1968 Rebel 400


The 1968 Rebel 400 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on May 11, 1968, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.

Summary

Two-hundred and ninety one laps were completed on the paved oval track spanning for a total of. The time of the race was three hours and fifty-four seconds with a crowd of 22,500 attending. There were four cautions for twenty-three laps. David Pearson defeated Darel Dieringer in his 1968 Ford by eighteen seconds. Pearson took advantage of the NASCAR engine and weight rules for 1968 and used a 396 cid engine instead of the normal 427. At that time the car had to be 4,000 pounds with the 427 cid engine but only 3,707 pounds with the 396 cid engine. The lighter weight paid off as Pearson used less fuel and had fewer tire troubles than many of the other teams. Pearson would continue to use the 396 throughout the year.
Canadian racer Frog Fagan finished in 22nd place. The average speed was while the pole position speed was. Other notable drivers included Wendell Scott, Richard Petty, Buddy Baker, Elmo Langley, and Roy Tyner. Out of the thirty-four drivers, fifteen of them did not finish the race.
Total winnings for the 1968 Rebel 400 were $53,455 ; first-place finisher Pearson earned $13,700 while last-place finisher Hess walked away with $460.
Lennie Waldo made his NASCAR Grand National Series debut in this event.

Qualifying

Finishers

  1. David Pearson
  2. Darel Dieringer
  3. Richard Petty
  4. Buddy Baker†
  5. LeeRoy Yarbrough†
  6. James Hylton
  7. Bobby Isaac
  8. John Sears
  9. Bud Moore
  10. Elmo Langley
  11. Bill Champion
  12. E.J. Trivette
  13. Wendell Scott†
  14. Don Tarr*
  15. Curtis Turner*
  16. Earl Brooks
  17. Henley Gray
  18. Lennie Waldo
  19. Clyde Lynn†
  20. Cale Yarborough*
  21. Paul Dean Holt
  22. Frog Fagan
  23. Bobby Allison*
  24. Paul Goldsmith*
  25. Stan Meserve*
  26. Jabe Thomas*
  27. Wayne Smith*
  28. Charlie Glotzbach*
  29. Donnie Allison*
  30. Roy Tyner*
  31. Ed Negre*
  32. Tiny Lund*
  33. Neil Castles*
  34. Larry Hess*
* Driver failed to finish race

Timeline

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