Bobby Johns in the No. 72 Pontiac he drove to victory in the 1963 Bristol race.

When what is now known as Bristol Motor Speedway opened in 1961, Jack Smith won the first race and Joe Weatherly the second. The third was one of two career victories for Miami, Fla.'s Bobby Johns. Johns' first victory had occurred in 1960, at the second race ever run at what is now Atlanta Motor Speedway. In both races, he drove Pontiacs, No. 5 at Atlanta and No. 72 at Bristol. Johns never competed in more than 19 races in a single season, but he drove occasional NASCAR races from 1956 through 1969.