Race Histories: 1961 Nashville 500
For Jim Paschal, it was a most satisfying way to end a three-year drought.
The High Point, N.C., driver, who hadn't won since July 12, 1958, at Asheville, N.C., wasn't even challenged in the final stages of the race held at the half-mile Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds dirt track, cruising to a two-lap NASCAR Grand National victory over area native Cotton Owens in a 100-mile, 200-lap event.
Paschal became the 15th different winner of the 1961 season.
Owens completed 198 laps and finished second, while Maurice Petty completed 197 laps and finished third, the best of his young career. No other driver completed over 188 laps.
Owens was leading the race with only 20 laps to go when a wheel on his Pontiac broke, sending him into the pits. Paschal seized the lead and never let up.
Herman Beam, the "Turtle" out of Johnston City, Tenn., finished fourth and Ned Jarrett fifth in his B.G. Holloway 1961 Chevrolet.
NASCAR Grand National point leader Rex White finished 10th and saw his point lead over Jarrett shaved to 246. Joe Weatherly and Richard Petty were eliminated in a 70th-lap crash, but neither driver was hurt.
Paschal averaged 55.495 mph for his eighth career NASCAR Grand National win.
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