A 1969 Camaro RS/SS Z11 convertible was used on the pace lap of the Blue Grass 300 NASCAR Grand Touring event held at Ellis Speedway located 12 miles west of Owensboro, Kentucky on Sunday, April 20, 1969. I'm not sure if it was used in any caution periods during the race because the photo shows a 1969 Chevrolet at the head of the field on the pace lap. Perhaps this car was the actual pace car for the event. I'm not sure.
The track was a 1/4 mile paved oval. Charlie Blanton won the race in his yellow 1968 Camaro. In fact, the first 5 finishers were in 1968 Camaros. This was the home track of Darrell Waltrip in his early years, and this was the first time he raced in the NASCAR Grand Touring division. I have read conflicting accounts on what Waltrip drove to his 15th place finish. One said he drove a 1968 Mustang and another said it was a 1968 Camaro.
The article and photo with caption came from the April 21, 1969 edition of the Messenger Inquirer, Owensboro, Kentucky.
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