The 1973 Richmond 20-Car Track Fire Leads to Pond Beating Waltrip for Rookie of the Year / Video

In our previous discussions of the big jet dryer fire at Daytona in February I brought up the discussion of the Baxter Price triggered fire at Richmond in 1973 that led to 13 cars being destroyed following a 20-car pileup off turn 4.

I had forgotten that Price nearly died from reactions to medications given him in the wake of his burns.

This short video discussion between former Richmond racing writer, Randy Hallman and Richmond racing historian, Joe Kelly ( wearing the Occoneechee shirt ) includes several still photos of that wreck and fire.

They also discuss 1973 Rookie of the Year candidates Lennie Pond and Darrell Waltrip, especially Lennie's amazing comeback at Dover the next week after having his independent car destroyed in the Richmond fire.

Check out the contrasting hairdos of Pond and Waltrip!!

I really appreciate Randy emphasizing that Richmond's 60 years of NASCAR celebration is for 60 years of CUP racing, not all NASCAR series.

Randy and Joe are both RR members.

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Here is the link to the original discussion in case some folks missed it the first time around.

http://stockcar.racersreunion.com/forum/topics/biggest-nascar-fire-not-involving-jet-dryer-richmond-1973-thanks

And here is a link to the blog I wrote about Richard's win in that September 1973 race.

http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2011/09/september-9-this-day-in-petty-history.html

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Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.

I was just reading a 2009 first person story in Circle Track Magazine by the late Hal Hamrick.

In the story, which was a bio of his racing endeavors, he mentioned the Richmond fire. I've reprinted that mention, but the entire story of Hal's career is fascinating. You can read it at the link below.

The Long Broadcast

Ned Jarrett and I were broadcasting a race at Richmond one year. We went on the air at 12:45 and went off at 7:30 that night. They had a wreck in the fourth turn and had 13 cars involved, with some of them catching fire. It was a mess. We stayed on while they cleaned up the track. Then we had rain, and we stayed on during the showers. It was an all-day affair-more than seven hours. We'd take turns going to the bathroom during commercials.

Read more: http://www.circletrack.com/thehistoryof/ctrp_0008_daytona_500_hal_h...

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"