1968 Southeastern 500

Race details[1]
Race 5 of 49 in the 1968 NASCAR Grand National Series season
Layout of Bristol Motor Speedway
Date	March 17, 1968 (1968-March-17)
Official name	Southeastern 500
Location	Bristol International Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee
Course	Permanent racing facility 0.500 mi (0.800 km)
Distance	500 laps, 250.0 mi (400.0 km)
Weather	Cold with temperatures of 57 °F (14 °C); wind speeds of 14 miles per hour (23 km/h)
Average speed	77.247 mph (124.317 km/h)
Attendance	19,800[2]
Pole position
Driver	Richard Petty	Petty Enterprises
Most laps led
Driver	David Pearson	Holman-Moody
Laps	176
Winner
No. 17	David Pearson	Holman-Moody
Television in the United States
Network	CBS
Announcers	Bud Lindemann

The 1968 Southeastern 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on March 17, 1968, at Bristol International Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Highlights of this racing event were later shown on the classic Car and Track television show on most CBS stations.

The transition to purpose-built racecars began in the early 1960s and occurred gradually over that decade. Changes made to the sport by the late 1960s brought an end to the "strictly stock" vehicles of the 1950s.

A total distance of 500 laps was accomplished at this event; with Bobby Allison acquiring the last-place position due to stock car engine problems on lap 41. Stan Meserve would fall out with engine failure on lap 54.^[2] Driveshaft problems would end Paul Goldsmith's day on lap 60 while terminal vehicle damage would end Jerry Grant's day on lap 72.^[2] An accident would claim the vehicle of G.C. Spencer on lap 91 while an oil leak would take Roy Tyner out the race on lap 104.^[2]

Clyde Lynn's incredibly disappearing tail end of his vehicle eventually stalled his racing hopes on lap 445.^[2] While the first 100 laps of this race event were a David Pearson and Richard Petty show, it would be LeeRoy Yarbrough would compete against Pearson in the closing laps of this event.^[2] All 36 of the qualifying drivers were born in the United States of America.^[2] Henley Gray would become the lowest-finishing driver to actually complete the event; albeit more than 100 laps behind the lead-lap competitors.^[2]

David Pearson would best Richard Petty by a distance of three seconds after racing at each other's throats for more than three hours; Petty drove the last 25 laps of the race without any brakes.^[2] More than 19,000 ardent NASCAR followers would see a race marred by eleven caution flags for a duration of 81 laps.^[2] Richard Petty's qualifying speed of 88.582 miles per hour (142.559 km/h) would see him blaze through the field during solo qualifying runs.^[2] Cale Yarborough would spend some time as the leader of the race before an incident involving the back of his vehicle would end his day of racing on lap 237.^[2] Roy Trantham would make his introduction into the NASCAR Cup Series scene in this race while Serge Adams would exit stage left from NASCAR racing after the conclusion of this event.^[3] Doug Cooper also enjoyed his final NASCAR Grand National Series race at this event before retiring.^[2]

Individual race earnings ranged from the winner's share of $25,415 ($222,679 when adjusted for inflation) to the last-place finisher's portion of $500 ($4,381 when adjusted for inflation). NASCAR handed out a grand total of $86,285 to all the competitors who qualified for this racing event ($756,005 when adjusted for inflation).^[4]

At least ten notable crew chiefs were recorded as officially attending this race; including Ray Hicks, Jake Elder, Glen Wood, Junior Johnson and Banjo Matthews.^[5]