1974 – Phillips Posts Easy Win in Pepsi 200

Larry Phillips clutches his Pepsi 200 trophy as flagman Bob Nelson holds aloft the checkered flag. Trophy girl Linda Kitchens later supplied the victory kiss to Phillips, who collected the $2,000 first prize. – Bill Milstead Photo

Jackson, Miss. (March 17, 1974) – Star attraction Pete Hamilton and his brand-new Dodge Challenger bombed out about halfway through the Pepsi 200 stock car race here Sunday, enabling Larry Phillips to get the checkered flag at the Jackson International Speedway.

Phillips, driving a blue and white Camaro, had a big two-lap lead with 50 laps to go and coasted in a winner with the runner-up finisher nearly a full turn behind around the half-mile paved oval.

Phillips, from Springfield, Mo., collected $2,000 for his St. Patrick’s Day ride which was witnessed by an estimated 3,000 race fans.

The race was a smooth-running event with few caution flags and no injuries but one hairy moment when one car spun, got whacked, and then burst into flames.

Doug Robinson of Marshal, Tex., was inside the car which was completely engulfed in flames but got out with no burns and unscathed.

The crash and burn scene, just 21 laps into the 200-lap race, was just about the most exciting occurrence on the bright and sunny afternoon as Phillips made it a ho-hummer.

It settled down to that after Hamilton suffered rear-end trouble in his pole-sitting Dodge and retired on lap 120.

Before that, Hamilton had been out front in his record-setting and unique Chrysler kit car, leading from the start until making a pit stop for a tire change on lap 60.

Phillips, a 30-year-old bachelor who has won the MASCAR title for the last two years, took the lead then and never let it go.

The only challenge came when Hamilton, then a lap behind from his pit stop, pulled up alongside Phillips on the 100th lap and made it a one-on-one show.

The two cars battled fender to fender until Hamilton nosed ahead to cut Phillips’ lead to less than a lap. That was all for the two-car duel, however, as Hamilton’s Challenger - making its racing debut – developed mechanical issues and was through.

It was a fortunate break to say the least for Phillips who had qualified third behind Hamilton and Tom Maier of Midland, Mich., during Saturday’s qualifying. Both Hamilton and Maier had set track records in the qualifying sessions.

Phillips, who looks more like a football player than a racing driver, said after the race, “I found out Pete could run a lot faster.” Unfortunately for Hamilton, he became one of the numbers as the attrition rate was high on Sunday afternoon. Twenty-five cars started the race but only 13 were still running at the finish.

Placing second and taking home $1,200 of the $11,000 purse was David Goldsberry of Bolivar, Mo., also in a Camaro. Jody Ridley of Chatsworth, Ga., driving a Ford Falcon, got third and Marv Roberts of Denver, Colo., was fourth. Harlan Beene of Bossier City, La., rounded out the top five.

Freddy Fryar of Chattanooga, Tenn., last year’s Pepsi 200 winner, had ignition problems and dropped out early in the race. He was credited with 22nd place. Mechanical issues also got to Maier, one of the pre-race favorites.


Results –

1. Larry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
2. David Goldsberry, Bolivar, Mo.
3. Jody Ridley, Chatsworth, Ga.
4. Marv Roberts, Denver, Colo
5. Harlan Beene, Bossier City, La.
6. Ray Putnam, Birmingham, Ala.
7. Chuck Arnold, Baker, La.
8. Tommy Martin, Bogalusa, La.
9. Denver Hirst, Gonzales, La.
10.Dave Swan, Denver, Colo.
11.Willie Crane, Springfield, Mo.
12.Ron Todd, Springfield, Mo.
13.Fritz Wilson, Arvada, Colo.
14.Darrel Carpenter, Rogers, Ark.
15.Pete Hamilton, Atlanta, Ga.
16.Dickie Davis, Pensacola, Fla.
17.Wayne Niedecken, Pensacola, Fla.
18.Tom Maier, Midland, Mich.
19.Jerry Lawley, Birmingham, Ala.
20.Frank McMorris, Baton Rouge, La.
21.Phil Wendt, Mobile, Ala.
22.Freddy Fryar, Chattanooga, Tenn.
23.Doug Robinson, Marshal, Tex.
24.Vance Cook, Jonesboro, Ark.
25.Lionel Rowland, Memphis, Tenn.