# Marvin Panch

Marvin Emil Panch (May 28, 1926 – December 31, 2015) was an American stock car racing driver. Winner of the 1961 Daytona 500 and 1966 World 600, he won seventeen NASCAR Grand National Series events during a 17-year career.

## Early career

Born in Menomonie, Wisconsin, Panch relocated to California at an early age. He started his racing career as a car owner in Oakland, California. One week, his driver did not show up, and he raced the car to a third-place finish. He won a championship and several races in six years, including five NASCAR races on the West Coast of the United States.

## NASCAR career

He attempted his first East Coast race at Darlington Raceway in 1953. NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr. convinced him to come east for 1954. Lee Petty invited Panch to race in the 1954 Darlington race, where he finished third. The finish impressed Tom Horbison, who hired Panch to race his car during the 1955 season. His 1955 finishes caught the attention of Pete DePaolo, who hired Panch to race in his factory Ford team. Panch won his first NASCAR race on July 20, 1956, at Montgomery Speedway after starting on the pole position and dominating the entire race.
He won the two races in 1957 for DePaolo. He added another victory in April before Ford ended its factory support in the middle of the season. Panch joined the legendary Holman-Moody team for the rest of the season. He won three more events in the season and finished second in the final points standings.
The end of the Ford factory sponsorship hurt Panch's career. Over the next three seasons, he was only able to race in 24 races.
He was offered a ride by famed NASCAR mechanic Smokey Yunick in the 1961 Daytona 500. The car was a year old (1960) Pontiac. Panch took the offer and won the 1961 Daytona 500 to put his career back on track. During the 1962 season he was offered a ride by renowned car owners the Wood Brothers. He accepted the ride in the Ford factory-sponsored team. Panch had eight wins and 30 top-three finishes in 69 races for the team. He stayed with the team from 1962 to March 27, 1966, when Ford had another dispute with NASCAR. In 1965, A. J. Foyt finished the Atlanta 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in a car Panch had started, taking it to victory. Panch received credit for the win.
In February 1963 at Daytona, Panch tried to set a speed record in a Ford-powered Maserati but crashed. He was pulled to safety by fellow drivers Tiny Lund, Ernie Gahan and Bill Wimble, Firestone's Steve Petrasek, and mechanic Jerry Rayborn. His rescuers were awarded the Carnegie Medal for heroism. Hospitalized with second and third degree burns and serious injuries, Panch asked car owner Glenn Wood to hire Lund. Tiny won the 1963 Daytona 500 in the car that the injured Panch had been scheduled to drive. Lund said of Panch: "Marvin would have done the same for us."
Panch was hired by Petty to race for Petty Enterprises for the 1966 World 600 in a year old car. Panch won the race for his final career victory when Petty was his relief driver. Panch raced for Petty Enterprises until he announced his retirement after the National 500 at Charlotte in October 1966.

## Awards

Panch was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998. He was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame in 1987, and the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in its first class in 2002.

## Personal life

His second wife Bettie founded the Women's Auxiliary of Motorsports. Panch is the father of four children: Pamela and Marvann, from his first marriage to Hester Herrald, and Richard (deceased) and Marvette, from his second marriage to Bettie Gong.
Following his Daytona 500 win, Panch purchased property in Port Orange, Florida, relocating there after the end of his career. On December 31, 2015, Panch was found unconscious in his car, and was later pronounced dead of natural causes.

