1970 Alabama International Motor Speedway Events | J. Murrey Atkins Library

: 1970 Alabama 500; The 1970 Alabama 500 race documented in this collection took place at the Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega, Alabama, on April 12, 1970. Pete Hamilton finished first in the race. The other top ten finishers were Bobby Isaac, David Pearson, Benny Parsons, Cale Yarborough, Freddy Fryar, Richard Petty, James Hylton, Neil Castles, and Coo Coo Marlin. 32 lead changes occurred between eight drivers within the course of the race. Buddy Baker, Pete Hamilton, Bobby Isaac, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Richard Brickhouse, Charlie Glotzbach and Bobby Allison all had the opportunity to dominate the race. Baker led the most laps with 101 laps and had a nine-second distance between Pete Hamilton. But he spent 88 minutes on the pit road allowing Hamilton to lap him. Baker began to close in on Hamilton when one of his tires blew heading into the fourth turn on lap 175. Fragments of the tire damaged the engine cooler, resulting in a serious fire for his Dodge vehicle. Baker attempted to put out the fire by spinning into the grass apron. Buddy Baker suffered second degree burns to the legs and face. When asked about the incident, Baker stated, "It was the scariest thing that ever happened to me. I don't really mind losing this time; I'm just happy to be alive." Buddy Baker finished in twelfth place.