The year was 1965 and Don Branson headed into the September 6 dirt track race at DuQuoin, Illinois with only 1 asphalt win under his belt. With A.J. Foyt on the pole and Branson in the #4 Wynn's special next to him the rest of the field would have to prove they could keep up with the leaders. As expected, A.J. Foyt Jr. got away in the front. Imagine everyone's surprise, especially A.J.'s. when Don Branson drove past him on the fourth lap. Foyt fought back, but all the effort bought him was tire wear and a trip to the pits on the 33rd lap. Branson the homestater, gave car owners Bob Wilke and A.J.
Watson something to smile about for the first time since Johnny Rutherford's surprise win in Atlanta a month before. Much was being said about Branson's age, his health and his lack of stamina. None of it showed on this Labor Day as he dealt Foyt his first defeat on dirt since 1963. In the process, he collected $5662 from the purse, considerable accessory money and enough points to put him ahead of Johncock again, 1585 to 1540, although Andretti (2490) and McElreath (1705) were still ahead and Foyt (1340) was getting close.
After winning in Illinois, Don finished 13th at Indianapolis, and 15th at the paved oval in Trenton N.J. After two hectic months, the season eased up a bit with a four week hiatus before Sacramento. On October 24, 1965 Don Branson easily beat Andretti, the new national champion, for the pole with a 37.31 sec., the only sub-38-second lap. Andretti got the best of Branson at the start, but the elder statesman of dirt got by the Dean Van Lines pilot the third time around. The green hadn't been out for long when Branson found his front end pushing. Andretti seized the opportunity to retake the lead on the 41st lap. Once Branson came to grips with the chassis set-up, he retook the lead on lap 64. After a spin by Atkins, Branson finally took the checkers under the yellow. It was Branson's third victory of the year, a season in which the champion was still looking for his second win. Branson's payoff was $6,069 from the $19,778 purse.
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- Availability - Out of Stock