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1968 Islip 300
The 1968 Islip 300 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on July 7, 1968, at Islip Speedway in Islip, New York. 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. BackgroundIslip Speedway was a .2-mile (320-meter) oval race track in Islip, New York which was open from 1947 until 1984.[3] It is the smallest track ever to host NASCAR's Grand National Series,[4][5] from 1964 to 1971.[4] The first demolition derby took place at Islip Speedway in 1958. The idea was patented by Larry Mendelson, who worked at Islip Speedway. Race reportThe race's advertised distance was 300 laps on a paved track spanning 0.200 miles (0.322 km).[2] It took fifty-five minutes and seventeen seconds in order to complete the entire race.[2] Starting at 8:15 PM, the race was quickly over before 9:15 PM. Speeds were considered to be 48.561 miles per hour (78.151 km/h) for the average and 51.873 miles per hour (83.482 km/h) for the pole.[2] The race was attended by 4,600 spectators and they witnessed one caution for three laps.[2] General admission for this event was only $4 plus sales taxes ($35.05 when adjusted for inflation) while children got in for only $1 with an adult general admission ($8.76 when adjusted for inflation). The most notable crew chiefs to participate in this event were Ray Hicks, Eddie Allison, Jake Elder, Frankie Scott, Dale Inman and Harry Hyde.[6] Bobby Allison managed to defeat David Pearson by six car lengths.[2] The track was shorter than even Martinsville Speedway; giving it the notoriety of being lapped by the leaders during the first ten four laps of a race. Start and park racing was a way to avoid demoralization in those circumstances as opposed to maintaining a profit margin. Most of the drivers drove the latest model of stock car automobiles to this race. Buddy Baker would perform in a 1968 Dodge Charger while Richard Petty raced around the track in a 1968 Plymouth GTX. Three years later, the uncertain economic climate of the early 1970s would necessitate start and park racing in order for lesser teams to remain as viable as possible. Bobby Allison would receive $1,000 ($8,762 when adjusted for inflation) for winning the race while Gene Black would receive $100 ($876 when adjusted for inflation) for finishing in last place. Four different car manufacturers led the race and four different finished in the top four.[2] The total winnings for this race was $5,255 ($46,043 when adjusted for inflation). John Winger would make his NASCAR debut during this racing event.[7] Qualifying
Failed to qualify: Bob Cooper (#02), Dick Johnson (#18), Henley Gray (#19), Stan Meserve (#51), Bobby Mausgrover (#88)[8] Finishing orderSection reference:[2]
† signifies that the driver is known to be deceased TimelineSection reference:[2]
References
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