Two Faced Watkins Glen Ad

Have any of you noticed in a currently running tv ad promoting the upcoming Watkins Glen race the prominent clip of a waving/smiling Tim Richmond after his 1986 win there? Kinda ironic considering the current dollars behind the Glen, International Speedway Corporation (ISC), along with family bedfellow NASCAR, pushed to remove him from competition. Surely some of you others have had the same thought. Would be similar to Bill France, Sr. starring Curtis in a commercial.


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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 04/12/17 12:47:28PM

PK, amen to your Pocono thoughts. My everlasting memory of Tim at Pocono is of him running to Dale Earnhardt's aid as Dale hung upside down in his belts inundated with hot oil from a ruptured oil cooler. Dale, driving our Wrangler-sponsored Bud Moore T-bird punted Tim going into that high speed turn one and Dale wound up climbing that boiler plate wall, almost going out of the ballpark before landing upside down on his roof. Back in those days of race back to the yellow, NASCAR race control was extremely slow to dispatch the ambulance and safety workers to Dale's assistance. I remember Bud was livid with NASCAR afterward, having already lost two drivers in his cars. Finally a very frustrated Tim Richmond and a photographer ran to Dale's car and got him out. I think the footage of Richmond supporting and escorting Earnhardt to the ambulance is one of the greatest tributes of comradeship among NASCAR racing competitors ever captured on film. Dale had a broken leg, but didn't tell anyone, electing to race on the following Sunday at Talladega and then have surgery on Monday. That's the car Bud refused to let the IMHOF put on display, electing to cut it up. What I wouldn't give again to see Timmie and Dale rubbing on each other - two natural born seat of the pants racers who had a healty respect and admiration for each other. For you youngsters who don't remember the crash at Pocono, click on the link below for a 3 minute clip. A side note - Dale almost cut the legs out from under the Winston box tower you see in turn one. MRN Radio announcer Eli Gold was describing the turn one action when he almost bailed out of his position. Eli claims it was the most exciting moment he ever had a racetrack. And, yes again, PK, they don't come any better than the Mattiolis for treating folks the way you'd hope you might treat others. Here's the clip link (that's the late Dick Brooks you hear describing the crash) :

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

He actually had a broken leg, but drove the next Sunday at Talladega, then had the leg operated on. Remember in his rookie year he broke both collarbones at Pocono and came to while he was in a med-evac helicopter. Said he thought he was on his way to heaven when he awoke. David Pearson climbed into Dale's car the next week at the Southern 500 and scored the last win of his illustrious career in that Rod Osterlund ride.
I'm not familiar with the bruised heart you mention, but then Dale wasn't one to let on to any injury or health issue. That particular one is new to me. After having looked it up, however, doctors speculated that he might have a bruised heart after a 1996 Talladega crash.

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

This was just before Tim got to Dale in 1982 at Pocono.

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

Jim, You are surely right on David's last win coming for Hoss Ellington in 1980 Darlington spring race. Thanks for the correction.


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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

I have not seen this advertisement but I am shocked to learn it is actually running somewhere. What the sanctioning body did to Tim Richmond is reprehensible. If there was a Tim Richmond Estate, they should have an injunction filed against NASCAR to prevent continuing airing of this ad. BZF should be very familiar with such actions considering the ongoing saga of the divorce proceedings. There is, apparently, no limit to the depths of disgust that NASCAR will allow to accomplish its mercenary purposes.

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.

Shameful, but it does bring a smile to my face to see Tim once again. In my opinion, he had more talent than any other driver on the track at that time. He had amazing car control and the desire to push himself and the car to the limit at every race. I loved Tim and I miss him so much still today. I'm afraid he was that "Once in a lifetime" driver for me. He ranks right up there with Richard Petty and David Pearsonwith me.