## Motorsports career results
### NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

#### Grand National Series

NASCAR Grand National Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | NGNC | Pts |
| 1951 | Marvin Panch | 56 | Mercury | DAB | CLT | NMO | GAR | HBO | ASF | NWS | MAR | CAN | CLS | CLB | DSP | GAR | GRS | BAI | HEI | AWS | MCF | ALS | MSF | FMS | MOR | ABS | DAR | CLB | CCS | LAN | CLT | DSP | WIL | HBO | TPN | PGS | MAR | OAK 6 | NWS | | | | GAR 16 | NMO | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 36th | 371.5 |
| 1951 | Marvin Panch | 56 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | HMS 2 | JSP | ATL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 36th | 371.5 | |
| 1953 | Marvin Panch | 06 | Dodge | PBS | DAB | HAR | NWS | CLT | RCH | CCS | LAN | CLB | HCY | MAR | PMS | RSP | LOU | FFS | LAN | TCS | WIL | MCF | PIF | MOR | ATL | RVS | LCF | DAV | HBO | AWS | PAS | HCY | DAR 28 | CCS | LAN 18 | BLF | WIL | NWS | MAR | ATL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 60th | 214 |
| 1954 | Beryl Jackson | 98 | Dodge | PBS | DAB | JSP | ATL | OSP | OAK 2 | NWS | HBO | CCS | LAN | WIL | MAR | SHA | RSP | CLT | GAR | CLB | LND | HCY | MCF | WGS | PIF | AWS | SFS | GRS | MOR | OAK 2 | CLT | | | DAR 3 | CCS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 1935 |
| 1954 | John Fernandez | 98 | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SAN 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 1935 |
| 1954 | Chet Chiroso | 15 | Plymouth | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | COR 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 1935 | |
| 1954 | Beryl Jackson | 98 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 22 | LAN 13 | MAS 7 | MAR 19 | NWS 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 1935 | |
| 1955 | Marvin Panch | 56 | Mercury | TCS | PBS | JSP | DAB | OSP | CLB | HBO | NWS | MGY | LAN | CLT | HCY | ASF 2 | TUS 16 | MAR | RCH | NCF | FOR | LIN | MCF | FON | AIR | CLT | PIF | CLB | AWS | MOR | ALS | NYF | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14th | 2812 |
| 1955 | John Hernandez | 56 | Mercury | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SAN 4 | CLT | FOR | MAS | RSP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14th | 2812 |
| 1955 | Julian Petty | 44 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 13 | MGY 21 | LAN 4 | RSP | GPS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14th | 2812 | |
| 1955 | DePaolo Engineering | 98 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MAS 2 | CLB | MAR 11 | LVP | NWS 23 | HBO 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14th | 2812 | |
| 1956 | Tom Harbison | 98 | Olds | HCY 9 | CLT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 4680 |
| 1956 | Tom Harbison | 98 | Ford | | | WSS 2 | PBS 13 | ASF 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MGY 1 | OKL | ROA 22* | OBS | SAN | NOR | PIF | MYB | POR | | CSH 3 | CLT 4 | | | | | NWP 21 | CLT 3 | CCF 3 | MAR 2 | HCY | WIL 6 | | | | | | | | | 10th | 4680 | |
| 1956 | Tom Harbison | 98 | Dodge | | | | | | DAB 72 | PBS 25 | WIL | ATL | NWS | LAN | RCH | CLB | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 4680 | |
| 1956 | Tom Harbison | 9 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CON 15 | GPS | HCY | HBO | MAR | LIN | CLT | POR | EUR | NYF | MER | MAS | CLT | MCF | POR | AWS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | LAN 34 | POR | CLB | HBO | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 4680 | |
| 1956 | Tom Harbison | 99 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RSP 7 | PIF 3 | CSF | CHI | CCF | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 4680 |
