On April 8, 1973, North Wilkesboro Speedway hosted the Gwyn Staley 400, a 400-lap race on the track’s .625-mile oval. A crowd of 16,000 fans watched Richard Petty dominate the afternoon, leading from lap 91 to the finish and winning his 151st career NASCAR race. Petty crossed the line four laps ahead of runner-up Benny Parsons after averaging 97.224 mph over the 250-mile event.
Bobby Allison started from the pole position with a qualifying speed of 106.750 mph and finished fourth. Buddy Baker claimed third place, while Cecil Gordon rounded out the top five. The race began with a 30-car starting field and was one of the smoother events held at North Wilkesboro during the era.
There was only one caution flag for 9 laps, allowing the race to maintain a fast pace for much of the afternoon. Championship leader James Hylton finished eighth and remained atop the standings after the race, holding a 54.25-point lead. Petty’s commanding performance added another North Wilkesboro victory to his record and further strengthened his early-season momentum.
