July 30, 1966 - 200 Miles - Purse $10,360

Richard Petty leads Bobby Allison during the later stages of the race. (Photo: The Tennessean)

Roy Tyner battles with Chattanooga's Friday Hassler during the early stages of the event. Both drivers would unfortunately be sidelined with mechanical issues in the race.

   Richard Petty led all 400 laps of the event in his 1966 Plymouth.  It was the second time that Petty accomplished this rare achievement.  Petty was able to cruise to a impressive five lap victory in the race. This was Petty's fourth career victory at the Fairgrounds and his seventh of the season.

Bobby Allison's car was slowed late in the race by head gasket leak.

Petty was the only factory supported car in the race as the Cotton Owens Dodge of David Pearson remained in South Carolina over a "deal" money dispute with track officials.

Veteran drivers James Hylton, Coo Coo Marlin, J.D. McDuffie and Bobby Allison all made their initial appearances at the track.

Country music legend Marty Robbins made his only career Fairgrounds Speedway Grand National start in the event.

Henley Gray would record a career best finish of fourth in the race.

   

Hueytown, Alabama's Bobby Allison climbs into his Chevrolet Chevelle prior to the start of the race. The popular driver was overwhelmed with fans after the event. "It's gratifying to receive this much attention from the fans" stated Allison.  (Photo: Fred Marchman)
Country Music legend Marty Robbins congratulates Richard Petty on his pole position run.  The race would be Robbin's only Grand National appearance at Nashville. (Photo: Jimmy Ellis The Tennessean)
   

Speedway secretary Minnie Jo Derryberry sells the first tickets to the event. (Photo: Jack Corn The Tennessean)
 
Richard Petty's qualifying run of 82.493 mph established a new Fairgrounds Speedway record (Photo: Jimmy Ellis The Tennessean)
 
 

 
Average Speed:   71.77 mph: Time of Race:          2:47:11 Margin:        5 Laps
Pole Winner:         Richard Petty / 82:493 Attendance:           15,161 Cautions:    4 for 51
Laps:                      Petty 1- 400
 
Driver Fin Str Car Team  /  Owner Car Laps Money Status Led
Richard Petty 1 1 43 Plymouth -
Petty Enterprises		 66 Plymouth 400 2,750 Running 400
Buck Baker 2 13 87 Buck Baker 66 Olds 395 1,400 Running 0
Bobby Allison 3 2 2 J.D. Bracken 65 Chevrolet 394 850 Running 0
  Henley Gray 4 19 74 Gene Black 66 Ford 383 500 Running 0
  John Sears 5 14 4 L.G. DeWitt 64 Ford 383 475 Running 0
  Neil Castles 6 18 88 Buck Baker 66 Chevrolet 378 450 Running 0
  Clyde Lynn 7 20 20 Clyde Lynn 64 Ford 378 425 Running 0
Coo Coo Marlin 8 8 97 Henley Gray 66 Ford 375 375 Running 0
Wendell Scott 9 16 34 Wendell Scott 65 Ford 375 325 Running 0
James Hylton 10 9 48 Bud Hartje 65 Dodge 352 300 Throttle 0
Larry Hess 11 26 44 Larry Hess 64 Ford 320 275 Running 0
Stick Elliott 12 15 18 Toy Bolton 66 Chevrolet 308 240 Engine 0
G.C. Spencer 13 3 49 G.C. Spencer 65 Plymouth 287 220 Differential 0
  Joel Davis 14 27 61 Toy Bolton 66 Chevrolet 268 200 Oil leak 0
Buddy Arrington 15 21 3 Buddy Arrington 64 Dodge 262 170 Differential 0
Friday Hassler 16 7 39 J.H. Crawford 66 Chevrolet 256 150 Drive shft 0
Elmo Langley 17 6 64 Elmo Langley 64 Ford 250 130 A frame 0
Wayne Smith 18 23 38 Archie Smith 66 Chevrolet 220 120 Engine 0
  Don Biederman 19 25 94 Ron Stotten 64 Chevrolet 214 100 Oil leak 0
J.T. Putney 20 11 19 J.T. Putney 66 Chevrolet 171 100 Engine 0
Roy Tyner 21 28 9 Truett Rodgers 66 Chevrolet 141 100 Oil leak 0
  Paul Lewis 22 4 1 Paul Lewis 65 Plymouth 100 100 Engine 0
  J.D. McDuffie 23 24 70 J.D. McDuffie 64 Ford 54 100 Over
Heating		 0
Doug Cooper 24 5 02 Bob Cooper 65 Plymouth 49 100 Engine 0
Marty Robbins 25 17 53 David Warren 64 Ford 48 100 Oil leak 0
  Blackie Watt 26 22 93 Harry Neal 64 Ford 21 100 Radiator 0
  Johnny Wynn 27 12 6 John McCarthy 64 Mercury 2 100 Crash 0
Darrel Dieringer 28 10 24 Betty Lilly 66 Ford   100 Crash 0