| 1956 | DePaolo Engineering | 8 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 4680 |
| 1957 | DePaolo Engineering | 98 | Ford | WSS 1* | CON 1* | TIC 3 | DAB 5 | | WIL 19 | HBO 11 | AWS 16 | NWS 4 | LAN 17 | CLT 2 | PIF 1 | GBF 19 | POR | CCF 3 | RCH 3 | MAR 8 | POR | EUR | LIN 4 | LCS 4 | ASP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 9956 |
| 1957 | DePaolo Engineering | 12 | Ford | | | | | CON 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 9956 |
| 1957 | Marvin Panch | 98 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NWP 2 | CLB 3 | CPS | PIF 19 | JAC | RSP 8 | CLT 1 | | | HCY 12 | | LCS 3 | | | LIN 1 | OBS 4 | MYB 13 | DAR 3 | NYF | AWS 7 | CSF | SCF | LAN 34 | CLB 6 | CCF 2 | CLT 18 | | NBR 4 | CON 4 | NWS 7 | GBF 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 9956 |
| 1957 | Herb Thomas | 92 | Pontiac | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MAS 1 | POR | | NOR 16 | | GLN 14 | KPC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 9956 | |
| 1957 | Fireball Roberts | 22 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MAR 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 9956 | |
| 1958 | John Whitford | 98 | Ford | FAY | DAB 14 | CON | FAY | WIL 3 | HBO 2 | FAY | CLB 31 | PIF | ATL 4 | CLT 17 | MAR 5 | ODS | OBS | GPS | GBF | STR | NWS | BGS | TRN 23 | RSD | CLB 19 | NBS | REF | LIN | HCY | AWS | RSP | MCC | SLS | TOR | BUF | MCF | BEL | BRR | CLB | NSV | AWS | BGS | MBS | DAR 5 | CLT | BIR | CSF | GAF | RCH | HBO | SAS | MAR 31 | NWS | ATL | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 3424 |
| 1959 | Tom Vernon | 98 | Ford | FAY | DAY | DAY 17 | HBO | CON | ATL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 29 | HCY | RCH | CSF | HBO | MAR 38 | AWS | NWS | CON | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 66th | 352 |
| 1959 | Don Angel | 3 | Ford | | | | | | | WIL 22 | BGS | CLB | NWS | REF | HCY | MAR | TRN | CLT | NSV | ASP | PIF | GPS | ATL | CLB | WIL | RCH | BGS | AWS | DAY | HEI | CLT | MBS | CLT | NSV | AWS | BGS | GPS | CLB | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 66th | 352 | |
| 1960 | Tom Vernon | 98 | Ford | CLT 22 | CLB | DAY 26 | DAY | DAY 46 | CLT | NWS | PHO | CLB | MAR | HCY | WIL | BGS | GPS | AWS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 26th | 5268 |
| 1960 | W.J. Ridgeway | 77 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 10 | PIF | HBO | RCH | HMS | CLT 17 | BGS | DAY 14 | HEI | MAB | MBS | ATL 17 | BIR | NSV | AWS 33 | PIF | CLB | SBO | BGS | DAR 11 | HCY | CSF | GSP | HBO | MAR | NWS | CLT 48 | RCH | ATL 38 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 26th | 5268 |
| 1961 | Smokey Yunick | 20 | Pontiac | CLT | JSP | DAY | DAY 2 | DAY 1 | PIF | AWS | HMS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 43 | PIF | BIR | GPS | BGS | NOR | HAS | STR | DAY 4 | ATL | CLB | MBS | BRI | NSV | BGS | AWS | RCH | SBO | | | | | | | | CLT 26 | BRI | GPS | HBO | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 9392 |
| 1961 | John Masoni | 3 | Pontiac | | | | | | | | | ATL 6* | GPS | HBO | BGS | MAR | NWS | CLB | HCY | RCH | MAR | DAR 6 | CLT | CLT | RSD | ASP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 9392 |
| 1961 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Plymouth | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 31 | HCY | RCH | CSF | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 9392 | |
| 1961 | Owens Racing | 6 | Pontiac | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ATL 10 | MAR | NWS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 9392 |
| 1962 | Bob Osiecki | 90 | Dodge | CON | AWS | DAY | DAY 20 | DAY 44 | CON | AWS | SVH | HBO | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9th | 15138 |
