Michigan Int. Speedway 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 Conv Paced NASCAR Motor State 500

[SMKZ28]

A white 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible was used as the pace car for the Motor State 500 NASCAR Grand National race held at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan on Sunday, June 15, 1969.  This was the first time that NASCAR raced at the newly opened two-mile super-speedway.  Cale Yarborough finished in first place with his 1969 Mercury Cyclone.  This same Camaro was used earlier in the year to pace an SCCA Trans Am event at the track.

The cool thing about this pace car is that it was featured in a large billboard promoting the Camaro.  It was placed above the entrance for the tunnel that led to the infield.  The tagline states, "Camaro keeps putting other cars in their place."  This fantastic picture makes me wonder if there was a similar billboard at all of the NASCAR race tracks that used one of the white NASCAR 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible pace cars.  I have yet to find any other evidence but it is cool to think that they did.   

Photos:
1) ebay
2/3) worthpoint.com
4) Facebook

[SMKZ28]

The Camaro can be seen on the pace lap in the highlights of the race that were shown on the television show called Car and Track back in 1969.  Footage of this segment can be seen on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrbrjHanGQQ 

The Camaro can also be briefly seen in this amateur footage of the event taken from the grand stands: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pwJVB8bR9M

You will notice that the Camaro has two red or orange stripes on the hood which do not appear in the first picture or the billboard advertisement.

[SMKZ28]

Here are a few photos of the Camaro pacing the field on a caution lap.  It looks like there is other paintwork or decals on the tops of the front fenders and along the front.  Something else seems to be on the hood to the left and right of the middle stripes.

Photos: https://archive.petersen.org

[SMKZ28]

Three other 1969 Camaro RS/SS convertible pace cars from other NASCAR race tracks appeared during the parade laps prior to the start of the event.  They were there to promote future race events at their respective tracks.  These tracks include Texas International Speedway, Riverside International Speedway and Atlanta International Speedway.  All three were owned by the same company that owned the Michigan International Speedway, American Raceways, Inc.  Notice that only the Texas Camaro is a regular SS with the side stripe and standard hood.  Not sure what is hanging off the bottom of the Texas Camaro??  The other two look to be Z11's with rally stripes and super scoop hoods.  Surprised to see white wall tires on the Riverside Z11.

https://thejewishnews.com/2018/10/18/passion-for-promoting-michigan-international-speedway/

[SMKZ28]

Here are images of the souvenir event program, the two page color advertisement for the Z28 that appeared inside the program and an event ticket.

1) www.mlive.com
2) ebay
3) worthpoint.com

[SMKZ28]

Check out this image of the 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible pace car on pit lane leading the field out on the parade/pace laps prior to the start of the Motor State 500.  It is a part of an advertisement for Ted Ewald Chevrolet that appeared in the souvenir program for the second NASCAR Grand National event held at Michigan International Speedway later in the year on Sunday, August 17, 1969.  Notice in the advertisement how they misspelled "Z28" as "228."  Not sure how that got past the proofreaders? 

worthpoint.com

[SMKZ28]

The 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible pace car can also be seen in these images taken during the Motor State 500.  They appeared in the vol. 2 no. 3 1969 edition of the Michigan International Speedway produced promotional newspaper entitled, The Inside Track.

worthpoint.com