On February 18, 1962, a crowd of 58,070 fans filled Daytona International Speedway for the fourth running of the Daytona 500. A 48-car field took the green flag on the 2.5-mile tri-oval.
Fireball Roberts dominated Speedweeks, winning the pole with a speed of 156.999 mph in the #22 Jim Stephens/Smokey Yunick Pontiac and also taking his Friday qualifying race. Joe Weatherly won the other 100-mile qualifier.
In a relatively clean race with no cautions, Roberts led 144 laps and pulled away to win by 27 seconds over Richard Petty. Joe Weatherly finished third, followed by Jack Smith and Fred Lorenzen. Roberts averaged a blistering 152.529 mph and earned $24,190 for the victory. Joe Weatherly left Daytona with a commanding 136-point lead over Jack Smith in the season standings.