| 1962 | | 20 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | RCH 17 | CLB | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9th | 15138 |
| 1962 | Wood Brothers Racing | 21 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | NWS 32 | GPS | MBS | MAR 6 | BGS | BRI 26 | RCH | HCY | CON 13 | DAR 2 | PIF | CLT 8 | ATL 8 | BGS | AUG | RCH | SBO | DAY 3 | CLB | ASH | GPS | AUG | SVH | MBS | BRI 11 | CHT | NSV | HUN | AWS | STR | BGS | PIF | VAL | DAR 3 | HCY | RCH | DTS | AUG | MAR 33 | NWS 2 | CLT 15 | ATL 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9th | 15138 |
| 1963 | Wood Brothers Racing | 21 | Ford | BIR | GGS | THS | RSD | DAY | DAY | DAY | PIF | AWS | HBO | ATL | HCY | BRI | AUG | RCH | GPS | SBO | BGS | MAR | NWS | CLB | THS | DAR | ODS | RCH | CLT 7 | BIR | ATL 3 | DAY 3 | MBS | SVH | DTS | BGS | ASH | OBS 6 | BRR 3 | BRI 4 | GPS | NSV | CLB | AWS | PIF | BGS | ONA 9 | DAR 2 | HCY | RCH | MAR 2 | DTS | NWS 1 | THS | CLT 3 | SBO | HBO | | | | | | | | | 13th | 17156 |
| 1963 | Wood Brothers Racing | 121 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RSD 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 13th | 17156 | |
| 1964 | Wood Brothers Racing | 21 | Ford | CON | AUG 9 | JSP | SVH | RSD 2 | DAY 4 | DAY | DAY 4 | RCH 6 | BRI 5 | GPS 3 | BGS 1* | ATL 14 | AWS 1* | HBO 17 | PIF 2 | CLB 2 | NWS 3 | MAR 2 | SVH 2 | DAR 11 | LGY 2 | HCY 13 | SBO 2 | CLT 29 | GPS 11 | ASH 3 | ATL 29 | CON | NSV | CHT | BIR | VAL | PIF | DAY 27 | ODS | OBS | | | | | BRI 7 | NSV | MBS | AWS | DTS | ONA | CLB | BGS | STR | DAR | HCY | RCH | ODS | HBO | MAR 4 | SVH | NWS 1 | CLT 31 | HAR | AUG | JAC | 10th | 21480 |
| 1964 | Holman-Moody | 06 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | BRR 4 | ISP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 21480 | |
| 1964 | Bondy Long | 71 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | GLN 24 | LIN | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 21480 | |
| 1965 | Wood Brothers Racing | 21 | Ford | RSD 3 | DAY | DAY 3 | DAY 6* | PIF | ASW | RCH | HBO | ATL 1* | GPS | NWS 5 | MAR 2 | CLB | BRI 4 | DAR 11 | LGY | BGS | HCY | CLT 33 | CCF | ASH | HAR | NSV | BIR | ATL 1 | GPS | MBS | VAL | DAY 12 | ODS | OBS 3* | ISP 1* | GLN 1* | BRI 35 | NSV | CCF | AWS | SMR | PIF | AUG | CLB | DTS | BLV | BGS | DAR 37 | HCY | LIN | ODS | RCH | MAR 5 | NWS 6 | CLT 35 | HBO | CAR 3 | DTS | | | | | | | | 5th | 22798 |
| 1966 | Wood Brothers Racing | 21 | Ford | AUG | RSD 30 | DAY 4 | DAY | DAY 26 | CAR 17 | BRI 18 | ATL 16 | HCY | CLB | GPS | BGS | NWS | MAR | DAR | LGY | MGR | MON | RCH | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 15308 |
| 1966 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Plymouth | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 1 | DTS | ASH | PIF | SMR | AWS | BLV | GPS | | | | | | | | | | ATL 28 | CLB | AWS | BLV | BGS | DAR 4 | HCY | RCH | HBO | MAR | NWS | CLT 6 | CAR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 15308 | |
| 1966 | Friedkin Enterprises | 04 | Plymouth | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAY 7 | ODS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 15308 |
| 1966 | | 22 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | BRR 3 | OXF 21 | FON | ISP 18 | BRI | SMR | NSV | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 15308 | |

##### Daytona 500

| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
| 1959 | Tom Vernon | Ford | 4 | 17 |
| 1960 | Tom Vernon | Ford | 51 | 46 |
| 1961 | Smokey Yunick | Pontiac | 4 | 1 |
| 1962 | Bob Osiecki | Dodge | 37 | 44 |
| 1964 | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 9 | 4 |
| 1965 | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 6 | 6 |
| 1966 | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 7 | 26 |