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Date February 26, 1967 (1967-02-26) Location Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.023 km) Distance 200 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km) Weather Cold with temperatures reaching up to 48 °F (9 °C); wind speeds approaching 14 miles per hour (23 km/h) Average speed 146.926 miles per hour (236.454 km/h) | ||
The 1967 Daytona 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series (now Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series) event that was held on February 26, 1967, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Summary
Mario Andretti, better known for his accomplishments in open-wheel and USAC competition, won his first and only NASCAR Grand National event, pulling away from 1965 winner Fred Lorenzen in the closing laps. He ran in a Holman-Moody Ford. As of 2016, this is the only time that a person born outside the United States has ever won the Daytona 500. Andretti gave Nazareth, Pennsylvania, as his "adopted" home town during his NASCAR career to avoid the scrutiny that foreigners faced in NASCAR before the "modern" era.
More than 94,000 people witnessed a 204-minute race where six cautions slowed the pace for a total of 54 laps. There were 36 lead changes among 9 drivers. Pole speeds were swift, reaching up to 180.381 miles per hour or 290.295 kilometres per hour. Tiny Lund ran out of gas while trying to win the race. Six drivers failed to make the grid; including Don Biederman and Earl Brooks, Innes Ireland raced his final race ever when the V8 engine of his Dodge exploded outside the stands.