Editors Note: The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Bowman Gray Stadium for the first time since Aug. 6, 1971 this weekend. Heres the story covering that race from the Aug. 11 issue of National Speed Sport News.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. The first confrontation of NASCARs large and small sedan circuits proved a box office bonanza for the promoters at Bowman Gray Stadium here Friday night (Aug. 6, 1971) and a headache for the Grand National regulars.

Bobby Allison, driving a 1970 Mustang, trailed pole winner Richard Pettys full-size Plymouth for 112 laps of the 250-lap race before going into the lead for good. Petty, who had to stop for a tire, finished second in the same lap as Allison.

The race was the first under the new NASCAR ruling which allows the smaller sports sedans of the Grand American circuit to mix with the larger cars in Grand National events. It attracted a crowd of 14,000. The blend is limited to events on tracks smaller than one mile in circumference, and drivers of the smaller cars do not receive points toward the $100,000 Winston Cup.

The next five finishers in the 62.5 mile race all hadled the smaller Grand American sports sedans. Third through seventh were Jim Paschal, 70 Javelin; Buck Baker, 71 Firebird; Dave Marcis, 69 Camaro; Tiny Lund, 69 Camaro; and Wayne Andrews, 71 Mustang.

Jabe Thomas 70 Plymouth was eighth followed by David Boggs in a 71 Firebird; Walt Ballard, 71 Ford; Bill Champion, 70 Ford; Randy Hutchison, 69 Camaro and J.D. McDuffies 69 Mercury was 13^th and the last car running.

The advertised field of 22 was opened up to 29 under NASCARs rule which permits up to eight additional places to accommodate Grand National cars. All of the GN cars present made the field which included 10 GA machines. There were eight of the smaller cars present that failed to qualify.

Pettys time trial run of 15.793 seconds was a new track record for Grand National cars. The yellow flag waved six times for 36 laps. Accident ictims included Ken Rush and winning speed was a modest 44.793 mph.

The sentiment following the race on the part of the Grand National drivers, who had five of 19 around at the finish, was that they dont like the new arrangement. The Grand Am set, with eight of 10 finishing, seemed delighted.