65 days until Daytona: Fred Lorenzen won '65 500 under cloud of controversy
It's 65 days until the 2017 Daytona 500, which will be televised live on FOX.
That brings to mind the 1965 edition of the Great American Race, which was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen under a cloud of controversy.
Not only was it the first rain-shortened 500, with it finally being called after 133 of a scheduled 200 laps after a series of three rain delays, but Lorenzen did it in a 1965 Ford. Many did not think that would even be a possibility after NASCAR had instituted new rules the previous October, designed to enhance safety and decrease speeds after the 1964 deaths of star drivers Fireball Roberts and Joe Weatherly.
Richard Petty had dominated the 1964 season with his Chrysler Hemi engine, and the Ford Motor Co. wanted to come back the following year with a new engine that featured high-rise cylinder heads that would allow it to compete with the Hemi.
When the rules changes outlawed both the Hemi and the high-rise cylinder heads, Ford threatened to pull out of the sport. But Big Bill France did not flinch and stood firm. He did not allow either -- and Ford blinked first, accepting the rules changes and staying in the sport.
Petty, the defending race winner and series champion, did not even race in the '65 500 as a result and, in fact, went on to sit out the first 33 races of the 55-race season in protest.
Lorenzen rewarded Ford handsomely for sticking with him, but the victory did not come easily.
At the halfway point of the race, Marvin Panch was in the lead and the skies around the track were darkening. Lorenzen passed Panch on Lap 119 -- but as the rain began to fall 10 laps later, Panch made a run at Lorenzen coming off Turn 2.
Panch went to the outside, Lorenzen moved up to block him, and the two cars touched -- sending Panch spinning. Lorenzen remained in the lead but the fender that hit Panch's car was bent in and rubbing against his tire. Lorenzen wanted to come to pit road to get the fender pulled out, but his crew chief, Herb Nab, suspected heavy rain was about to hit.
"Stay out!" he ordered Lorenzen, who did. By Lap 133, it was pouring and the rest, as they say, is history.
It was the only Daytona 500 victory of Lorenzen's Hall of Fame career, which included 26 total wins in just 129 starts before he retired for a first time at only 33 years of age in 1967. He returned in 1970 and competed part-time in the NASCAR Premier Series until 1972, but never won another race before retiring for good.
