Vanderbilt Cup Races

In the Beginning

Born in Menomonie, Wisconsin, Marvin Panch relocated to California at an early age and started as a race car owner on the West Coast.  When his driver didn’t show up for a race, Panch took the wheel himself and started a career in which he won 17 races in 216 starts usually finishing within the top 10 for much of his career. 

Panch won his first NASCAR race from the pole position in 1956 at Montgomery Speedway for another legend in the sport, Pete DePaolo.

He also is member of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers with one of his biggest achievements being winner of the 1961 Daytona 500 driving Smokey Yunick’s year-old Number 20 Pontiac seen restored here.

Wood Brothers Racing

His time with the Wood Brothers race team was spectacular—winning eight times and earning 30 top-three finishes in only 69 starts between 1962 and early 1966.

During that time, Panch was involved in a fiery crash in preparation for the 1963 Daytona 500. Fellow driver Tiny Lund pulled Panch out of the car and received the Carnegie Medal for Heroism for saving his friend. Days later, Lund drove Panch’s car to the Daytona 500 victory.

Holman Moody Falcon Challenger I & III

Panch is seen in this photo lining up for the 1962 12 Hours at Sebring. The #9 car he is driving is Holman Moody's 1962 Falcon Challenger I from their Challenger series of Ford Falcons.

Taking Challenger I hard through the turns at Sebring.

Taken from Panch's Facebook page, his notes on Challenger I were;

"...built in 3 weeks and driven by Marvin Panch and Jocko Maggiacomo, finished 2nd in class. In your wildest dreams, could you ever imagine a Falcon leading a Ferrari GTO at Sebring? The Challenger I surprised many."

He was asked again to drive for Holman Moody at the Bahamas Speed Weeks in December of 1962. This time piloting the more radically modified Falcon Challenger III. 

Unfortunately for Panch, this outing was not a positive one and was out of the race with fan belt and cooling problems. Seen here in this film at the 5:28 minute mark heading to the pits after overheating.

Challenger III charging through at the Bahamas Speed Weeks.

Also from his Facebook page, this incorrectly dated recount of the Bahamas Speed Weeks, Panch was quoted as saying, 

"It was a pretty good little car. Most of the sports car drivers were pretty tender in the turns, but we stock car drivers raced pretty hard."

Continuing, 'Imagine the looks on the faces of competing auto manufacturer reps, other drivers and fans alike when a humble Falcon was seen battling amongst Jags, Cobras and Ferraris.' 

Stats

While not the longest list in comparison to other drivers, his wins and achievements are very impressive, nonetheless with one notable win here on Long Island in 1965 at the long-gone Islip Speedway. With another notable Long Island finish at #3 when NASCAR visited the also long-gone Bridgehampton racetrack in July 1963 with only 'King' Richard Petty and Fred Lorenzen of the Holman Moody team beating him to the finish.

In Memoriam

Marvin 'Pancho' Panch sadly passed away at 89 years old on December 31, 2015, found unresponsive in his car at his home in Port Orange, Florida.

He is remembered in NASCAR history as one of the best.

His last interview shortly before his passing.