The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 18

I a All THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Monday Juno 70 1960 All THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Monday Juno 70 196 0 60000 SEE FIRST EVENT Joe Lee Johnson Wins Thrill Filled World 600 contention the first half of the the runner up spot On the nooga Tenn driving a 1960 Chevrolet captured the first World 600 stock car race with an average speed of 107735 mph The win was worth $27- 330 mated 60000 fans at the new Charlotte Motor Speedway couldn't sit down because of excitement in the first half of the race And they were too weak with anxiety to stand up In the final half By GEORGE CUNNINGHAM Observer Sports Writer Joe Lee Johnson cautiously navigated tragedy trail and continued through heartbreak bill to pick up a pot of gold at the end of a 600-mile rain bow Sunday The choo-choo from Chatta Tires blew out and at least 10 cars spun out going down the homestretch You name it It happened Everything but death Johnson driving owner mechanic Paul Mc Duffle's car for the first time never wag in machinery contained everything but death Early leader Fireball Rob erts spun out twice Bunkie Blackburn three times Johnny Allen's car burst into flames and Junior Johnston's auto tore up a fence on the homestretch apron race He appeared first among the leaders on the 240th lap when place fourth he moved Into At lap 250 he and he chugged fifth I as into and was knocked out of the race Smith had led for 198 laps and was five laps ahead of sec ond place Johnson when he was ushered from the race Smith was the last of the speed merchants remaining in the run And when he departed Joe Lee never was pressed Be cruised under the wire on the 400th lap four laps ahead of second place Johnny Beau champ also driving a 1960 It was a thrill-filled af- ternoon during is bleb an esti Spectacular Three-Car Mars First World 600 300th lap Johnson moved into the lead I for the first time on the 332nd lap when Jack Smith's superbly built 1960 Pontiac developed a fair-size bole in the gas tank Collision By Kenney Hannan Chevrolet Next three positions were -q I filled by Lee Petty's 1960 lymouths Bobby John's 0 40 s4 a I red the third plare auto Richard Petty was 111111110111101111rit Ott ism soy woit itop i 01 A 0 1 fourth and Lee Petty fifth tt '''sw :4 i04 14 Remainder of the top 10 '''rk--''': e)v-s- ot 4' si were Gerald Duke 1950 T-hird Tr: 44441 '-1 Buck Baker 1960 Chevrolet Rex White 1960 Chevrolet: tl Banjo Matthews 1960 Ford and Tt4 IAr Tiny Lund 1959 Pontiac -4i40 410L 10 de And 7ottit lt- rVII Only 24 cars were running at the finish Sixty started 4 Huge holes were dug out on st 4 904bkiiiiiit both 24-degree turns 14:711 1 0 $4:: Spite added safety precautions ii '4Zit oo44z flying rock tore out at least iNi -wod-111-' 04 -t-kzp 1 five windshields I 4 fr 2 cA 44r 4 about because of the improp itepetit4144 4 4 -7 The slow winning time came vi A -4- 4 erly prepared track surface 017 i i44K 4 4144104'74P 'T 4 444 e''''A 4' 400444 Roberts whose 1960 Pontiac -4-nr rr mooretk f4 iso -P11 9-0-4x2-ro' r-r1 7 4 0:: -4gitttr4t 44 4 I Fence Turn to Page 6B Col 2 John Wolford Hits Fets Hit By 2 Cars Cleveland Driver Of Car 88 Careens Across The Track 61? Nolowto 4014440 441641511114 0 '2-t'i 44tikirdekvtoot4ww 444 7 aced ca4 ant 'I) 0 JT And monvffallef Track 7 In ay l''' 1 :1 1 i ikai'' 7 44g441144441014 4 4444141141114 I it i 4 44 i 0111011101 1111 11 :4 '1: Says 4 4(e 'W 4 4 1 a By WILTON GARRISON Observer Sports Writer tw A "No I didn't race anybody" said slender Joe Lee 1 40 4 00111 4 $05' I 4 4 110111 so 0 Johnson 30-year-old mechanic from Chattanooga Tenn 4 firA'" as he mopped his sweatty greasy face and tried to smile 4 A for all the camera bugs after his World 600 victory 77 lo a Sunday "I just raced my car and the track got bad late in the the track" continued Johnson race and that's what it did C4 r'0 at "I always take one pace and ran tilik-wAt711Q stay with it I stay in the Johnson said he was not sur- great" 404(7 O' '74 ----rr---rl: 044 groove and never change my prised that the winning speed pattern" was around 107 