Marvin Emil Panch[1] (May 28, 1926 – December 31, 2015) was an American stock car racing driver.
Winner of the 1961 Daytona 500 and 1966 World 600, he won seventeen NASCAR Grand National Series events during a 17-year career.
The finish impressed Tom Horbison, who hired Panch to race his car during the 1955 season.
His 1955 finishes caught the attention of Pete DePaolo, who hired Panch to race in his factory Ford team.
He was pulled to safety by fellow drivers Tiny Lund, Ernie Gahan and Bill Wimble, Firestone's Steve Petrasek, and mechanic Jerry Rayborn.
Hospitalized with second and third degree burns and serious injuries, Panch asked car owner Glenn Wood to hire Lund.
Panch won the race for his final career victory when Petty was his relief driver.
Panch raced for Petty Enterprises until he announced his retirement after the National 500 at Charlotte in October 1966.
Following his Daytona 500 win, Panch purchased property in Port Orange, Florida, relocating there after the end of his career.