RIP Charlie Binkley

TMC Chase
@tmc-chase
8 years ago
4,073 posts

From RR member Russ Thompson. RR member Randy Binkley's uncle - Charlie Binkley - passed away today, January 12, 2016.

Everyone has probably heard by now, but if not wanted to let you know that Charlie Binkley passed away today. No arrangements yet, but I'm sure it will be in the paper.

For those who are too young to know about Charlie, he was a two-time Hobby division champion (1962-63), had 18 feature wins in the premier division, and probably will forever hold the stock car track record at the Fairgrounds when he qualified on June 17, 1972, at 18.21 seconds for an average speed of 123.550 mph. No one ran faster that season and at the end of the year the banks were lowered to the current 18 degrees. Not to mention Charlie was one of the most popular drivers in the history of the track.

The attached photo is the way I'll always remember him. The photo was taken by Tennessean photographer JT Phillips for a (rare for that time) color spread promoting the Speedway that appeared in the July 19, 1964, issue of The Tennessean.




--
Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.

updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
bill mcpeek
@bill-mcpeek
8 years ago
820 posts

May he rest in peace.. My condolences to his family, friends and fans.

Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
8 years ago
9,137 posts

Thoughts and prayers top friends and loved ones.




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
Blane Moon
@blane-moon
8 years ago
113 posts

One of the fastest I ever watched at Nashville. I will never forget his horrific crash during the Southern 300 in 1972. Rest in peace Mr.Binkley.

D. Mudd
@d-mudd
8 years ago
12 posts

Southern MotoRacing race report of when Charlie Binkley set the track record at the Nashville Fairground Speedways in 1972.