This Week in NASCAR History: May 25-31
by Tom Jensen May 25, 2020
NASCAR Hall of Famers from the Carolinas show how it’s done on the track, and so do some of the sport’s more recent stars.
Hall of Famer Bud Moore took part in the D-Day invasion in World War II. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images
May 25, 1925
The birthdate of decorated World War II infantryman and Hall of Famer Bud Moore (2011), who won back-to-back NASCAR premier series championships as a car owner in 1962-1963 with fellow Hall of Famer Joe Weatherly (2015). In 1957, Moore was the championship crew chief for another Hall of Famer, Buck Baker (2013). During 37 seasons in NASCAR’s premier division, Moore’s cars won 63 races and 43 poles.
David Pearson holds the pole record at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images.
May 26, 1974
Hall of Famer David Pearson (2011) had an incredible streak at Charlotte Motor Speedway, winning 14 poles, including 11 in a row, all in Mercury race cars owned by fellow Hall of Famers Glen (2012) and Leonard (2013) Wood. In the World 600, Pearson earned $26,400 for winning from the pole over fellow Hall of Famers Richard Petty (2010), Bobby Allison (2011) and Darrell Waltrip (2012).
Buddy Baker dominated the 1973 World 600. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images.
May 27, 1973
In a race that saw Hall of Famers sweep the top five finishing positions, Buddy Baker (2020) led 220 of 400 laps to win the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway by 1.8 seconds over David Pearson (2011). Cale Yarborough (2012) finished third ahead of Bobby Isaac (2016) and Benny Parsons (2017). The win paid $27,200.
Austin Dillon’s first win came at Charlotte. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images.
May 28, 2017
Driving for his grandfather, Hall of Famer Richard Childress (2017), Austin Dillon took the lead with two laps to go to capture the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It was the first career NASCAR premier series victory for Dillon, and it came when leader Jimmie Johnson ran out of gas with two laps to go.
A victory in the Coca-Cola 600 was the start of something big for Jeff Gordon. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images.
May 29, 1994
The first of 93 career premier series victories for Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon (2019) and his Hall of Fame crew chief Ray Evernham (2018) came in the 1994 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Evernham’s late-race call for a two-tire pit stop allowed Gordon to defeat Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace (2013) by 3.91 seconds. The winner’s share of the purse was $196,500.
Kurt Busch scored a rare Charlotte sweep in 2010. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images.
May 30, 2010
Capping off a magical month of May driving for Hall of Famer Roger Penske (2019), Kurt Busch followed up his NASCAR All-Star Race victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a win there the following weekend in the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR’s longest race. And the race was one of NASCAR’s richest, too, with first place paying $399,623.
Ned Jarrett finished second in points in 1964. Photo courtesy of NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images.
May 31, 1964
At the 0.333-mile New Asheville Speedway in Western North Carolina, Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett (2011) finished two laps ahead of fellow Hall of Famer Richard Petty (2010) to take the first-place bounty of $1,000. Marvin Panch finished third followed by a quartet of Hall of Famers, David Pearson (2011), Cale Yarborough (2012), Wendell Scott (2015) and Buck Baker (2013).
Plan your visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and purchase tickets by visiting nascarhall.com/tickets.
