The 1964 Volunteer 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series (now Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series) event that was held on July 26, 1964, at Bristol International Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee.
Buddy Baker won the Saturday qualifying race to earn 25th starting position, but was replaced by Jimmy Helms in the 500 lap feature.
There was a racing grid of 36 drivers who were all born in the United States of America. Fred Lorenzen defeated Richard Petty in front of 25,500 people in order to win the top prize of $4,185 USD ($32,317.00 when adjusted for inflation). Five lead changes were made and the caution flag was waved only once for 14 laps. Darrell Bryant received the last place finish and a measly $275 paycheck ($2,123.58 when adjusted for inflation) for a fuel pressure issue on lap 1 that forced him out of the race. Petty would receive the pole position for his qualifying speed of 82.910 miles per hour (133.431 km/h) while the average speed of the race would be 78.044 miles per hour (125.600 km/h). Bristol was a flatter track during the 1960s and the banking was more shallow.
Darrell Bryant and Doug Wilson would make their NASCAR debuts here. Johnny Nave would exit the NASCAR Cup Series after this race.
The transition to purposely-built racers 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; most of the cars were trailered to events or hauled in by trucks.
Start of race: Paul Goldsmith started the race with the pole position
Lap 1: Fuel pressure issues forced Darrell Bryant off the track
Lap 2: Johnny Nave managed to overheat his vehicle, Jimmy Helms's vehice had fuel pressure issues
Lap 4: Curtis Crider's vehicle had clutch issues, Roy Tyner's vehicle had a faulty valve
Lap 9: Doug Cooper had problems handling his vehicle, transmission issues ended E.J. Trivette's day on the track
Lap 10: Earl Brooks had problems dealing with his vehicle's transmission
Lap 13: Richard Petty takes over the lead from Paul Goldsmith
Lap 15: Oil pressure issues forced Jack Anderson out of the race
Lap 41: Wendell Scott's day at the track would end due to oil pressure issues
Lap 42: Darel Dieringer had engine problems, ending his racing weekend too soon
Lap 62: Ned Jarrett managed to overheat his vehicle while racing
Lap 70: Problems with the engine made Bunkie Blackburn end his racing weekend a bit too early
Lap 74: Bobby Isaac managed to ruin his vehicle's transmission while he was racing
Lap 77: Engine issues forced Billy Wade out of the race
Lap 145: Caution due to oil on track, green flag racing resumed on lap 158
Lap 148: Paul Goldsmith's transmission problems ended his day on the track
Lap 284: Doug Wilson managed to lose the rear end of the vehicle, was sidelined due to safety reasons
Lap 306: Junior Johnson takes over the lead from Richard Petty
Lap 309: Buck Baker managed to overheat his vehicle, which ended his shot at winning the race
Lap 351: Richard Petty takes over the lead from Junior Johnson
Lap 352: Junior Johnson's day on the track would be finished due to a blown engine
Lap 363: David Pearson managed to lose the rear end of his vehicle, was called off the track due to safety reasons
Lap 420: Earl Balmer wasn't able to finish because the rear end of his vehicle gave out
Lap 455: Buddy Arrington lost the rear end of his racing vehicle
Lap 463: Marvin Panch lost the rear end of his vehicle while he was racing
Lap 499: Richard Petty managed to destroy the rear end of his vehicle, forcing him to accept a respectable second-place finish
Lap 500: Fred Lorenzen takes over the lead from Richard Petty
Finish: Fred Lorenzen was officially declared the winner of the event
