July 27, 1968 - 200 Miles - Race called at Lap 301 due to rain - Purse $10,300

Richard Petty leads Bobby Allison and David Pearson in the early stages of the Nashville 420 (Photo: Nashville Tennessean)

 

  

David Pearson took the lead on lap 234 to capture his first and only victory at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.  It was the tenth victory of the 1968 Grand National season for the Holman-Moody driver.  Pearson would go on to capture the NASCAR Grand National Driver's championship for the season. 

The race was scheduled for 400 laps but was called by race officials at lap 301 due to heavy rains in the Nashville metropolitan area.

Pearson finished third at Maryville TN two nights prior to the Nashville event.
   

David Pearson checks out his Holman-Moody Ford Torino prior to the start of the 1968 Nashville 400.  The Spartanburg, South Carolina driver would win the event by three laps over second place finisher Richard Petty.(Photo: Frank Empson The Tennessean)		  
Drivers David Pearson, Bobby Isaac, Richard Petty and Bobby Allison check out the winner's trophy. (Photo: Frank Empson The Tennessean)		  
James Hylton pilots his 1966 Dodge Charger down the back straight during qualifying for the 1968 Nashville 400. (Photo: Frank Empson The Tennessean)
         
Average Speed:   72.98 mph Time of Race:      2:03:44 Margin:    3 Laps
Pole Winner:        Richard Petty / 85.066 Attendance:       15,221 Cautions:  6 for 24
Lap Leader:         Petty 1-131, Pearson 132-133, Petty 134-233, Pearson 234-304
 
DriverDDriver Fin Str Car Team / Owner Car Laps Money Status Led
David Pearson 1 3 17 Holman-Moody 68 Ford 301 2,950 Running 70
Richard Petty 2 1 43 Petty Enterprises 68 Plymouth 298 1,700 Running 231
Bobby Allison 3 2 2 J.D. Bracken 66 Chevrolet 295 900 Running 0
Bobby Isaac 4 4 71 K & K Insurance   67 Dodge 294 500 Running 0
Charlie Glotzbach 5 21 57 Ervin Pruitt 67 Dodge 293 475 Running 0
Elmo Langley 6 5 64 Elmo Langley 66 Ford 285 450 Running 0
  Clyde Lynn 7 15 20 Clyde Lynn 66 Ford 276 425 Running 0
  Roy Tyner 8 16 76 Don Culpepper 66 Ford 266 375 Running 0
Bill Seifert 9 12 45 Bill Seifert 68 Ford 247 325 Running 0
Jack Marlin 10 14 04 Jack Marlin 66 Chevrolet 237 300 Running 0
J.D. McDuffie 11 10 70 J.D. McDuffie 67 Buick 226 270 Engine 0
James Hylton 12 6 48 James Hylton 67 Dodge 124 240 Crash 0
Neil Castles 13 8 06 Neil Castles 67 Plymouth 123 220 Engine 0
  Stan Meserve 14 20 51 Margo Hamm 67 Dodge 113 200 Engine 0
  Paul Dean Holt 15 22 1 Dennis Holt 67 Ford 89 170 Rear end 0
John Sears 16 9 4 L.G. DeWitt 67 Ford 37 150 Ball joint 0
G.C. Spencer 17 7 49 G.C. Spencer 67 Plymouth 27 130 Engine 0
Jabe Thomas 18 17 25 Don Robertson 67 Ford 23 120 Steering 0
  Earl Brooks 19 13 28 Earl Brooks 66 Ford 19 100 Quit 0
Wayne Smith 20 18 38 Archie Smith 68 Chevrolet 12 100 Crash 0
  Bill Vanderhoff 21 19 9 Roy Tyner 67 Pontiac 9 100 Rear end 0
Wendell Scott 22 11 34 Wendell Scott 66 Ford 9 100 Engine 0