1965 Season Recap

With Chrysler experiencing issues with factory support of NASCAR, many of the top drivers if the day entered a limited number of events in 1965, enabling some lesser-known drivers to make their mark in the point standings. However, a popular champion re-emerged to conquer his new competition with dominance. Ned Jarrett won his second championship in 1965 and became one of NASCAR Grand National's (now the NASCAR Winston Cup Series) winningest drivers in the process.

Ned Jarrett ran away from the field throughout the season and left his competitors to battle for the remaining positions in the top five in the standings.

FIVE RACES TO GO: North Wilkesboro, NC - 1961 NASCAR Grand National champion Ned Jarrett came to North Wilkesboro with a hefty lead over Dick Hutcherson in the standings. As Hutcherson was caught up in an accident on lap 14, Jarrett finished third to extend his points lead. Darel Dieringer, who was neck-and-neck with G.C. Spencer in the standings, finished 18th, nine spots behind Spencer. Marvin Panch, who was a constant threat to win the title, came in sixth.

FOUR RACES TO GO: Charlotte, NC - Dick Hutcherson, in an effort to make the point standings respectable, ran runner-up to Fred Lorenzen at Charlotte. However, Ned Jarrett carried his hot streak to Charlotte Motor Speedway with his ninth top five finish in his last 10 starts. His fourth place finish was enough for him to clinch his second NASCAR Grand National title. Darel Dieringer struggled again and finished 21st, but G.C. Spencer had trouble as well and finished one spot behind. Marvin Panch, fifth in the standings, was also mired to the back of the field and came home in 35th place.

THREE RACES TO GO: Hillsborough, NC - With his second championship in the bag, Ned Jarrett's 16th place finish at Orange Speedway was of no consequence. Dick Hutcherson won the race, but with Jarrett already having sealed the title, Hutcherson locked up his standing as runner-up on the season. Darel Dieringer, still battling with G.C. Spencer, finished ninth as Spencer had engine trouble and was 17th. Marvin Panch was not entered in the event.

TWO RACES TO GO: Rockingham, NC - The new North Carolina Motor Speedway saw Curtis Turner take its first checkered flag. Marvin Panch finished the race in Rockingham in third, while G.C. Spencer came in fourth. Darel Dieringer finished last in the field after a first lap crash and third in the standings was up for grabs going into the season's final race. Champion Ned Jarrett was 16th in the event while runner-up Dick Hutcherson finished 7th.

FINAL RACE: Moyock, NC - Ned Jarrett capped off his championship season with a milestone victory at Dog Track Speedway in Moyock. His 50th career NASCAR Grand National win allowed him to finish 3034 points ahead of Dick Hutcherson, who did not enter the event. Darel Dieringer finished 23rd, but G.C. Spencer was not entered in the race, so Dieringer finished third in the standings, 382 points ahead of fourth. Marvin Panch was not entered in the race but was far enough ahead of Bob Derrington in the standings that Derrington's 11th place finish could not wrestle fifth place in the standings from Panch.