Race: Firecracker 250
NASCAR Grand National Series: Race 32 of 52
Date: July 4, 1961
Track: Daytona International Speedway
← 38 Miles at Starkey Speedway | 1961 Season Results | Festival 250 →
Firecracker 250 Race Information
| Winner | David Pearson | Car | No. 3 Pontiac |
| Team / Owner | John Masoni (Owner) | Winner Start | 2nd |
| Started First | Fireball Roberts | Most Laps Led | Fireball Roberts (59) |
| Race Distance | 250 miles (100 laps) | Track Length | 2.5 miles |
| Track Type | Paved oval | Starters | 30 |
| Different Leaders | 6 | Lead-Lap Finishers | 2 |
| Points Leader After Race | Ned Jarrett | Season Race | 32 of 52 |
Firecracker 250 Race Results
| Fin | Start | No. | Driver | Team / Owner | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | David Pearson | John Masoni (Owner) | Pontiac | 100 | 11 | running | 1350 |
| 2 | 7 | 28 | Fred Lorenzen | Holman Moody | Ford | 100 | 18 | running | 1296 |
| 3 | 10 | 46 | Jack Smith | Jack Smith (Owner) | Pontiac | 99 | 0 | running | 1242 |
| 4 | 6 | 20 | Marvin Panch | Smokey Yunick Racing | Pontiac | 99 | 0 | running | 1188 |
| 5 | 1 | 22 | Fireball Roberts | Smokey Yunick Racing | Pontiac | 98 | 59 | running | 1134 |
| 6 | 3 | 8 | Joe Weatherly | Bud Moore Engineering | Pontiac | 98 | 6 | running | 1080 |
| 7 | 13 | 29 | Nelson Stacy | Dudley Farrell (Owner) | Ford | 98 | 0 | running | 1026 |
| 8 | 11 | 24 | Roscoe Thompson | James Turner (Owner) | Pontiac | 97 | 0 | running | 972 |
| 9 | 14 | 76 | Larry Frank | Dick Wright (Owner) | Ford | 97 | 0 | running | 918 |
| 10 | 8 | 6 | Ralph Earnhardt | Owens Racing | Pontiac | 96 | 0 | running | 864 |
| 11 | 12 | 15 | Jim Bennett | Beau Morgan (Owner) | Ford | 96 | 0 | running | 810 |
| 12 | 17 | 11 | Ned Jarrett | B.G. Holloway (Owner) | Chevrolet | 96 | 0 | running | 756 |
| 13 | 19 | 69 | Johnny Allen | B.G. Holloway (Owner) | Chevrolet | 96 | 0 | running | 702 |
| 14 | 21 | 89 | Herb Tillman | Joe Lee Johnson (Owner) | Chevrolet | 95 | 0 | running | 648 |
| 15 | 5 | 72 | Bobby Johns | Shorty Johns (Owner) | Ford | 94 | 3 | head gasket | 594 |
| 16 | 15 | 82 | Marvin Porter | — | Ford | 94 | 0 | running | 540 |
| 17 | 9 | 27 | Junior Johnson | Rex Lovette (Owner) | Pontiac | 93 | 0 | running | 486 |
| 18 | 16 | 5 | Woodie Wilson | Leroy Faucett (Owner) | Pontiac | 92 | 0 | running | 432 |
| 19 | 27 | 54 | Jimmy Pardue | Jimmy Pardue (Owner) | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 | running | 378 |
| 20 | 28 | 75 | Tiny Lund | J.D. Braswell (Owner) | Pontiac | 91 | 0 | running | 324 |
| 21 | 23 | 19 | Herman Beam | Herman Beam (Owner) | Ford | 91 | 0 | running | 270 |
| 22 | 4 | 94 | Banjo Matthews | Matthews Racing | Ford | 82 | 3 | engine | 216 |
| 23 | 26 | 4 | Rex White | Rex White (Owner) | Chevrolet | 63 | 0 | connecting rod | 162 |
| 24 | 25 | 62 | Curtis Crider | Curtis Crider (Owner) | Mercury | 52 | 0 | flagged | 108 |
| 25 | 30 | 33 | Reb Wickersham | Reb Wickersham (Owner) | Oldsmobile | 49 | 0 | flagged | 54 |
| 26 | 18 | 99 | George Alsobrook | Joe Jones (Owner) | Ford | 27 | 0 | connecting rod | 54 |
| 27 | 20 | 86 | Buddy Baker | Buck Baker Racing | Chrysler | 15 | 0 | engine | 54 |
| 28 | 22 | 38 | Roy Tyner | Matt DeMatthews (Owner) | Ford | 8 | 0 | engine | 54 |
| 29 | 24 | 85 | Emanuel Zervakis | Monroe Shook (Owner) | Ford | 4 | 0 | camshaft | 54 |
| 30 | 29 | 87 | Buck Baker | Buck Baker Racing | Chrysler | 2 | 0 | transmission | 54 |
Season Navigation
1961 NASCAR Grand National Series Results
← 38 Miles at Starkey Speedway | 1961 Season Results | Festival 250 →