Official name Gwyn Staley 400 | ||
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Date April 18, 1965 (1965-April-18) Course Permanent racing facility0.625 mi (1.005 km) Distance 400 laps, 250 mi (402 km) Weather Warm with temperatures approaching 81 °F (27 °C); wind speeds reaching up to 18.1 miles per hour (29.1 km/h) | ||
The 1965 Gwyn Staley 400 was a NASCAR Grand National Series (now Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series) event that was held on April 18, 1965, at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
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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.
Summary
The race would be finished with a time of two hours and thirty-seven minutes with speeds approaching 95.047 miles per hour (152.963 km/h). Three cautions were given out for seven laps. Junior Johnson would beat Bobby Johns by seven seconds in front of 8,000 loyal spectators. Johns still competed in NASCAR while being conscripted by the United States Army and serving near Columbia, North Carolina.
The pole speed would end up being 101.033 miles per hour (162.597 km/h); this speed would be accomplished by Junior Johnson qualifying in a two-lap solo session. This would be the eleventh race out of 55 races done in the 1965 season. Ford vehicles would sweep the top five finishing spots because 74% of the racing grid were driving Ford Motor Company vehicles.
Individual race earnings for this event ranged from the winner's share of $4,500 ($34,199.05 when adjusted for inflation ) to the last-place finisher's share of $150 ($1,139.97 when adjusted for inflation). The total prize purse handed out by NASCAR officials was $15,950 ($121,216.63 when adjusted for inflation).
Finishing order
† signifies that the driver is known to be deceased
* Driver failed to finish race