This race marked the Cup series' return to New Asheville Speedway after an absence of just under three years but it would be the series' final race here as the trimmed down schedule in 1972 eliminated this event.
Seventeen drivers started the race; seven of them parked over the course of the race (including tenth-place finisher Bill Shirey),[2] due to concerns regarding prize money for independent teams.
[4] Other notable crew chiefs who actively participated in the race were Vic Ballard and Lee Gordon.
[2] Like the 1959 Daytona 500, the 1969 Motor Trend 500 and the 1971 Space City 300, this race is considered to be one of NASCAR's infrequently occurring "perfect games."[why?]
[2] The drivers earned very little for participating in this race compared to the multimillion-dollar purses of today; Petty earned a meager $1,500 ($11,285.13 when adjusted for inflation) while last-place finisher Hylton walked away only $220 wealthier ($1,655.15 when adjusted for inflation).