April 5, 1964 NASCAR Atlanta 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Dave MacDonald drove Mercury #17 for the Bill Stroppe Racing Team.

Atlanta track layout in 1964

Despite only competing in 4 NASCAR races prior to the Atlanta 500, Dave MacDonald still held 8th place in the NASCAR driver
standings. Dave was still under contract with Shelby and running a full USRRC / FIA schedule in various types of Shelby Cobras.

Start of the race with Lorenzen & Foyt in row 1 and Goldsmith & Roberts in row 2

Lap 7 and Marvin Panch in the famous Wood Bros #21 car leads Dave MacDonald on the high banks of Atlanta. Note: The #21 car is
the same car Dave drove to a 2nd place finish at the November '63 Golden State 400 at Riverside. Photo Bill Brannon

Racer Dave MacDonald trails Marvin Panch in 1964 NASCAR Atlanta 500

Paul Goldsmith led the first 55 laps until crashing. Freddy Lorenzen goes under the spinning stocker to take the lead. Goldsmith was ok

Freddy Lorenzen goes by a crashing Paul Goldsmith in '64 Atlanta 500

Lap 60 and Dave MacDonald running 6th and preparing to move on NASCAR great Tiny Lund. Photo Bill Brannon

Dave MacDonald pulls up on NASCAR great Tiny Lund in Atlanta 500

Dave MacDonald and Ned Jarrett enter the pits on lap 91. Photo Bill Brannon

Dave MacDonald and Ned Jarrett leave pits in 1964 Atlanta 500

On lap 108 David Pearson & Fireball Roberts get into it. Both drivers are OK but forced from the race. Photo Kirk Wooster & Don Hunter

Fireball Roberts and David Pearson crash into each other at 1964 Atlanta 500

Lap 115 and Rex White and Tiny Lund on the banks of Atlanta Speedway

Rex White and Tiny Lund on the banks of Atlanta Speedway in trhe 500

Hard charging Dave MacDonald and his 410 HP Mercury are running 5th here on lap 150.

Dave MacDonald flying in Atlanta 500 in his 410 hp Mercury

However on lap 151 a dejected Dave MacDonald pulls his Merc into the pits with a blown engine. Dave would finish 16th. Teammates
Jim McElreath, Darel Dieringer and Parnelli Jones finished 15th, 31st and 37th respectively. Photo Bill Brannon

Indy 500 superstar AJ Foyt has his Banjo Mathews Ford running 8th on lap 220. Photo Ron Phelps

AJ Foyt running 8th in Banjo Mathews Ford in Atlant 500

Bobby Isaac ahead of Freddy Lorenzen late in the race but Lorenzen would overtake Isaac and go on to win. Issac finished 2nd

Bobby Isaac leads Freddy Lorenzen in 1964 Atlanta 500

Winner Freddy Lorenzen (center) pocketed the $18,000 winners check

Race results for the 1964 Atlanta 500

News articles recapping the 1964 NASCAR Atlanta 500

Motor Trend Magazine July 64 issue with a recap of the 1964 Atlana 500

One of Dave MacDonald's paychecks for running the 1964 NASCAR Atlanta 500

Beautiful artwork by Bill Rankin shows Dave's remarkable versility. #17 Mercury is car Dave drove in the Atlanta 500 & Daytona 500.

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