On this day in 1963, Ned Jarrett won a 250-lap NASCAR Cup Series race at the New Concord Speedway (NC). Although the race was run in 1963, it was actually the season opening to the 1964 season. The race featured a lot of big names and interesting tidbits. Richard Petty drove to a third-place finish in the number 42 car. His brother Maurice was fifth, marking the first of two times they both finished in the top five. Joe Weatherly was second. Ned Jarrett won 15 races during the 1964 season.
THE THIRD TURN: 1964 Textile 250 at New Concord Speedway
- Jerry Lawley won a 500-lap race at Middle Georgia Raceway (GA) on this date in 1974. Lawley beat out some big names such as Cale Yarbrough, Bobby Allison and Larry Phillips for the win. Georgia drivers Ronnie Sanders (11th), Jody Ridley (24th) and Bill Elliott (27th) were all in this Short Track Auto Racing Systems event.
THE THIRD TURN: 1974 Georgia State 500 at Middle Georgia Raceway
- Michigan standout driver Ed Howe goes south to win the Florida Governor’s Cup 200 at Golden Gate Speedway (FL). Howe had won the race in 1972 and this was his return for his second win. Things only got better as he won again in 1975 and 1976. Howe did not run in 1973 so he technically won four-straight Governor’s Cup events. He would return to finish second in 1977 and again in 1981.
THE THIRD TURN: 1974 Florida Governor's Cup at Golden Gate Speedway
- On paper, it seemed like a good idea when the NASCAR All-American Challenge Series went to Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1984. However, the Late Model Series was not really ready for the Hampton, Georgia high-banks. Rusty Wallace won the contest over Alan Kulwicki and Mike Alexander. Mitch Fowler and Don Jenkins were fourth and fifth, some six laps off the pace.
THE THIRD TURN: 1984 Georgia 150 at Atlanta International Raceway
- Another Florida Governor’s Cup 200 was run on this date in 1990 when Bobby Gill won the Florida Governor's Cup 200. Gill dominated the 200-lap contest by leading 169 of the 200 laps. Greg Froeming and Bruce Lawrence chased him across the line for the win. Like Ed Howe in 1974, this was the start of three-strait Governor’s Cup 200 wins. The only other time Gill ran the race was in 1988 when he finished third.
THE THIRD TURN: 1990 Florida Governor's Cup at New Smyrna Speedway
- It was a great day for the Labonte family on this day in 1996. Bobby Labonte scored the victory in the season-ending NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, leading 147 laps. With a fifth-place finish, brother Terry Labonte secured the 1996 NASCAR Cup Series championship, his second Cup title during career.
THE THIRD TURN: 1996 NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
-Photo credit: NASCAR Archives & Research Center via Getty Images