Author Topic: Ellis Speedway: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Z11 Conv Pace Car NASCAR GT Race 1969  (Read 1925 times)

SMKZ28

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A 1969 Camaro RS/SS Z11 convertible was used on the pace lap of the Blue Grass 300 NASCAR Grand Touring event held at Ellis Speedway located 12 miles west of Owensboro, Kentucky on Sunday, April 20, 1969.  I'm not sure if it was used in any caution periods during the race because the photo shows a 1969 Chevrolet at the head of the field on the pace lap.  Perhaps this car was the actual pace car for the event.  I'm not sure.

The track was a 1/4 mile paved oval.  Charlie Blanton won the race in his yellow 1968 Camaro.  In fact, the first 5 finishers were in 1968 Camaros.  This was the home track of Darrell Waltrip in his early years, and this was the first time he raced in the NASCAR Grand Touring division.  I have read conflicting accounts on what Waltrip drove to his 15th place finish.  One said he drove a 1968 Mustang and another said it was a 1968 Camaro. 

The article and photo with caption came from the April 21, 1969 edition of the Messenger Inquirer, Owensboro, Kentucky.

newspapers.com
Scott
I don't have a 1st Gen but I have 1971 Z28 RS 4-spd, 1997 Z28 Z4C 6-spd, 2000 SS Convertible, 2010 RS 6-spd

SMKZ28

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Here you can see the Camaro parked in the background of this photo.  It came from Facebook.
Scott
I don't have a 1st Gen but I have 1971 Z28 RS 4-spd, 1997 Z28 Z4C 6-spd, 2000 SS Convertible, 2010 RS 6-spd

SMKZ28

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While this appears to be a mid 1960's Pontiac, the door decal in this photo seems to be the same one that appears on the 1969 Camaro RS/SS Z11 convertible pace car.  This photo appeared in the March 3 1969 edition of the Messenger Inquirer, Owensboro, Kentucky.  This must have been their pace car prior to obtaining the Camaro about a month later.

newspapers.com
Scott
I don't have a 1st Gen but I have 1971 Z28 RS 4-spd, 1997 Z28 Z4C 6-spd, 2000 SS Convertible, 2010 RS 6-spd

SMKZ28

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Cover of the Souvenir Event Program

worthpoint.com
Scott
I don't have a 1st Gen but I have 1971 Z28 RS 4-spd, 1997 Z28 Z4C 6-spd, 2000 SS Convertible, 2010 RS 6-spd

SMKZ28

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This is possibly a photo of Charlie Blanton's winning Camaro as it looked in 1970 at Catamount Stadium.  The person who posted the photo wasn't 100% sure.

http://catamountstadium.com/NASCARGrandTouring.html
Scott
I don't have a 1st Gen but I have 1971 Z28 RS 4-spd, 1997 Z28 Z4C 6-spd, 2000 SS Convertible, 2010 RS 6-spd