Martinsville Speedway 1968 Camaro RS/SS Conv. Parade Lap NASCAR Old Dominion 500

[SMKZ28]

A white 1968 Camaro RS/SS convertible was used on the parade lap prior to the start of the Old Dominion 500 NASCAR Grand National race held at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia on Sunday, September 22, 1968.  For some reason the Camaro was not used as the pace car.  The white Chevy station wagon behind the Camaro was used as the pace car for this event instead.  Notice the yellow flags on the back of the station wagon and not the Camaro in this picture.  This color picture appeared on the front cover of the program for the same event held the following year in 1969.  I found it at worthpoint.com

The same photo was used on a brochure for the 1969 season.  It also came from worthpoint.com

[SMKZ28]

Footage of the race event appeared on the old 1960's automotive/racing television show entitled Car and Track.  I took these photos while watching my old copies of this show.  It was explained in the program that the woman riding in the Camaro was Mrs. Virginia for 1968, Cherie Davis.

[SMKZ28]

More photos from the tv show Car and Track.

[SMKZ28]

Interestingly, a second 1968 Camaro RS/SS convertible pace car was at the track during this event.  In these pictures from the tv show Car and Track you can see the Camaro parked next to pit lane as one of the Grand National race cars comes in for a pit stop.  It has the top down and it features the red stripe on the side seen at several other 1968 NASCAR events.  Perhaps it had mechanical problems forcing the use of the station wagon as the back up pace car?  Or perhaps it was the pace car from one of the other tracks just visiting.

[SMKZ28]

Here are the race program cover and ticket stub for the event.  They came from worthpoint.com

[KurtS]

Wow, sharp eyes to see that other pacer there!

[ZLP955]

Thanks for sharing! Amazes me how you track down all these special cars....

[SMKZ28]

Found another image of the 1968 Camaro RS/SS convertible that was used on the parade lap during the Old Dominion 500.  You can see a portion of the car in the upper right side of this photograph behind the Dodge.  Not sure when or where this was taken because as opposed to the white wall tires the car has on in the previously posted images, this photo shows the car wearing white letter tires.

It came from page 195 of the publication NASCAR The Complete History by Greg Fielden.