ref name="results"/> This was despite facing intense pressure from Petty throughout, and the suffering a loose hood after losing a closing pin.<ref name="newyork"/> He held on to win by four seconds against Petty, claiming his second superspeedway victory of his career and $16,450 in prize money.<ref name="results"/> Chrysler achieved a clean sweep with Petty finishing 2nd, ahead of Baker and Hamilton.<ref name="newyork"/><ref name="results"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| According to ''NASCAR on TV'', ABC broadcast 45 minutes of highlights on 17th July 1971, as part of its ''Wide World of Sports''.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/nascarracingontv/home/the-races/monster-energy-cup-series/1971-nascar-grand-national-series/1971-firecracker-400 ''NASCAR on TV'' detailing ABC's broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 15 Jan '22</ref> However, while confirmation of a television broadcast has been achieved, no televised footage of the race is currently publicly available. However, three minutes of home video footage from Patriot1 can be viewed on YouTube.
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| ==Gallery==
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| ===Video===
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| {{Video|perrow =1
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| |service1 =youtube
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| |id1 =e0RrL1M8ILs
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| |description1 =Home video footage of the race.
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| }}
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| ===Images===
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| <gallery mode=packed heights=300px>
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| 1971medalofhonorfirecracker4002.jpg|Bobby Brack during the race.
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| 1971medalofhonorfirecracker4003.jpg|Bobby Isaac in Victory Lane.
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| 1971medalofhonorfirecracker4004.jpg|Bobby Isaac celebrating his win.
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| </gallery>
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| ==See Also==
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| *[[1960 Daytona Races (lost CBS and NBC televised footage of NASCAR prelude events to Daytona 500; 1960)]]
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| *[[1961 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National race; 1961)]]
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| *[[1962 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National race; 1962)]]
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| *[[1963 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1963)]]
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| *[[1967 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
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| *[[1971 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1971)]]
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| *[[1972 Firecracker 400 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1974 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1974)]]
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| *[[1975 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1975)]]
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| *[[1976 Dixie 500 (lost CBS footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1979 Southeastern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1979)]]
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| *[[1982 Twin 125s race 1 (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]]
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| *[[1984 Delaware 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1984)]]
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| *[[1984 Warner W. Hodgdon Carolina 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1984)]]
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| *[[1985 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1985)]]
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| *[[1986 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1986)]]
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| *[[1996 DeVilbiss SuperFinish 200 (partially found televised footage of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race; 1996)]]
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| [[Category:Lost recordings of real incidents]]
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| [[Category:Lost TV]]
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| [[Category:Partially found media]]
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