The 1961 Grand National 200 was a Grand National (now Nextel Cup) event held at Martinsville Speedway on April 9, 1961. Fred Lorenzen had taken the lead from Rex White for a few laps when the skies opened and rain poured. NASCAR, for the only time in its history, claimed the race over before the halfway point, with a rescheduled race to occur later in the year. It was Lorenzen's first career victory. Eventual season champ Ned Jarrett finished 5th. Stats