Question of the Day, March 22, 2011 Decade of the 70s

Ok, regular hanger-outers, you knew it was coming this morning. We've talked about the 50s and 60s, so now we're into the 70s. The 70s was the decade where NASCAR burst into what could be described as world-wide acceptance thanks to the involvment of Winston. Remember, the discussion today is about the DRIVER who contributed the most to the advancement of the sport during the decades of the 70s. We will, at a later date, get to the discussion of the people we feel contributed the most to the sport. That discussion will NOT include the France family because without them, obviously, there would likely be no NASCAR. We will leave the NASCAR Hall of Fame to honor the France Family there while we remember, acknowledge, and appreciate their contributions.

Tim

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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.


updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

No contest - Richard Petty with 5 championships............Cale Yarborough also made very significant contributions to the sport.

PattyKay, as you can expect, all of these opinions are totally subjective. I just put these up to generate the discussion because we have some wonderful folks on here who have great insight and I love to read those thoughts. I know about voting on Hall of Fame members because I vote on the Racers Reunion Hall of Fame and the choices are so difficult I agonize for days before submitting my ballot. I agree with what you say, about Pearson and Yarborough and about others in the 70s, in fact in each decade that have contributed so much. So far, surprisingly, no one has gone to divisions lower than the Cup when we have such contributors and Billy Scott, Butch Lindley, Ralph Earnhardt, Sam Ardand so many others who did so much.

As for lamenting the loss of Winston, I have always lamented that loss. T. Wayne and I had some what of a "friendship" because we were both T. Waynes andI met him at a Press Luncheon when he first was involved. Got to know Ralph Seagraves well during that time and all the folks with Winston were great. I came within a frog's hair of going to work for Winston after I quit driving.

Stay tuned, we will have many more discussions. As for the 80s, I many skip that for if anyone names D.W. I may have issues!!!!!!!

Tim

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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.

Again,Richard Petty/Petty Enterprizes as in the 60's contributed the most.

Yup...Richard Petty by a mile!

Hard not to pick Petty for this one. Almost wish we had done the 60's in "Early 60's" and "Late 60's". sure hate leaving Pearson out of this. I still think he was the best pure driver ever. I think Cale is second...Petty third. My reason's....the Petty resources outweighed the others by far. Not taking anything away from the King, but...just sayin.


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Founder/Creator - RacersReunion®