miles per hour i toP: 11 A4 i11047' 7:: 4: ::77 410? When did he first think he "I figured it would be low" 00r 4 would win? "When I first saw he said my name go up on the score What will he do with the John Wo 'ford 'Raced Car And Track Johnson Says By WILTON GARRISON Observer Sports Writer "No I didn't race anybody" said slender Joe Lee Johnson 30-year-old mechanic from Chattanooga Tenn as he mopped his sweatty greasy face and tried to smile for all the camera bugs after his World 600 victory A4 Sunday "I just raced my car and the track" continued Johnson "I always take one pace and stay with it I stay in the groove and never change my pattern" When did he first think he would win? "When I first saw my name go up on the score Hits Fence Gets Hit the track got bad late in the race and that's what it did ran great" Johnson said he was not surprised that the winning speed was around 107 miles per hour "I figured it would be low" he said What will he do with the By 2 Cars Cleveland Driver Of Car 88 4X! Careens Across The Track ZWORS 1 KV :54 ortzet4 Chevrolet Next three positions were filled by Lee Petty's 1960 Plymouths Bobby John's chauffeured the third place auto Richard Petty was fourth and Lee Petty fifth Remainder of the top 10 were Gerald Duke 1950 T-bird Buck Baker 1960 Chevrolet Rex White 1960 Chevrolet: Banjo Matthews 1960 Ford and Tiny Lund 1959 Pontiac Only 24 cars were running at the finish Sixty started Huge holes were dug out on both 24-degree turns And de spite added safety precautions flying rock tore out at least five windshields The slow winning time came about because of the improp erly prepared track surface Roberts whose 1960 Pontiac Turn to Page 6B Col 2 I board" answered I saw Jack Smith go opt I'd just been running smoothly and hoping for a break That was it" But Wolford Leaps Out And Runs Turn to Page 8B Cot 1 Johnny Allen (69) They Were In Other Fs-0: 44voi I '5' s-41s! -1ss 14 ''t51'xii '24 i PT LT v44 -tc0r'zotNttvgt' 'It t' 'O 4" -4 4'4'''r'1 $fic: t- tt4' 04:" 44 Li INS 'V okleV1' -4 1 to :4 ir-: j) X5A Bursts Into Flames The $107775 test of man and His Car Owned And Cotton Owens (6) Cars Inrolred In Collision Tale Of The 'Fape JOHANSSON 6 It 11 in 146 pounds 1111 int 43 Ins Ins 34 ins 1611 Ins II ins 14 Ins 10 ins 14 ins 13 ins IS ins PATTERSON 23 I 1112 Ins 11111 pounds 714 ons 4111 ins 43 ins 32 int 141-1 ins 17 Int 7 ins Is ins 9 I int 111s ins 1714 12 Ins Ai Haiant Weioht Reacts Chest (normal) Chest (asaanded) Waist Nack Wrist Call Ankle Thorn Fist Forearm this is the opportunity to become the tirst ex-heavy chomp to win back the title Patterson's pride was stub tvred by his shocking owe of last year when he 4as a 5 to A favorite over a lightly regarded challenger Ninth of training in an abort dolled mot house in Newton Conn tutoring by Joe Louis and an intewT desire to prove himself ogain should bring Pat terson to the rematch in ciolis mood Howe rr these who wild' goes on in 'Demolition Derby' Takes Heavy Toll On Big Field To Safety tunates were less critical of the plant Junior Johnson who was running third when he rammed against the rail and bowed out on the 290th lap said: "It's torn up a little bit but not too awful bad" Ned Jarrett third when he blew a tire and wrecked his 'fio Ford on the rail declared "There's a lot of holes but you can dodge them" MISFORTUNE came to many in what one pit member termed "not arace but a de molition derby" but it came hardest and most cruel to Jack Smith Smartly chauffeuring a '60 Pontiac Smith was leading the field by five laps with only 47 laps to go when his gas tank broke Spartanburg driver waved his fist "The bole is this big" he grieved His eyes were wet He sat down in the pit lowered his head and fought his emotions Ile obviously didn't want to but he cried a little How They Finished SY The Associated Press Official order of finishers to World 6011 'Wit car race with winnings oncluslve laa prizesl I Jo ee Johnson Chevrolet 2 John egatithaMP Chevrolet 19100 3 lobby Johns Plymouth 4 Dick Petty Plymouth Lee NMI' Plymouth 14200 SLet WOO 4 Gerald Duke Thundertbird S2200 i Buck Beker Chevrolet Sk While Chevrolet 0 Santo