High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 1961 Daytona 500 was NASCAR`s 5th auto-racing event of the 1961 season and run on February 26, 1961. Marvin Panch won the race in year old 1960 Pontiac built and owned by Smokey Yunick after taking the lead on lap 187. Panch was not originally scheduled to drive, and was only added to Yunick`s team after Fireball Roberts suggested adding him. Panch drove the number 20 to victory in three hours and 20 minutes. The race was run in its entirety without a single caution flag. Panch took the lead with 13 laps remaining when race leader Fireball Roberts` car suffered a blown engine. The win was Panch`s first, and only, victory of the season.