1963 Season Recap

Defending champion Joe Weatherly proved his 1962 was no flash in the pan as he won his second straight NASCAR Grand National (now known as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series) championship. In one of the closer points races in early NASCAR history, Weatherly outlasted some of the biggest names in the history of the sport, while establishing himself as the driver to beat in the 1960's. Weatherly was famous for "bumming rides" all season, not sticking to one team and a particular owner.

Joe Weatherly and Richard Petty battled back and forth all year and came into the season finale each with a chance to win the NASCAR Grand National title, while the other points contenders had some close battles of their own.

FIVE RACES TO GO: Randleman, NC - With five races to go in the 1963 season, defending champion Joe Weatherly and Richard Petty were neck-and-neck in the standings. Petty struggled a week before in North Wilkesboro but was still right on Weatherly's tail. Appropriately, they finished 1-2 at Tar Heel Speedway, as Petty won at his hometown track. Fred Lorenzen, Ned Jarrett, Fireball Roberts and Jimmy Pardue were all within striking distance of the title as well entering the race at Randleman. Lorenzen would finish the race in fifth, Jarrett in ninth and Pardue in 12th. Roberts was not entered in the event.

FOUR RACES TO GO: Charlotte, NC - Joe Weatherly and Richard Petty continued their battle at Charlotte Motor Speedway where they finished fifth and sixth respectively. Petty wasn't losing any ground, but Weatherly was steady enough not to let him gain any ground. Fred Lorenzen finished second to Junior Johnson and held onto third in the standings. Ned Jarrett was caught in a crash and finished 32nd, slowly losing ground to Fireball Roberts, who came in fourth in Charlotte. Jimmy Pardue finished the event I the 14th position.

THREE RACES TO GO: South Boston, VA - Richard Petty won the 150-miler at South Boston Speedway over Junior Johnson, who had to retire with fatigue. Petty did not make up much ground on points leader Joe Weatherly, though, as the defending champion came in third. Jimmy Pardue registered a sixth place finish and with Ned Jarrett, Fred Lorenzen and Fireball Roberts sitting this race out, Pardue picked up some valuable points.

TWO RACES TO GO: Hillsboro, NC - Joe Weatherly countered Richard Petty's South Boston victory with a victory of his own at Orange Speedway. Petty, coming in sixth, could see the title slipping away but still had a shot with a strong finish in the season finale. Weatherly silenced his critics that said he was "stroking" with the win and was on the verge of clinching his second consecutive championship. Jimmy Pardue and Ned Jarrett were also in this race, finishing 16th and 20th respectively, but Pardue was eyeing Fireball Roberts for fifth place in the season standings.

FINAL RACE: Riverside, CA - The season was set in the final race of the season at Riverside Raceway, a 2.7-mile road course in California. Points leader Joe Weatherly and second place Richard Petty were nose-to-tail on the starting grid with Weatherly starting ninth and Petty 11th. However, the drama was short-lived as Petty's transmission failed him on lap 5. Weatherly earned 1216 points for his seventh place finish, while Petty got only 64. Weatherly clinched by 2228 points. The rest of the top five in the standings shaped up as well. Fireball Roberts' fourth place kept Jimmy Pardue and his 22nd place effort at bay for fifth in the standings. Fred Lorenzen struggled to come in 32nd because of transmission problems, but his competition for third in the standings, Ned Jarrett, did also, coming in 34th.