A white 1968 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible was used as the pace car for the Southeastern 500 NASCAR Grand National event held at Bristol International Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee on Sunday, March 17, 1968. While they were red and contained information on the weekend races, this cars decals/stickers have more in common with the pace cars used at Daytona in February 1968 than with the ones used at North Carolina Motor Speedway the week before. It has the word "CAMARO" under the door mirror and the NASCAR symbol next to the door handle. In addition, the stripe on the rear quarter panel does not follow the upper contour, it cuts straight across. Also notice the name of the track on the back of the rear spoiler.
On the front fender you can see the words "Bristol 300." This would have been the NASCAR Grand Touring division event held on Saturday, March 16, 1968. While I haven't found any pictures, the Camaro was more than likely used as the pace car for this event as well.
The Florida license plate reads, "8W-17192" This means it wasn't registered in Tennessee. Unfortunately, none of the other pictures I have posted so far show a license plate clear enough to make out if they are the same cars.
Beyond the Camaro you can see David Pearson in the #17 Ford followed by Richard Petty in the #43 Plymouth. Pearson would finish first followed by Petty in second place.
Pictures:
1) Bristol Motor Speedway Facebook page
2 & 3) http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2016/03/march-17-1968-southeastern-500.html
Highlighted footage of the race can be found on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U1VninuJag
It came from the old automotive/racing television show entitled "Car and Track." I took a few photographs while I watched the footage.
More from Youtube
Program cover (worthpoint.com)
Ticket (jerryweaver.com)
Here another shot of it, but at the "Tennessee 500" - the front fender has been relettered.
From the Tommy Erwin Collection.
Quote from: KurtS on March 08, 2019, 12:22:30 PM
Here another shot of it, but at the "Tennessee 500" - the front fender has been relettered.
From the Tommy Erwin Collection.
Thanks for posting that cool picture. I had not seen that one before. The Tennessee 500 was an ARCA stock car race held at Bristol on November 17, 1968. Interesting that they would still be using the 1968 model year Camaro at that late date. I guess their 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible hadn't been acquired yet.
A different 1968 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible pace car from a different track can be seen to the far right of this picture parked in the paddock with its white convertible top in the raised position. This is not the Camaro that would pace this event because that car had the large red side stripes that do not appear on the Camaro in the paddock. It might be the Martinsville Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Atlanta International Raceway or Charlotte Motor Speedway 1968 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible pace car because these cars did not feature the large red stripe on their flanks.
I found the image on the 1960s NASCAR Only! Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/380428582088949/media