Matthews Ford 10 Tiny Lund PontieC II Shorty Rollins Ford 17 David Peertor4 Chevrolet 13 Charlie Griffith Chevrolet 1100 SIIse WO Seen SrS0 hie SSee IC Jack Smith Pontiac II Bob Burdick Chtivroict SO II IL Bob Welborn Ford WO It Herman Seem Ford VIM) II Jim Cook Ford Soil It Jlm Pardue Plymouth We 20 Marvin Pinch Ford We tl Jim PAm1 Chevrolet Ira 27 caddy salmi Fora tri) IS Larry Frarik Ford slob WO $70 WS s2rat I tai 11'11 11:01 IllhCitt: tut ill di I i 0 3700 a IS Sotedy Thompson Ford 11700 No Juntor Johnsoo Chevrolet $lot a -Did VIM finish but wers tall le drito eat 1 4 I 1 i-t- -44 i 4-- i- 's i PIN F-a 4:0 A's 40: 0 4 7777 4 --wink -ortioMMOMPI vo 0' ii9-144tyaxe -4 -4:" 64 e1' 7:: it track but they should stop it The things that are happen ing to the cars today ball joint suspensions giving away front and rear wheel bearings collapsing differentials a axles breaking those things are caused by track condi tions" DOUG YATES blew a tire '38 INDY WINNER Langhorne Race Kills Jim Bryan Spin To Infield Rail When 1Vo Hit Rail Long -Wait Patterson Square Off Tonight Johnson patted number 89 his 1960 Chevrolet now coy ered by a blanket of roses and got kissed by a beauty queen "It ran real good real good" he said still mop ping with a towel His ear was formerly owned by Bob Welborn Paul Mc Duffey Johnson's chief mechanic built it "Paul is thc best" said Joe Lee "and I had the best pit crew in the business" Pit crew members Shipp Charlie Sweat land Ross Howard Ben Harrell and Glenn Petty all took a sheepish bow smiling with pride They had done the fast dirty work on his five pit stops "He gassed up five times" said Sweat land "He was mighty close to empty there at the finish He ran out once and had to coast nearly a whole lap into the pit We thought that we might be sunk after that but he made it up fine" Tired? "Not as much after this 600 as I have been In some 500 milers" said Joe Lee Ills next biggest stock car victory was a 150 miler In Nashville Native of Tennessee? "No lived in Spartanburg most of my life and I feel right at home here in Charlotte" he answered Joe Lee said his crew changed tires on his right side three times six tires with no changes on the left side which still had some good ruh her left after the 600 mile grind Was the track as bad as had been expected? "No not half as bad" said Johnson It was not too bad at all" His windshield had a bunch of cracks iri it but wire SCITell on his hood had given a lot of protection How was the heat on the track? "It felt like it all MO to me" ansu ered the Inaugural World 600 champ "And I sure drank a lot of water I know that" Any close have or tangles with anybody? "No I Just ran my race" What was Ilk top speed? Joe Lee didn't know "Ask my mechanic" he said Mc Duffey t4aid "It cpuldwt Lave been over 124 miles per prim for that's whal w'e had the car geared for It cePred to run at its whim LANGHORNE Pa Jimmy Bryan winner of the 1958 Indianapolis Memorial Day classic was killed Sunday when his racing car rolled over several times on the first lap of the 100mile national championship at Langhorne Speedway The 31 year old driver from Phoenix Ariz was dead on ar- rival at the hospital 43't '4'4 st vor 14 and rammed against the rail in a turn "I did it when I hit a hole" he explained It's terrible! There are holes all over it ''But it will be a great track" predicted Yates "when they get the good pavement down" Some of the other maim JIMMY BRYAN Roll Fatal two Indianapolis races mechan lull trouble knocking him out at the start of the 1959 event and again after 112 laps or this year's tint lie leaves his and 3 year old daughter Step hanie TAU 1 I A i -'4 1 4)- 144 1 1 Po i 4 'I 9 4 lklit( 4 4 114 4 1z t''t 44 'A17- Iii'Cl4 ''''Poi4 tl 1 fr Nr'W 444 lk 4 I 11' 11'1 i I''1 ti -trl00-tote 21' 1 Ia in no a By HERMAN HELMS Observer Sports Writer When it was over there were more than a few holes in the new track there were some mangled automobiles some snorting drivers some tears but no blood Miraculously there was no blood It was a wild one the inaugural World 600 There were many spinouts and accidents But it was the machines which took the lumps The men