The 1968 NASCAR Grand National Series delivered one of the most competitive seasons of the era, featuring 49 races across a mix of short tracks, dirt ovals, and superspeedways. David Pearson, driving the #17 Ford for Holman-Moody, captured his second championship with a career-high 16 wins, 36 top-five finishes, and 38 top-ten results in 47 starts, edging out Bobby Isaac (who had 3 wins) by a relatively narrow margin in the final standings.
Richard Petty also secured 16 victories in his Plymouth but finished third in points after a strong season that included consistent short-track dominance. Cale Yarborough shone on the big tracks in limited starts for Wood Brothers Racing, winning the prestigious Daytona 500 from the pole in a Mercury after leading 76 laps in a thrilling battle with LeeRoy Yarbrough.
The season highlighted intense manufacturer rivalries between Ford, Dodge, and Plymouth, with rising talents like Bobby Allison (2 wins) and emerging superspeedway specialists adding depth. Pearson’s remarkable consistency on short tracks combined with key superspeedway performances proved decisive in securing the title, capping a year of high drama and close racing across America’s ovals.
Motor Trend 500
January 21, 1968
Daytona 500
February 25, 1968
Gwyn Staley 400
April 21, 1968
Virginia 500
April 28, 1968
Fonda 200
July 11, 1968
Northern 300
July 14, 1968
Dixie 500
August 4, 1968
Old Dominion 500 September 22, 1968
Wilkes 400
September 29, 1968
American 500
October 27, 1968
