July 24: A TN twosome for The King

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

1970 - East Tennessee 200 at Smoky Mountain Raceway in Maryville, TN
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2012/07/july-24-this-day-in-petty-history-part-1.html

1971 - Nashville 420 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2012/07/july-24-this-day-in-petty-history-part-2.html




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Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.

updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
13 years ago
9,138 posts

Chase, a page 6 article from the July 24, 1970 Kingsport Times does refer to a makeup race date at Smoky Mountain as you presume. I did not pay to open the archive. Just noted it in a Google search.

http://newspaperarchive.com/kingsport-times/1970-07-24/page-6/




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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
TMC Chase
@tmc-chase
13 years ago
4,073 posts
Thanks Dave. Interesting how a reference to that factoid didn't surface elsewhere - including in Fielden's 40 Years book.


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Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
TMC Chase
@tmc-chase
11 years ago
4,073 posts

I updated my blog posts for King Richard's two Tennessee wins on July 24th in back-to-back years. The links above are still relevant.

For the 1970 race at Maryville, I found this really neat column by Buddy Chapman of Hendersonville NC's Times-News. He spent time just hanging out with several of the drivers and crewmen on Thursday July 23rd when the race was rained out as they relaxed and waited to race.

With the race rescheduled for Friday night July 24th, the teams had to immediately leave for Nashville to make a 9AM qualifying session and 2:30 PM start for the Nashville 420! Talk about no rest for the weary. Source: The Tennessean

Lee Roy Yarbrough skipped the Maryville race to help promo the Nashville race.




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Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
TMC Chase
@tmc-chase
11 years ago
4,073 posts

A couple of new nuggets for the 1971 Nashville 420 win by Petty

James Hylton drew a tough assignment to help promo the race.

Ed Negre relaxing a bit before the 420

The Petty crew services the 43 Plymouth

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Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.

updated by @tmc-chase: 07/24/18 09:31:36AM