Nicholson, Chevrolet and the Bill Thomas Race Cars camp faced two challenges on their way to the A/Stock crown. First, there was the looming question of whether Chevy had produced 50 cars with 409 engines in ’61 to make the car eligible.

And secondly a Pontiac racer named Arnie Beswick had beat ‘Dyno’ Don in the A/S roll-off.Later, at a post-race tear down, one of Beswick’s eight cylinders was determined to be .001” too big so he was disqualified, giving Nicholson the win.