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The 1970 Daytona 500 was won by Pete Hamilton in a Petty Enterprises Plymouth Superbird. The racing world was put on notice. Seven of the top ten qualifiers were Plymouth Superbirds and Dodge Daytonas. The "Winged Warriors" were here!
From concept to completion, the ulitmate goal of Chrysler's Superbird and Daytona design was to win races. And win races they did. Dodge took the coveted NASCAR Manufacturers Championship and Plymouth was second. Ford, Mercury, Chevrolet and the rest were left in the dust. Driver Bobby Isaac in Nord Krauskopf's K&K Insurance Dodge was 1970 Grand National Champion (now Winston Cup).
On March 24, 1970, Buddy Baker in a Cotton Owens prepared Dodge Daytona became the first stock car to run 200 mph on a closed course at Talladega, Alabama. In November, Isaac bettered Baker's run at Talladega and clocked a lap of 201.104. He also set numerous world speed records at Bonneville in the car.
The winged cars were a part of NASCAR racing for only 18 months. They were legislated out of competition by rule changes because of their speed. They were indeed "Winged Warriors". |
