Legends of the 715: Marvin Panch

Whether it’s at the local dirt or asphalt tracks, we know racing is a big deal in the 715.

And Wisconsin has a unique history as it relates to it’s racing history. Famous and successful drivers have come from this state and many of the all-time greats have raced in local races as they were climbing the NASCAR ranks.

But did you know that the 715 has a Daytona 500 winner connection? It’s true. For that, we go to Menomonie, Wisconsin.

Marvin Panch was the 1961 Daytona 500 winner. His connection to the 715 and Menomonie is that he was born in Menomonie on May 28, 1926. He later relocated to California at an early age and that’s where his racing career began. He first started as a car owner then got into driving, which ended up being a great move for his career and legacy.

He won the Daytona 500 in 1961 and in 1966 helped Petty Enterprises win the World 600. For his career, he would have 17 wins, 126 top tens, and win 21 poles. In 1998, he was named as one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers.

So the next time you’re at Red Cedar Speedway, you can drop this racing nugget of information and impress the rest of the racing crowd!