The 1961 World 600, the second running of NASCAR’s now‑historic 600‑mile event, took place on May 28, 1961, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, a track that had opened the previous year with the inaugural World 600 in 1960. The race was part of the NASCAR Grand National Series and was contested over 400 laps on the 1.500‑mile paved quad‑oval, demanding both speed and endurance from drivers and crews alike. Richard Petty sat on the pole with a qualifying speed of 131.611 mph, but it was David Pearson who dominated the long Memorial Day weekend event, winning by more than two laps ahead of his closest competitor for his first career Cup Series victory. The race featured seven caution periods for 57 laps and was run at an average speed of 111.633 mph in front of 46,538 spectators. Mechanical attrition and the challenge of the distance removed many contenders from the running, but the top five finishers reflected strength and consistency: 1st – David Pearson, 2nd – Fireball Roberts, 3rd – Junior Johnson, 4th – Joe Weatherly, and 5th – Ned Jarrett. The 1961 World 600 further established Charlotte Motor Speedway as a premier venue on the NASCAR schedule and remains notable in motorsports history for Pearson’s commanding performance.