were lucky Young Johnny Wolford lost control of his 1960 Ford on the 10th lap The machine went crazy in the turn and Cotton Owens and Johnny Allen bar-relied into it Iford's ear burst loin flames but Johnny leaped out the window seconds ahead of the fire His car was a mess but the man bore no In arks The front end of Alien's 190 Chevrolet was ripped off and Owen's car was also sent to the sidelines The drivers were fortunate not a scratch Fireball Roberts threw a front wheel off his 1960 Pontiac in the middle of a turn and again the big crowd held its breath Betrayed by his car Only his skill could spare his life Fireball brought it in beaut ifully straight up the axle ploughing in the infield He was as mad as a bulb dog "I dont care who the hell you are mister" he said to a fellow who wanted in make COIIVersation -Pm go mg to get me some rest" A lot of them lett the track with their tempers cooking And some of them blamed the new plant and its still tender surface for their nnstoi tune "It's rough as hell" corn Wattled Utnalluel Zervakis "All the ears will have to be rebuilt alter this one There's no doubt about It" "I'm not blaming Curtis Tut ncr" said Tom Pktone A Iron runnyr until Ile had In tome Oh hrokrn axle tifirr 230 laps tricd to grt trady I don't likr In run thn A oilof By JACK HAND Associated Press Sports writer NEW YORK ifl Ingmar Johnasson remains the choice to whip Floyd Patterson again in the first defense of his world heavyweight boxing title tonight at the polo grounds With a forecast of generally fair mild weather the ncv pro rooters Feature Sports Inc talk of a possible attendance of over 35ouo and a gross gate of over Wow Various estimates of the icl ante sale run from to $6:5000 The 15-rounil rematch is scheduled for 1V30 tn Char lone tihie with unity closed cud television coverage For the 27 year old on beaten champion froin GOte horgi this Is his big chance to prove it svss no fluke hen be dropped Patterson 01411'n 111111'01 In the third round last 26 and stopped him in 203 of the Mild rtir thr 21 Nrpr 01 chAllen Krr iron) lin( kk ilk Centre side the mind of a man who has been knocked out in his last fight really can tell about his mental attitude for this match Ile expects to weigh about 188 nr 189 pounds as compared to 182 for the first fight thhansson carefree RR A challenger is playing to the hilt the role of champion After early tralning In Switerland Ingo has worked hard timing his slay al Ids Cross Inger headquarters occadonally Interrupting his drills for a round of golf or a mho uith his beautiful ftamyl The right hand punch that that was a mystery a year ago no longer is suspect iolians son proved he packed "thunder and lightning" in his right hand In the first light Ile has sharp flied up the pavving annoying jab of last June into potent eapon hut the right still is the big punch According to Ias Vegas odds Johaosson is a 7'7 to 5 favorite 11 Ilis car started to skid Nide ways just after the race started and then rolled over There WAS no fire Ilis Leader Card Spec la as reeked Ilryan had qualifled in the car which Roger Ward usually drives with the second fastest time 110:321 mph The feature race w'as restarted after the accident The winner was Jito Iturtuhise of Lennox Calif in a field of 17 cars His time was 5133192 and his speed 100786 mph on the mile track Ilryan raced in the Indnnapolis 500- mile classic nine times win ning it in 198 Ile also won the 500 miler at Monza Italy in 1957 The cigar chewing Bryan was known In racing as "the earth mover" tor his un vainly ability at winning on dirt tracks lie won the national big car driving championship three times in 1951 19 56 and 1957 lie had bad luck in thr last avai itsimmomA FprOWPOIMEWIMIERP11PE3firrginlagMer 'ern 17 Igalltarlii rplArptit0141Writarlinlanly rn italiMUUMBOWIMalletialgifcrpMingr era KiVMirtWmirMral Ilimoommolmonolliiinommalemounts a 1 OnamidiAllmnamonr4 lit'nenta0 armada tdteOMMONIPEICIIIION atiNSISISMIlinalWom 101ndmmwmom simeakiSO IlimnoWLAPmEmOldall adki PlmoSVAML0 itranavaollkfIMEMSAIIMI Mit BM AIMIIIIInnotilikehmEd alidnEEEM611411Emnor 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