1962 – Jim Paschal Cops 500

 

Jim Paschal (second from left) is a happy fellow in the winner’s circle with Ms. Fairgrounds Speedway, Carole Steele, Richard Petty, and Lee Petty. Paschal finished first and Petty took second in the 500-lap race. Lee owns both cars so it's obvious why everyone is happy here.

Nashville, Tenn. (August 5, 1962) – Jim Paschal won the Nashville 500 NASCAR late model stock car race at Fairgrounds Speedway for the second straight year before an overflow crowd of 12,563 sweltering fans.

Last year Paschal came out on top when the race was halted because of rain after 403 laps. This time he had to go the entire 500 laps on the half mile track. Once again, his chief competitor was Richard Petty. Petty finished second with Joe Weatherly third and Buck Baker fourth.

The first two finishers both drove 1962 Plymouths and both cars were owned by veteran driver Lee Petty, who is Richard’s dad. Weatherly was in a 1962 Chrysler and Baker piloted a 1962 Pontiac.

Paschal’s average winning speed was 64.58 miles per hour. This was brought down considerably by the 108 laps run under the caution flag.

Johnny Allen made sure he was the early leader when he pushed his 1962 Pontiac past Petty in a frenzied dash to the first turn of the first lap. Allen almost spun out in the process, providing the most thrilling moment of the day as he battled to regain control of his car.

Allen held on to the front position for 46 laps when his car suffered the first of two tire blowouts, the second of which finished his day for good on lap 178.

Petty took command on lap 47 and remained in front until he made a pit stop on lap 180. Paschal zoomed to the front, where he remained temporarily until the 189th lap. Petty regained the lead again but only for one lap as the onrushing Buck Baker took over first place from lap 191 to 202.

Paschal, running harder than anyone on the track, got by Baker on lap 203, marking the first time that the veteran had been passed all day.

All the 36-year-old chauffeur from High Point, N.C., had to do from there, was count the laps as he breezed to victory.

Lee Petty had a lot to do with Paschal opening up such a big lead when Wendell Scott tore up the guardrail of the first turn on lap 244.

As Petty saw Scott hitting the rail, he shouted, “Bring in Paschal, he can win the race here,” and without waiting, limped across the infield to signal Paschal to come to the pits. His car was quickly refueled and he was back on the track before the pace car, thus not losing a lap.


Results –


1. Jim Paschal, High Point, N.C.
2. Richard Petty, Randleman, N.C.
3. Buck Baker, Charlotte, N.C.
4. Joe Weatherly, Norfolk, Va.
5. Thomas Cox, Asheboro, N.C.
6. George Green, Johnson City, Tenn.
7. Herman Beam, Johnson City, Tenn.
8. Larry Thomas, Thomasville, N.C.
9. Ned Jarrett, Conover, N.C.
10.Curtis Crider, Charleston, S.C.