1965 – Nelson Wins Yankee 300

 

Norm Nelson is congratulated by crew member Joe Luxem after winning the Yankee 300. – Jerry Nelson Collection

Clermont, Ind. (May 2, 1965) - Norm Nelson, 42, began his 25th year of racing here Sunday with a victory in the “Yankee 300” stock car race over the 2.5-mile Raceway Park course.

Nelson averaged 78.024 miles per hour in taking the $5,965 first prize that went to the winner. The total purse was not immediately determined.

Paul Goldsmith finished second behind Nelson's 1965 Plymouth in his own '65 Plymouth. The new Plymouths also held the third spot, with Jim Hurtubise behind the wheel.

Don White and Roger Regeth drove 1964 Fords to the fourth and fifth spots.

Nelson took the lead on the 108th lap when leader Parnelli Jones had to drop out with a blown engine. Jones had led all but one lap from the first lap of the 120-lap feature.

Nelson finished about three miles ahead of Goldsmith, who won the pole position in qualifications. Jones, driving a 1964 Mercury led for 87 of the 120 laps, with Nelson in control the rest of the way.

Richard Petty, NASCAR 's stock driving champion last year, had to drop out on the 53rd lap, when his 1965 Plymouth developed transmission trouble.

It was transmission trouble or clutch problems which accounted for all the NASCAR entrants leaving the race, most of them before the 300-mile feature was half over.

Twenty-two drivers started over the twisting course, with only eight cars still running at the finish.


Results –


1. Norm Nelson
2. Paul Goldsmith
3. Jim Hurtubise
4. Don White
5. Roger Regeth
6. Sal Tovella
7. Parnelli Jones
8. Bob Christie
9. Herb Shannon
10.Dick Passwater
11.Charles Johnson
12.Bob Slensby
13.Bay Darnell
14.Richard Petty
15.Bill Moore
16.Bob Wawak
17.John Kennedy
18.Lou Burmeister
19.Bobby Isaack
20.David Pearson
21.Bob Hollifield
22.Ted Hane