On April 14, 1974, North Wilkesboro Speedway hosted the Gwyn Staley Memorial, a 360-lap NASCAR Grand National race that drew 17,500 fans to the historic .625-mile short track. The event featured a 30-car field, with Bobby Allison earning the pole position at a speed of 105.669 mph. Originally scheduled for a longer distance, the race was shortened to 360 laps, but it still delivered a dominant performance from one of NASCAR’s all-time greats.
From early on, Richard Petty took control of the race and never looked back. He led an overwhelming 342 of the 360 laps, showcasing complete command on the tight Wilkesboro oval. Petty ultimately won by two laps over Cale Yarborough in a convincing display of speed, strategy, and endurance. Bobby Allison, despite starting from the pole, finished third after running near the front for much of the day. Benny Parsons came home fourth, while Lennie Pond rounded out the top five.
