
09/03/2025
On this date in 1962, Larry Frank won the Southern 500 at Darlington International Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Driving Ratus Walter's #66 Cafe Burgundy Ford, Frank led 85 laps of the 364-lap NASCAR Grand National Series race. Junior Johnson finished second in Ray Fox's #3 Jerry Earl Pontiac Inc. Pontiac, with Marvin Panch in the Wood Brothers #21 Hull-Dobbs Ford Inc. Ford, David Pearson in Cotton Owens' #6 Hine Pontiac Inc. Pontiac, and Richard Petty in Lee Petty's #43 Petty Enterprises Plymouth rounding out the top five.
It was Frank's lone victory at the Grand National level, and one that came under controversial circumstances. Originally marked as the second-place finisher, Frank and car owner Ratus Walters would protest the result, claiming they had won. Following a review by NASCAR, Frank would be declared the winner, ruining Johnson's victory lane plans of building new chicken houses on his Wilkes County farm with his share of the 1st-place prize money.
To date, it is the only time the #66 has won a NASCAR Grand National / Cup Series race.
Photo Credit: Historic Motor Racing Programmes