Watch Ernie Irvan's Dad Win His Last NASCAR Race - 1977 - ON DIRT! Listen to the RUMBLE of That Deep Throated V-8 Detroit Iron!

How many of you know that Ernie Irvan's late father, Vic, was a very competent racer before ending his career as Manager of Irving-Simo Racing?

Vic Irvan, who passed in 2009 at age 79, was a one time California State Stock Car Champion. In 1978, Vic moved to North Carolina and was the last promoter of the "old" Concord Speedway.

In 1977, some wonderful soul captured some bits and pieces of Vic's final NASCAR win, at age 47, in the Winston Gardena 150 NASCAR Winston West race at Ascot Park in Gardena, California - ON THE DIRT!

In the footage, that's winner Irvan in Car #9. Driving car #4, is 49 year old Hershel McGriff, who started on the outside pole.

For all you youngsters who've never seen full bodied stock cars on dirt, feast your eyes. If the trucks make it to Eldora, they might look like these NASCAR racers from 35 years ago on a half-mile dirt layout.

The poster of this footage has labeled it as from 1978, but it is from 1977. Enjoy!

1977 Winston Gardena 150

NASCAR Winston West Series race number 6 of 20

May 30, 1977 at Ascot Park, Gardena, CA
150 laps on a .500 mile dirt track (75.0 miles)

Time of race: 1:07:05
Average Speed: 67.08 mph
Pole Speed: 74.512 mph Cautions: 6 for 31 laps
Lead changes: 2
Fin St # Driver Sponsor / Owner Car Laps Money Status Led

1 4 9 Vic Irvan NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet 150 1,500 running 95
2 15 35 Pat Mintey RES Electric (Pat Mintey) Chevrolet 147 1,000 running 0
3 8 57 Ron Gautsche Tognotti's Auto World Chevrolet 147 750 running 0
4 14 81 John Borneman Borneman Plastering Chevrolet 146 500 running 0
5 13 01 Chuck Bown Lake's Drywall (Gerald Craker) Chevrolet 145 650 running 0
6 11 66 Don Pruitt Pruitt Racing Chevrolet 145 400 running 0
7 18 13 Don Puskarich Craven's Performance Automotive (Matt Puskarich) Chevrolet 143 375 running 0
8 17 96 Marc Vogel Southard School of Racing Plymouth 142 350 running 0
9 10 02 Frank Bigelow Torco Oil Co. Chevrolet 141 325 running 0
10 5 44 Gary Johnson Modesto Welding Products Chevrolet 137 400 running 0
11 3 41 Ernie Stierly Allied Plating Chevrolet 133 325 crash 0
12 12 91 John Krebs Krebs Racing (John Krebs) Chevrolet 121 245 running 0
13 1 2 Richard White Lindsey Auto Parts Chevrolet 116 270 crash 0
14 6 73 Bill Schmitt Western Racing Association (Bill Schmitt) Chevrolet 116 210 head gasket 0
15 2 4 Hershel McGriff McGriff Racing (Hershel McGriff) Chevrolet 56 200 engine 55
16 16 94 Rick McCray Ice Machines West (Rick McCray) Chevrolet 48 190 oil leak 0
17 19 42 Dave Schiedeiker Schiedeiker Racing Chevrolet 35 180 engine 0
18 20 0 Steve Pfeifer Southside Machine Shop Chevrolet 28 170 overheating 0
19 9 52 Don Graham City Towing Chevrolet 19 160 engine 0
20 22 11 Tom Haylett Valley Frame & Body Shop Chevrolet 10 150 overheating 0
21 7 8 Bobby Goodwin Goodwin Racing Ford 5 145 drive shaft 0
22 21 1 Gary Matthews Matthews Racing Chevrolet 2 140 differential 0
23 23 89 Cliff Garner Garner Racing Chevrolet 1 115 transmission 0
Lap leader breakdown:
Hershel McGriff 1 55 55
Vic Irvan 56 150 95

Courtesy of Racing Reference

I changed my post title based on your "sound" observation, PattyKay.

Here's a Don Mahoney photo of pole sitter, Richard White of Escondito, California in the #2 Chevy battling 2nd place finisher, Pat Mintey of Arleta, California in the #35 Chevy at a different 1977 NASCAR Winston West venue.

Below are photos of the the late Vic Irvan, winner of the race.

TV will never transmit what we heard/hear to its viewers, will it?

There is nothing sweeter than a highly modified 6 cylinder in line Chevrolet product turning over 6,000 RPM with a short stack split manifold. A couple years ago A man came up to me in the pits at Putnam County Dirt track and asked why I didn't run it deeper into the corners. I told him I did it so I could hear my engine and listen to it longer... We had a good laugh about that and he said he really enjoyed that sound of the ole 292 GMC truck motor......

that is awesome - i remember vic at old concord - he even won a race there - somebody has got to have some old movies of concord and metrolina - would be great to see them - the first time i ever met ernie irvan was at charlotte motor speedway - he was helping install seats in the grandstand doing some welding - he later drove a late model at new concord when it was dirt and paved - i really miss vic .

Man Dave,,those were the days right there.Full body cars on dirt,don't get no better.. David wouldn't that be something if you could find some ole Concord Speedway races on film WOW. I always liked the name Vic Irvan,,sounds fast huh ! I I also remember watching him race at Concord.Thanks Dave this is what it is all about here .

I loved seeing so many youngsters in the crowd, too. They became the fans who filled the stands in the 90s.