The 1961 Rebel 300 Grand National Series race was held on May 6 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. Drivers competed over 219 laps on the 1.375‑mile oval, covering 300 miles. Fred Lorenzen, driving a Ford, dominated the event, starting on the pole for the 32-car field with a qualifying speed of 128.965 mph and leading the race to victory, finishing about six car lengths ahead of Curtis Turner. Johnny Allen, Bob Burdick, and Fireball Roberts rounded out the top five finishers. The race lasted roughly two and a half hours, with only one caution flag slowing the action, and the average speed was recorded at 119.52 mph. Approximately 32,000 spectators attended the race, which carried a total purse of $30,625; Lorenzen earned $8,420 for his win, while last place received $200. Mechanical failures and crashes sidelined several drivers, including Richard Petty, who finished last. At this stage of NASCAR history, the Rebel 300 was still run with convertible-style cars, reflecting the era’s transition toward purpose-built stock cars.
