THREE-PART DOCUSERIES, THE MOTOR TREND 500: NASCAR HEADS WEST, SHOWCASES THE HISTORY OF STOCK CAR RACING’S SEMINAL SOCAL EVENT
GURNEY STREAK STARTS (1963)
Joe Weatherly is the 1962 Grand National champion and the one to beat. Dan Gurney, though, qualifies fastest and comes from 11th place to win the inaugural Motor Trend 500.
A CHAMPION FELLED (1964)
Joe Weatherly won the Grand National (driver’s) Championship again in 1963 while driving for nine teams. A year later, he’s unable to control his Mercury coming into Turn 6 and dies after his head collides with the retaining wall. He is the first of two fatalities that occur during MT 500 races.
TRAILBLAZER (1963)
Wendell Scott of Virginia qualifies 33rd in the 44-car field. He finishes 18th and later becomes the first and, to this date, only Black driver to win a Grand National event. He’s invited back for the second-annual Motor Trend 500, where he secures an alternate driver spot, but he doesn’t get to race.
THROUGH THE TWISTIES (1963)
The notorious esses: This group of turns culminating in Turn 6 proves most challenging for oval-track racers.
This story is from the January 2021 edition of Motor Trend.
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This story is from the January 2021 edition of Motor Trend.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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