You won't see Jimmie Johnson at Hometown Raceway, USA

You may need your reading glasses to read this article from Dillon Raceway, Dillon, S.C. but the gist of it and the reason for this discussion is that the drivers included Junior Johnson, JD McDuffie and Tommy Bostick with Curtis "Crawfish" Crider waving the green flag. Curtis was the Race Director at a time when Dillon was a dirt track, now paved over but still hosts some great racing.

The point here is here is little Dillon Raceway running a Saturday night race with big names like Junior Johnson and JD McDuffie racing along side lessor known local drivers like Frank Sessions of Darlington and Joe Lane of Timmonsville, SC. Can you imagine Jimmie Johnson showing up to a local track or Jeff Gordon hopping in a late model and rubbing fenders with the hometown heroes? Nope, it will never happen like that again and when it does happen it's headline news. Here is a racing legend Junior Johnson hopping in a Late Model Sportsman and going door to door with the local boys and the winner goes to....JD McDuffie, Hup Holmes 2nd, Jimmie Hatchell 3rd, Joe Lane 4th and Frank Sessions 5th place respectively. Johnson dropped back early with tire troubles.

At a time when the current drivers of NASCAR are put on a pedestal, untouchable, too big for local short tracks, the real heroes of days gone by get forgotten with news like Jeremy Mayfield busted for smoking Meth and Kyle Bush getting benched on the pit stand for losing his little temper. The headlines of yesterday are far more fascinating than today's daily news from NASCAR. Other sites cover NASCAR's gossip column, the real news is still there, you just have to dig a little deeper or, attend one of these incredible events like that which was hosted this weekend at Occoneechee with Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett speaking to a crowd of about 400 about what his favorite stock car was, a `57 Chevy and, why today's drivers couldn't hold a candle on a dirt track with the local drivers, and how the cars of today allow a less skilled driver to make the big show. These are the stories that live on forever, not whether JR. will get married someday.

I'm not trying to start an argument, just trying to get back to our roots, after all, isn't that why RacersReunion was created, to honor those that paved the way and inspired so many of us to get educated on the past before we can really understand the present state of racing?

Jim,

What you are saying is very true for the most part. There are a couple of drivers outside the top 25 or part-timers that do a few "appearances" at the "local" track (for a healthy fee of course). But without seeing a date on the article you posted, I'll venture to say it was before J.D. went to the Grand National division. He, along with Wayne Andrews and a bunch of others tore up the dirt tracks from Sanford to Rockingham and Dillon. The Junior Johnson referred to is probably the South Carolina version of Junior Johnson who was a heck of a wheel-man in his day. He passed away a few weeks ago. Not trying to knock your story because the comments ring true.

Hers is a news clipping from 1965. This was the first year Tommy Bostick drove the "64 Ford purchased from Ned Jarrett that is mentioned in your article Jim. Tommy won a lot of races in that car.

Randy,

JD McDuffie started Grand National driver in 1963 and Curtis Crider in 1958 so there is truth to the story. I can't verify which Junior Johnson it was, you may be right about the one from S.C., I was not aware of that Junior Johnson but you get the point. I sure wasn't saying that present cup drivers won't drive at local tracks, Kasey Kane runs a few sprint races and I've heard of others running local tracks as well, there are exception no doubt. And I watched Ken Schrader qualify in a an open wheel modified at Dublin Motor Speeday, Dublin, NC though the race was rained out. I just found it interesting to see multiple big names at one race and I checked the facts on Tommy Bostick who ran one Grand National race in 1966 at North Carolina Motor Speedway. In any case back in the day it appears it wasn't uncommon to expect a Grand National driver to show up at your local track. Who knows, that might be one heck of a promotion and benefit to NASCAR if more current drivers would make appearances.

Jim, just found this race results. Exactly 38 years ago this past weekend - November 4, 1973 -SC's Junior Johnson ran 2nd at Wilson County Speedway in the prestigious season ending Southern Late Model 200. I was on my honeymoon, having been married the day before and missed the race!

Southern 200

Late Model Sportsman race
Wilson Speedway, Wilson, NC
November 4, 1973
200 laps on 0.5 mile dirt oval; 100 miles

Fin St Driver # Owner Car Laps Money Status Laps Led
1 Joe Lane 200 2,000
2 Junior Johnson 199
3 Craven Kiker
4 Dennis Smith
5 Roger Matthews
6 Bud Elliott
7 1 Chubby Thompkins
8 Red Justice
9 Sam Ard
10 Sherrill Tyndall
11 Tommy Smith
12 Glen McDuffie
13 Bill Bridges
14 Shelton McNair
15 Danny Parker
16 Dan Pitner
17 Wayne Jordan
18 Max Dill
19 Hop Holmes
20 Mutt Powell 103 accident
21 Don Macon
22 E.C. Johnson
23 Glenn Simpkins
24 Carl Briggs
25 Carl Horton
26 J.E. Beard
27 Mac Mangum
28 Wallace Smith
29 Max Hyatt

Thanks for the info. Dave and you don't have to make excuses for not attending, after all it was your honeymoon however, what better memories to make than at a 2OO lap feature on a 1/2 mile clay oval...Wow, 2OO laps!! I can't imagine running 2OO laps on clay, the dirt and dust must have been blinding. Then again, that was the norm in the Grand Nationals but still, that's incredible.

I see Chubby Thompkins was there, RIP Chubby.

A spin off of Jeff Foxworthy...

If you propose at a race track you must be a race fan

If you except a proposal at a race track you must be a race fan

If your "buddies " decorate your brand new honeymoon getaway vehicle by writing your race car sponsor's name on the rear quarter panels with CloseUp toothpaste and permanently etching the paint, you must:

1) Be A Race Fan

2) Be A Redneck

3) HaveIdiots for Buddies

(CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR UNDISTORTED FULL SIZE PICTURE)

Dave's brand new '73 Monte Carlo Honeymoon Getaway Vehicle - Note "DIXIE SUPPLY" on the quarter panel

Our 1955 Chevy Limited Sportsman at Wilson County Speedway with Driver/Owner Danny Lee at the wheel - Note "DIXIE SUPPLY" on the quarter panel ( Photo by Tim Hamm from his RR photo page)