Sunday 10th February 1963

Fred Lorenzen held off Nelson Stacy’s late charge to win the 10 lap ‘NASCAR Race of Champions’ at Daytona International Speedway. The Ford duo dueled the entire distance with Lorenzen edging Stacy by a half car length. Lorenzen averaged a record 163.29 mph. Larry Frank, Fireball Roberts, Ned Jarrett, Jim Pardue and Bobby Johns filled out the field of 5 Fords and 2 Pontiacs. 6 eligible drivers (Joe Weatherly, Richard Petty, Rex White, Jack Smith, Jim Paschal and Junior Johnson) did not compete. The declining entries led to this being the last “winners only” NASCAR race until the format was revived in 1985.