At Darlington's '69 Southern 500, Richard Brickhouse was asked to join a hastily cobbled-together group that were calling themselves the "Professional Drivers Association". It was a new spin on an old issue: the Grand National drivers were not satisfied with their cut of the action and had concerns about their retirement. Although Richard Petty did not initiate, or really promote the formation of the organization, he was persuaded to be its president, and leader. As with most clandestine enterprises, a primary PDA objective (and a major challenge) was remaining invisible to those unsympathetic to their cause, namely (future champion and 50-greatest-drivers-of-NASCAR-member) Bobby Isaac. Isaac had made his intentions crystal clear: he had seen this 'union idea' before and please count him out. With good reason, the PDA feared Isaac would divulge their existence and possible intentions to Bill France. Brickhouse, however, joined up.When the Alabama International Motor Speedway opened it gates in September, 1969, the next major event following Darlington, Richard Brickhouse was a Grand National driver for Chrysler corporation. A Chrysler employee. He was also under contract with Firestone as a test driver. Charlie Glotzbach had been testing the new Dodge Daytona at Talladega, prior to the track's first race. Before anybody arrived at the speedway, Chrysler informed Brickhouse, that although, Glotzbach had been driving the plum-crazy Ray Nichels #99 charger, for Talladega, he (Brickhouse) would drive that car. Glotzbach would drive the test car (#88). Chrysler was absolutely un-ambiguous, they'd heard all the tire rumors too, the new Dodge Daytona WOULD race.Of course when the race teams arrived at the speedway, the hurricane that had been building for years, began to make landfall. The tires began blistering, France suggested they just drive slower, on Saturday afternoon, Firestone pulled out, and the Professional Drivers Association just could not wait to flex their muscles. When push finally came to shove, Big Bill announced that a race would be run on Sunday, with the PDA'ers or not. If they were not going to race, load up and get out of the way for those that would be racing on Sunday. It was white-knuckle descion time. Follow Chrysler's orders, or (Ford driving) Petty's? Brickhouse resigned from the PDA; Glotzbach walked.The field that DID race that September, was definitely lacking the icons of the day, and more than a few competitors from the Grand American series were in the line-up. But, significantly, the race went on, and Richard Brickhouse, in the purple #99, won, going away. The PDA's back was broke, right out of the starting blocks. They had not changed anything, and they bitterly learned that NASCAR was still bigger than they were. The following spring, at Rockingham's Carolina 500, PDA president Richard Petty presented NASCAR a plaque (and the PDA's subsequent swan song) in an important-appearing pre-race ceremony citing the sanctioning body for all that it had ......"done for racing over the years........................"History has basically concluded that Richard Brickhouse traded a career for one single victory. And, when the dust finally setteled, he had simply burned too many bridges. The PDA may have been extinct, but Richard Petty was still the big man on campus, and that went double, when it came to Chrysler racing. Brickhouse continued to race for Chrysler in the 1970 season, but could not withstand the economic ice age imposed by the Chrysler pull-out of 1971. Firestone also left the sport, and his contract, at the same time.For the record, Jim Vandiver, Ramo Stott, Bobby Isaac, Dick Brooks, Tiny Lund, and Coo Coo Marlinall raced that day at Talladega, AND finishing in 23rd position, in his first ever Grand National event: Richard Childress. So, if the show went on and the PDA was DOA, didn't EVERYBODY that raced play a part? Or was it simply the race's winner, that was the ultimate bad guy? Richard Brickhouse, an obvious talent, was vicitim of poor timing, no doubt. But, where was Big Bill? Didn't bucking Richard Petty and his union and saving face for France and Talladega and Chrysler MEAN anything? Apparently, not that much. Somebody had to take the fall, feel the wrath, and, for crying out loud, he had WON the race! It wasn't like he didn't GET anything, right?Winston/RJR would come into the sport IN 1971, the very year of his exit. Ultimately, Winston would spread the wealth and the power, make new heroes, and grant new opportunities. Sadly, for Richard Brickhouse it was all too late.