1968 Rebel 400

Two-hundred and ninety one laps were completed on the paved oval track spanning 1.375 miles (2.213 km) for a total of 400.1 miles (643.9 km).^[2] The time of the race was three hours and fifty-four seconds with a crowd of 22,500 attending.^[2] There were four cautions for twenty-three laps.^[2] David Pearson defeated Darel Dieringer in his 1968 Ford by eighteen seconds. Pearson took advantage of the NASCAR engine and weight rules for 1968 and used a 396 cid engine instead of the normal 427. At that time the car had to be 4,000 pounds with the 427 cid engine but only 3,707 pounds with the 396 cid engine. The lighter weight paid off as Pearson used less fuel and had fewer tire troubles than many of the other teams. Pearson would continue to use the 396 throughout the year.^[2]

Canadian racer Frog Fagan finished in 22nd place.^[2] The average speed was 132.699 miles per hour (213.558 km/h) while the pole position speed was 148.85 miles per hour (239.55 km/h).^[2] Other notable drivers included Wendell Scott, Richard Petty, Buddy Baker, Elmo Langley, and Roy Tyner.^[2] Out of the thirty-four drivers, fifteen of them did not finish the race.^[2]

Total winnings for the 1968 Rebel 400 were $53,455 ($483,346 when adjusted for inflation); first-place finisher Pearson earned $13,700 ($123,877 when adjusted for inflation) while last-place finisher Hess walked away with $460 ($4,159 when adjusted for inflation).^[3]

Lennie Waldo made his NASCAR Grand National Series debut in this event.^[4]