The 1963 World 600, the fourth running of NASCAR’s prestigious 600-mile endurance event and race 26 of 55 in the Grand National Series season, took place on Sunday, June 2, at the 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. The high-banked quad-oval tested both speed and reliability over a full 400 laps (600 miles), with 44 cars taking the green flag in front of a large crowd.
Junior Johnson, driving the No. 3 Ray Fox Chevrolet, grabbed the pole with a qualifying speed of 141.148 mph and dominated much of the afternoon, leading a race-high 289 laps across multiple stints. However, Fred Lorenzen in the No. 28 Holman-Moody Ford started second and methodically worked his way to the front, ultimately leading 76 laps—including the final stretch—to secure the victory. The race featured 15 lead changes among six drivers and was slowed by just two cautions for 14 laps.
Lorenzen crossed the line 35 seconds ahead of Johnson after a grueling 4 hours, 31 minutes, and 52 seconds, posting an impressive average speed of 132.417 mph. Rounding out the top five were Rex White (third, 398 laps), Joe Weatherly (fourth, 397 laps), and David Pearson (fifth, 396 laps). Several early incidents sidelined cars, including wrecks involving Stick Elliott, Ralph Earnhardt, and others, while mechanical failures (engines, differentials, and more) claimed many contenders, including Richard Petty who finished 36th. The attrition highlighted the demanding nature of the long-distance race.
Lorenzen’s win boosted Ford’s performance that day, while Weatherly’s solid run allowed him to take the points lead from Petty. The event also marked the final NASCAR starts for drivers Paul Clark and Banjo Matthews.
