Sunday 26th April 1964

Fred Lorenzen continued his recent domination of major NASCAR Grand National short track races by winning the ‘Virginia 500′ at Martinsville Speedway, Virginia, US. Lorenzen led all but 13 laps, only losing the lead when making routine pit stops, on his way to a 1 lap victory. In the three 250 mile short track races held to this date in 1964, Lorenzen had led 1,349 of 1,400 total laps. A lap behind Lorenzen’s Holman-Moody Ford came Marvin Panch’s Ford and Junior Johnson, making his first start in Banjo Matthews’ Ford after quitting the Ray Fox Dodge. Billy Wade, 2nd in points, did not start after tech inspectors told car owner Bud Moore to re-do the air scoops. Moore loaded up the Mercury and Wade fell to 4th in points.