Unfulfilled Promise
Richard Brickhouse, winner of the inaugural Talladega
500, had a brief but spectacular career in
NASCAR's premier division. In his first NASCAR
Grand National start at Rockingham in 1968, he
finished 4th. It just happened to be his first
effort on a paved track. The following year he
scampered home first at Talladega, but faded from
the scene shortly after the 1970 Daytona 500.
Brickhouse drove Bill Ellis' Winged Plymouth at
Daytona in 1970, finishing 5th in the Twin 125
and 6th in the 500.
The #36
SuperBird
Floridian Butch
Hirst drove the #36 Plymouth SuperBird in the
1970 National 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Hirst was one of 6 drivers to man the car during
the 1970 season. Richard Brickhouse and Freddy
Fryar each drove the Wing car when it was owned
by Bill Ellis. Ellis sold his team to Richard
Brown, who had drivers Bugs Stevens, Dr. Don
Tarr, Roy Mayne and Hirst behind the wheel.
Curiously, in the 9 races the car competed in, 4
of the drivers, Brickhouse (Daytona 500), Fryar
(Talladega's Alabama 500), Stevens (Charlotte's
World 600) and Tarr (Daytona's Firecracker 400),
all finished 6th in major superspeedway events.
First Restrictor Plate
Race
Charlie Glotzbach leads
the pack around the front chute at Michigan
International Speedway in the 1970 Yankee 400.
The August 16, 1970 event was the first race ever
to be run with NASCAR mandated restrictor plates.
Glotzbach won from the pole in his Dow Chemical
Co.Dodge Daytona.
Formidable Independent
Jim Vandiver drove the Buddy Nixon-owned #31 Dodge Daytona in 9 races during the 1970 NASCAR season, finishing in the top 10 on 4 occasions. In his 2nd career start in NASCAR's premier division, Vandiver finished 2nd in the 1969 Talladega 500.
Comeback Kid
Fred Lorenzen made a competitive comeback in the May 24, 1970 World 600 following a 3-year retirement. Driving the #28 Dodge Daytona was owned by Charlotte Motor Speedway promoter Richard Howard, who purchased the car from the Mario Rossi stables for Lorenzen to drive.
Fast Physician
Dr. Don Tarr of North Miami Beach drove in 48 NASCAR Grand National events from 1967-1971. He drove a Winged Dodge Daytona and Plymouth SuperBird 6 times in 1970, and enjoyed 2 top 10 finishes in the aerodynamical wonders. His best effort in a Wing car was 6th in the 1970 Firecracker 400 at Daytona.
Amazing Comeback
Charlie Glotzbach poses beside his #99 Dodge Daytona during the 1970 Speedweeks at Daytona. Glotzbach suffered gunshot wounds in an incident in his home state of Indiana in late 1969. He recovered from the serious injury and won his very first start since the incident in the Twin 125 at Daytona on February 19, 1970. It remains one of the classic comeback stories in NASCAR history.
Swift Sophomore
Dick Brooks won the 1969 NASCAR Rookie of the Year honors and enjoyed a fine sophomore season in 1970. Driving a self-owned #32 Plymouth SuperBird, Brooks logged 15 top 5 finishes in 34 starts in 1970. His best finish of the year was 2nd at Darlington and Hickory. His lone NASCAR Winston Cup victory came in the 1973 Talladega 500, which remains the final victory for the Plymouth nameplate.
Colorful 'Bird
Ramo Stott of Keokuk, Iowa was one of the most capable drivers in the 1970s. He was active in ARCA, USAC and NASCAR competition and excelled in alll fields. He drove his red, white and blue Plymouth SuperBird in 3 NASCAR Grand National events in 1970, finishing 8th in all 3 events (Daytona Twin 125, Daytona 500 & Talladega 500). He also drove the 'Bird to victory in the 1970 ARCA 300 at Daytona.
Terrific Duel
Pete Hamilton #40 and
David Pearson #17 engage in their memorable duel in the closing stages of the 1970 Daytona 500. Hamilton took the lead 9 laps from the finish and won by a narrow 3 car length margin. The lead changed hands 24 times among 10 different drivers in the 500 miler.
1970 World 600 Pace
Lap
Dodge Daytona drivers Bobby Isaac and Bobby Allison started on the front row in the 1970 World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. A total of 14 Winged Plymouth SuperBirds and Dodge Daytonas were in the race.
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