1969 World 600

Four hundred laps were raced on the paved oval track spanning 1.5 miles (2.4 km).^[3] After nearly four hours and thirty minutes of racing, LeeRoy Yarbrough defeated Donnie Allison by two laps^[4] in front of 75000 spectators. The 16-lap difference between 2nd-place finisher Donnie Allison and 3rd-place finisher James Hylton was another notable feature of this event.^[3] Five cautions would be waved for 45 laps along with 13 lead changes among eight different drivers.^[2][3][4] LeeRoy Yarbrough would lead the race from lap 162 through lap 400; putting on a very strong performance to win the race.

There were 44 drivers in the race; racing for a total of $132,100 ($1,132,680 when considering inflation).^[5] Ed Negre would get the last-place finish in Don Tarr's 1967 Chevrolet due to a transmission problem on the second lap. Don Tarr scored his best career finish of 6th place.^[2][3][4] Allison would gain the pole position with a speed of 159.296 miles per hour (256.362 km/h) while the average race speed was 134.631 miles per hour (216.668 km/h).^[3][4]

Pearson's car rode the guardrail on a lap 13 crash.^[3] His car came back on the inside of the racetrack but while riding the guardrail Pearson hit a flag pole. Dave Marcis would have a long career ahead of him after leading the laps in this race. However, this would be the final race for Gerald Chamberlain and Larry Hess.^[4]

Notable crew chiefs: Cotton Owens, Dick Hutcherson, Glen Wood, Banjo Matthews, Jim Vandiver, Dale Inman and Harry Hyde.^[6]

Section reference:^[3]

• Start of race: Cale Yarborough had the pole position to begin the event.
• Lap 2: Ed Negre's vehicle developed transmission problems.
• Lap 4: LeeRoy Yarbrough took over the lead from Cale Yarborough; John Keeney had a terminal crash.
• Lap 13: David Pearson had a terminal crash.
• Lap 15: The radiator on Bobby Allison's vehicle developed serious issues.
• Lap 30: Paul Goldsmith took over the lead from LeeRoy Yarborough.
• Lap 34: The sway bar on Henley Gray's video became dangerously loose.
• Lap 38: James Hylton took over the lead from Paul Goldsmith.
• Lap 40: Paul Goldsmith took over the lead from James Hylton.
• Lap 42: Bobby Isaac took over the lead from Paul Goldsmith.
• Lap 48: Dave Marcis took over the lead from Bobby Isaac; the carburetor on Richard Brickhouse's vehicle caught on fire.
• Lap 54: Richard Petty took over the lead from Dave Marcis.
• Lap 57: The wiring on Gerald Chamberlain's vehicle failed.
• Lap 81: Dub Simpson managed to lose the rear end of his vehicle.
• Lap 104: LeeRoy Yarbrough took over the lead from Richard Petty.
• Lap 106: Richard Petty took over the lead from LeeRoy Yarbrough.
• Lap 108: Wendell Scott fell out with engine failure.
• Lap 110: Roy Mayne fell out with engine failure.
• Lap 122: Larry Hess fell out with engine failure.
• Lap 135: Bill Champion fell out with engine failure.
• Lap 139: Frank Warren overheated his vehicle.
• Lap 150: John Sears fell out with engine failure.
• Lap 151: LeeRoy Yarbrough took the lead from Richard Petty.
• Lap 153: Neil Castles had a terminal crash.
• Lap 158: Bobby Isaac took over the lead from LeeRoy Yarbrough.
• Lap 162: LeeRoy Yarbrough took over the lead from Bobby Isaac.
• Lap 272: Dave Marcis fell out with engine failure.
• Lap 303: Sam McQuagg fell out with engine failure.
• Lap 307: An incident involving a vehicle's hub forced Cale Yarborough out of the race.
• Lap 308: Buddy Arrington fell out with engine failure.
• Lap 336: Richard Petty fell out with engine failure.
• Lap 347: Buddy Baker fell out with engine failure.
• Lap 367: Friday Hassler fell out with engine failure.
• Lap 374: Bobby Isaac fell out with engine failure.
• Finish: LeeRoy Yarbrough was the winner of the event.

Section reference:^[3]