By Zane Miller
On Sunday, October 28th, 1962, the 1962 NASCAR Cup Series season concluded with Joe Weatherly defeating Richard Petty by 2,396 points to win the 14th championship in Cup Series history. It was the first Cup Series championship for Weatherly. These are the top five points finishers for the season.
The 1962 Daytona 500 was won by Fireball Roberts, who also led the most laps with 144, to avenge his near-win in the previous season’s 500 that saw him dominate most of the race before blowing an engine late.
5. #4 Rex White (-11,412 points)
White took the fifth spot as he claimed eight wins, 18 top-fives and 23 top-10s. White got an average finish of 9.9, while also leading the most laps in six races.
4. #47 Jack Smith (-7,966)
Smith finished fourth in points, getting five victories, 27 top-fives and 35 top-10s for an average finish of 8.6. Smith also led the most laps in four races.
3. #11 Ned Jarrett (-5,500)
Jarrett had a third-place points finish, winning six races with 19 top-fives and 35 top-10s with an average finish of 9.3. Jarrett led the most laps in six starts.
2. #43 Richard Petty (-2,396)
Petty got a second-place points finish with eight victories, 32 top-fives and 39 top-10s for an average finish of 6.9, while leading the most laps in six races.
1. #8 Joe Weatherly
Weatherly claimed the championship on the strength of nine victories, 39 top-fives and 45 top-10s for an average finish of 5.0. Weatherly also had the most laps led in three races that season.
Race Winners (left) & Lap Leaders (right)
Link to stats database: https://www.racing-reference.info/yeardet/1962/W
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