Sunday 9th July 1961

Fred Lorenzen drove a Holman-Moody Ford to a runaway victory in the Festival 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Georgia, US. Lorenzen, who started fifth, led 52 of 167 laps in lapping the field at the 1.5-mile track. Bob Welborn finished second, one lap down, and Richard Petty rallied from 39th starting position to take third, three laps off the pace. It was the only season that the Atlanta track, which opened in 1960, hosted three races for NASCAR’s top series in the same season.