This 1962 Firestone promo film shows the annual NASCAR Cup Series motor race known as the Daytona 500. It is held at the Daytona International Speedway situated in Daytona Beach, Florida. The race has been running since 1959 and is regarded as one of the most prestigious of races. It features notable racers such as Edward Glenn “Fireball Roberts” Jr, Richard Petty and Lee Petty. In this 1962 race at Daytona, Florida, the young Richard Petty; guided by his father in the pits, faces off against Fireball Roberts. The film opens with a display of the motor fans crowding the parking lot of the race track prior to it’s start (:26). Footage follows from the ground level (:49) as cars runs around the back turns. A firestone Racing Division truck follows (:59). This film was produced by Dynamic Production (1:23). A band plays leading up to the race (1:40). Mechanics are seen hard at work in the work-in garage area (1:57). Smokey Yunick (2:15) sits among top mechanics (2:15) and Lee Petty. The asphalt has it’s temperature checked (2:25). Mechanics tools are set out on display (2:37). Drivers and crews gather for a meet prior to the start (2:58). Joe Weatherly climbs into his vehicle (3:16). A young Richard Petty (3:19) is captured just prior to Jack Smith. The cars begin to roll from the pit (3:27) with brands viewed such as Plymouth, Pontiac and Fords. The cars gather speed behind the pace car (3:46). The race begins (4:08) as Joe Weatherly moves immediately into first position (4:17). Fireball Roberts in his #22 Pontiac and Junior Johnson in his #27 Pontiac ride immediately behind (4:26). Roberts passes Johnson (5:16). A car spins out of control (6:00). Pit crews leap to service car #8 (6:11). Richard Petty sets himself into third (6:37) as the rest of the field jockeys for position. Stock cars collide and spin out of control (7:02). The field is thinned down to 34 cars (7:17). Richard Petty snags the lead (7:27) and pits. Lee Petty is seen in Richard’s pit (8:16). He was the former National Champion. Footage follows from Lee driving in the Beach and Road Course Race in February of 1956 (8:29). Richard Petty is captured cheering his father on (8:51). Lee was the first winner of the Daytona 500 (8:55) with his son as crew chief (9:01). Fireball maintains the lead in the 1962 race (9:14). Another race from 1960 shows the Petty pair driving on the track together (9:44). In the 1961 Daytona Race, Lee ran over a guardrail and ended his racing career (9:55). As Fireball pits, Petty takes the lead (11:09). Fireball breaks track records as he hits 157 miles per hour (11:20) as he aims to regain his lead. Petty then reenters the pit (11:28) and exits just behind Fireball (11:49). The crowd rises to it’s feet in anticipation (12:00). Fireball’s pace burned his fuel and he is forced to pit (12:11). He then maintains a 27 second lead (12:41) and takes the finish (13:22). Fireball and his Pontiac enter the winner’s circle (13:38). Pedestrians and press swarm as the film concludes (13:54).

We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 — President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.”

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com