In the 1968 Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville Speedway on September 22, a 40-car field drew about 21,000 fans. Cale Yarborough sat on the pole in the #21 Wood Brothers Mercury with a speed of 77.279 mph. Richard Petty started sixth in his Petty Enterprises Plymouth and dominated, winning by three full laps over Yarborough. LeeRoy Yarbrough finished third, followed by Bud Moore and Bobby Isaac.
The race was slowed by seven cautions for 60 laps, with Petty averaging 65.808 mph. He led 324 of the 500 laps and collected $6,000 for the victory—his 14th win of the season and 89th of his career. Points leader David Pearson finished sixth after leading 125 laps himself. Petty’s strong performance on the half-mile track further extended his impressive short-track record during a competitive 1968 campaign.
