1961 Firecracker 250

Race 32 of 52

Daytona
100 laps
Time of race: 1:37:13
Average speed of winner: 154.294 mph
Margin of victory: 2 car lengths
Lead changes: 12 among 6 drivers
Cautions: 0 for 0 laps
Lap leaders: Roberts 1-5, Weatherly 6-7, Roberts 8-12, Weatherly 13-16, Roberts 17-42, Pearson 43-45, Matthews 46-48, Johns 49-51, Roberts 52-58, Pearson 59-64, Roberts 65-80, Lorenzen 81-98, Pearson 99-100

Race notes: Debut for Jim Bennett. Ned Jarrett took the points lead from Rex White.

Finish	Start	Driver	Car #	Sponsor	Car	Owner	Crew Chief	Qualifying Speed	Laps	X Led	Laps Led	Status	Money	Points
1	2	David Pearson	3	Daytona Kennel	'61 Pontiac	Masoni			100	3	11	running	8450	0
2	7	Fred Lorenzen	28		'61 Ford	Holman-Moody			100	1	18	running	4275	0
3	10	Jack Smith	46		'61 Pontiac	Jack Smith			99	0	0	running	2700	0
4	6	Marvin Panch	20		'60 Pontiac	Yunick	Yunick		99	0	0	running	1525	0
5	1	Fireball Roberts	22		'61 Pontiac	Yunick	Yunick	157.150	98	5	59	running	1525	0
6	3	Joe Weatherly	8		'61 Pontiac	Moore	Moore		98	2	6	running	1250	0
7	13	Nelson Stacy	29		'61 Ford	Holt-Stacy			98	0	0	running	800	0
8	11	Roscoe Thompson	24		'60 Pontiac	James Turner			97	0	0	running	825	0
9	14	Larry Frank	76		'61 Ford	Dick Wright			97	0	0	running	675	0
10	8	Ralph Earnhardt	6		'61 Pontiac	Owens	Owens		96	0	0	running	700	0
11	12	Jim Bennett	15		'61 Ford	Beau Morgan			96	0	0	running	500	0
12	17	Ned Jarrett	11		'61 Chevrolet	B.G. Holloway	Allman		96	0	0	running	350	0
13	19	Johnny Allen	69		'61 Chevrolet	B.G. Holloway			96	0	0	running	320	0
14	21	Herb Tillman	89		'61 Chevrolet	Adcox-Kirby			95	0	0	running	300	0
15	5	Bobby Johns	72		'61 Ford	Shorty Johns			94	1	3	head gasket	420	0
16	15	Marvin Porter	82		'61 Ford				94	0	0	running	295	0
17	9	Junior Johnson	27	Holly Farms	'61 Pontiac	Lovette			93	0	0	running	300	0
18	16	Woodie Wilson	5		'61 Pontiac				92	0	0	running	275	0
19	27	Jimmy Pardue	54		'60 Chevrolet	Pardue			92	0	0	running	250	0
20	28	Tiny Lund	75		'61 Pontiac	Braswell			91	0	0	running	250	0
21	23	Herman Beam	19		'60 Ford	Beam			91	0	0	running	250	0
22	4	Banjo Matthews	94		'61 Ford	Banjo Matthews			82	1	3	engine	600	0
23	26	Rex White	4		'61 Chevrolet	Rex White	Clements		63	0	0	connecting rod	350	0
24	25	Curtis Crider	62		'61 Mercury	Crider			52	0	0	flagged	250	0
25	30	Reb Wickersham	33		'60 Oldsmobile	Wickersham			49	0	0	flagged	250	0
26	18	George Alsobrook	99		'61 Ford	B.J. Jones			27	0	0	connecting rod	150	0
27	20	Buddy Baker	86		'61 Chrysler	Buck Baker			15	0	0	engine	150	0
28	22	Roy Tyner	38		'61 Ford	DeMatthews			8	0	0	engine	150	0
29	24	Emanuel Zervakis	85		'61 Ford	Shook			4	0	0	cam shaft	150	0
30	29	Buck Baker	87		'61 Chrysler	Buck Baker			2	0	0	transmission	150	0