| Race details[1][2] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 15 of 49 in the 1968 NASCAR Grand National Series season | |||
Layout of Darlington Raceway
| |||
| Date | May 11, 1968 (1968-May-11) | ||
| Official name | Rebel 400 | ||
| Location | Darlington Raceway (Darlington, South Carolina) | ||
| Course |
Permanent racing facility 1.366 mi (2.198 km) | ||
| Distance | 291 laps, 401.3 mi (706.7 km) | ||
| Weather | Temperatures of 82.9 °F (28.3 °C); wind speeds of 12 miles per hour (19 km/h) | ||
| Average speed | 132.699 miles per hour (213.558 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Junior Johnson & Associates | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | David Pearson | Holman-Moody | |
| Laps | 131 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 17 | David Pearson | Holman-Moody | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | ABC's Wide World of Sports | ||
| Announcers | Pre-recorded (no announcers) | ||
The 1968 Rebel 400 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on May 11, 1968, at Darlington RacewayinDarlington, South Carolina.
Two-hundred and ninety one laps were completed on the paved oval track spanning 1.375 miles (2.213 km) for a total of 400.1 miles (643.9 km).[2] The time of the race was three hours and fifty-four seconds with a crowd of 22,500 attending.[2] There were four cautions for twenty-three laps.[2] David Pearson defeated Darel Dieringer in his 1968 Ford by eighteen seconds. Pearson took advantage of the NASCAR engine and weight rules for 1968 and used a 396 cid engine instead of the normal 427. At that time the car had to be 4,000 pounds with the 427 cid engine but only 3,707 pounds with the 396 cid engine. The lighter weight paid off as Pearson used less fuel and had fewer tire troubles than many of the other teams. Pearson would continue to use the 396 throughout the year.[2]
Canadian racer Frog Fagan finished in 22nd place.[2] The average speed was 132.699 miles per hour (213.558 km/h) while the pole position speed was 148.85 miles per hour (239.55 km/h).[2] Other notable drivers included Wendell Scott, Richard Petty, Buddy Baker, Elmo Langley, and Roy Tyner.[2] Out of the thirty-four drivers, fifteen of them did not finish the race.[2]
Total winnings for the 1968 Rebel 400 were $53,455 ($468,358 when adjusted for inflation); first-place finisher Pearson earned $13,700 ($120,036 when adjusted for inflation) while last-place finisher Hess walked away with $460 ($4,030 when adjusted for inflation).[3]
Lennie Waldo made his NASCAR Grand National Series debut in this event.[4]
| Grid | No. | Driver | Manufacturer | Speed[5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 | LeeRoy Yarbrough | '68 Ford | 148.850 |
| 2 | 17 | David Pearson | '68 Ford | 148.751 |
| 3 | 22 | Darel Dieringer | '68 Plymouth | 148.419 |
| 4 | 29 | Bobby Allison | '68 Ford | 148.335 |
| 5 | 27 | Donnie Allison | '68 Ford | 147.821 |
| 6 | 3 | Buddy Baker | '67 Dodge | 147.254 |
| 7 | 16 | Tiny Lund | '68 Mercury | 147.188 |
| 8 | 14 | Curtis Turner | '68 Plymouth | 146.125 |
| 9 | 21 | Cale Yarborough | '68 Mercury | 147.470 |
| 10 | 6 | Charlie Glotzbach | '68 Dodge | 147.195 |
* Driver failed to finish race
Section reference:[2]
| Preceded by | NASCAR Grand National Season 1968 |
Succeeded by |
