This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that will be effective at both ends.

[2] Darlington has something of a legendary quality among drivers and older fans; this is probably due to its long track length relative to other NASCAR speedways of its era and hence the first venue where many of them became cognizant of the truly high speeds that stock cars could achieve on a long track.

Drivers hitting the wall are considered to have received their "Darlington Stripe" thanks to the missing paint on the right side of the car.

Lee Petty experienced fuel pump trouble and later drove relief for Marvin Panch and crossed the finish line in third-place position.

[3] Otis Martin, Buck Mason, and Frank Stutts would retire from professional stock car racing while Walt Harvey and Joe Sheppard would make their only NASCAR Cup Series appearance in this event.

[4] Drivers who failed to qualify for the race were: Bill Blair (#2), Parks Surratt (#00), Bill Morgan (#77), Jim Graham (#72), Fred Dove (#71), Ken Taylor (#62), Gober Sosebee (#51), Hank Carruthers (#50), Clyde Minter (#19), Donald Thomas (#9), Dick Rathmann (#3) and Ross Morrison (#05).

Notable racers that appeared in the race and didn't finish in the "top ten" included Lee Petty (whose streak of 36 top-ten finishes ended at this race), Cotton Owens, Jimmie Lewallen, Ralph Liguori, Arden Mounts, Elmo Langley, and Buck Baker (pole winner).

[3] There were two #20 cars in the race which would be illegal under current NASCAR Cup Series rules and regulations.