1971 – Allison Grabs Win in ‘National 500’

 

Bobby Allison and his wife Judy (to his right) enjoys the spoils of victory after winning the National 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 

Charlotte, N.C. (October 10, 1971) – Bobby Allison drives like lightning – and he struck in the same place twice.

Allison powered his Mercury to a damp victory in the National 500 stock car race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon, just six months after capturing the World 600 on the same 1.5-mile superspeedway.

The victory earned Allison $18,450 and boosted his season’s earnings to $215,785, making him the second driver in NASCAR history to earn more than $200,000 in a single season.

The race, delayed more than two hours and starting under caution because of rain and a wet track, was stopped after 238 circuits with only 357 of the 500-mile distance completed.

Allison averaged 126.140 miles per hour in the 2 hour and 49 minute contest.

But Allison was in the lead for 62 laps by the time a slight drizzle began to fall and was gradually increasing his lead over Bobby Isaac, who crossed the finish line 5.1 seconds later.

Allison’s brother, Donnie, was third in another Mercury. Plymouth driver Richard Petty was fourth and Charlie Glotzbach was fifth in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

“I think we ought to get a couple of more superspeedways and run one every two weeks,” grinned Allison, the Hueytown, Ala., speedster who snapped a record for superspeedways wins in a single season, held by Lee Roy Yarbrough, with his eighth victory.

Allison grabbed the lead for good on lap 177, overtaking Glotzbach on the second turn. Glotzbach had held the top spot of 119 laps.


Results –


1. Bobby Allison
2. Bobby Isaac
3. Donnie Allison
4. Richard Petty
5. Charlie Glotzbach
6. Buddy Baker
7. Pete Hamilton
8. Friday Hassler
9. James Hylton
10.Benny Parsons