Ned Jarrett

A great story. Thanks for sharing.

What a great story...Gentleman Ned was always my favorite driver and I loved hearing about the corn field landing and the other drivers ticket....thanks again

David, thank you for that great story. I wasn't aware that Ned drove the Steelman #9. It was one of my favorite cars of that time.

David, could you tell me if this photo is of the old Steelman Motor Company where you built the #9 cars? It is on Highway 67 West Main Street on the west edge of Booneville -

And here is a couple of shots of the Steelman #9 at Peace Haven Speedway in 1954, and Bowman Gray Stadium in the pits at the firstTobacco Bowl in 1955 with driver Pee Wee Jones-

Great info, David. Do you have any memories of Peace Haven Speedway you could share? I'm researching the track and I'd love to hear any stories.

Who else do you remember that drove the #9? I'd heard Curtis Turner drove the car a time or two.

This sign was in the window at the old Steelman shop and it reminded me of Curtis -

And here's a shot of Shorty York driving the #9 at Peace Haven in 1952-

I believe Randy Myers told me his dad Bill and uncle Bobby both drove the #9 a few times, too.

David, do you have any photos from back in the day that you could share? And keep the great stories coming. Do you remember anymore about Daytona or Greensboro? Did you ever go to Tri-City Speedway in High Point?

What a fantastic thread!! David, thanks for sharing. sometimes I'm amazed at the history one post can reveal.

David - exciting for me to learn that in addition to Curtis Turner, Virginians Ray Platte and two-time NASCAR National Modified Champion Eddie Crouse from the Richmond area also drove your family's car. The fact that your story began at my hometown Richmond track immediately got my attention, of course, and now you just keep piling on more and more things of interest.

Thanks.

Another great story... this time about my former boss, Paul Sawyer. Please keep your memories coming. You are posting wonderful stuff that most of us have only heard bits and pieces of... if we have heard at all.

Thank you again.

Here's a couple more pics of the old Steelman race shop -

Looking through the window into the garage where the legendary #9 was built -

Jonesville - 5 miles, Elkin - 8

A shot of the #9 after a win with Pee Wee behind the wheel -

Our RR member, "Coastal" Jack Walker has a Walt Wimer photo from the Marty Little collection of the Eddie Crouse #269 Modified posted on his Carolina Race Place site. This link will take you directly to the photo:

http://www.raceplace.zoomshare.com/album/Pit%206%20-%20Rambi%20Race...

David- Wasn't Bobby Isaac driving the #9 when he won 2 big races at Rambi Raceway in Myrtle Beach ? Those races were the Rambi 99 in 1958, and Rambi 99 again on July 2nd 1960.

David - Do you have any photos of the #9 coach that you can post ?

Please send me whatever you can.

Thanks Jack

jack98@sc.rr.com

one of the coolest things that i have witnessed in the last ten years wason sunday september 14,2003 when timothy peters won an early afternoon late model race at orange county, n.c. speedway and then finished fourth later in the afternoon in a similar race at south boston. orange county runnerup peyton sellers also made the trip north and started in the rear of the sobo field with peters. i remember that there were 20 cars at sobo as i helped larry smith announce the race for WMVA radio out of martinsville. unfortunately i can't remember where sellers finished or even who won the race. the peters performance was the only time i can remember a driver doing that well at two different tracks on the same day. and yes, this is a very cool thread !

Hey Jack, post those pictures if you got them!

Here are 4 photos from the David Steelman collection. The #9 coach was Bobby isaac. The #9A was the car Mel Larson drove at Concord around 1955. The #9 Coupe was Shorty York at Peace Haven around 1952. The 4th photo is Ken Rush, David Steelman, and Pee Wee Jones around 2000 in Greensboro.

Absolutely awesome reading and pictures! Thanks to all of you who contributed.

Very cool model, Chuck! The Steelman #9 has such ahuge history with all the places it raced and the legendary drivers that drove it and won races with it,so it's nice to see the car get some recognition.

The above photo shot of the #9 N.C. after a win with Pee Wee Jones behind the wheel -

What year did this happen?
What track?
Who was the starter/flagman of the race?

Thank you very much for any information given.
Dennis Garrett
Richmond,Va.

I just found an 1957 NASCAR SANCTIONED Souvenir Program NO.25493, Price 25c/SPORTSMEN'S AND AMATEUR STOCK CAR RACES/Bowman Gray Stadum, WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., PROGRAM NO. 15/Raleigh Speedway, RALEIGH,N.C., PROGRAM NO. 6.

Photo #1. 1957 NASCAR SANCTIONED Souvenir Program NO.25493 front cover

Photo #2. Bowman Gray Stadum Hobby drivers battle neck to neck

Photo #3. Bowman Gray Stadum Hobby 3 different types of auto brands
What are they? Crosley on far left side?

Photo #4. Bowman Gray Stadum SCHEDULE OF EVENTS - PROGRAM NO. 15

Photo #5. Bowman Gray Stadum SPORTSMAN POINT STANDING THRU JULY 13, 1957
Listed Pee Wee Jones in 2nd place - 458 points.
Listed Tom Webster in 3nd place - 424 points.

Photo #6. Bowman Gray Stadum AMATEURS POINT STANDING THRU JULY 13, 1957

Photo #7a.Probable Entries For The Sportsmen's Races
Listed Car No.9 as a Ford (year?), Tom Webster as car driver Winston-Salem,N.C. as hometown, Frank Steelman as car owner
Listed Car No.9a as a Ford (year?), Pee Wee Jones as car driver Winston-Salem,N.C. as hometown, Frank Steelman as car owner

Photo #7b.Probable Entries For The Sportsmen's Races

Photo #8. RALEIGH SPEEDWAY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS - PROGRAM NO. 6
RALEIGH SPEEDWAY must be an bad race track to race on.
Because it listed AMBULANCE SERVICE ---- OVERBY FUNERAL HOME, RALEIGH, N.C.

Photo #9a.THE 1957 RACING SCOREBOARD - Bowman Gray Stadum SPORTSMEN'S
Listed race driver Tom Webster as winning (4) "FEATURE" RACES on April 13,1957; June 1,1957; June 8,1957; and June 29,1957
Listed race driver Pee Wee Jones as winning (1) "CONSOLATION" RACE AND (1) "FEATURE" RACE on May 18, 1957.

Photo #9b.THE 1957 RACING SCOREBOARD - RALEIGH SPEEDWAY SPORTSMEN'S
Listed race driver Pee Wee Jones as winning (2) "1ST HEAT" RACES on APRIL 26,1957; and JUNE 14,1957.

Listed race driver Tom Webster as winning (3) "2ND HEAT" RACES on MAY 10, 2012; MAY 24, 2012; and JUNE 14, 2012.

Lotta interesting stuff there, Dennis, including the recap story of the race at Coastal Speedway in Myrtle Beach.

Many interesting names. I see the announcer at Bowman Gray in 1957 was my all-time favorite radio racing announcer, the late Bob Montgomery of Greensboro. Nobody could describe a Darlington Southern 500 on the radio like Bob.

Note the upcoming schedule at the Raleigh track for July 4th, 1957... the 250-mile National Sweepstakes race. It would only run 1 more year - 1958 - before Big Bill France moved that date to his new Daytona track.

The Mods and Sportsman cars at Raleigh ran on a 1/4-mile track inside the mile track.

Listed race driver Tom Webster as winning (3) "2ND HEAT" RACES on MAY 10, 2012; MAY 24, 2012; and JUNE 14, 2012.
Last part should be corrected to following:

Listed race driver Tom Webster as winning (3) "2ND HEAT" RACES on MAY 10, 2012; MAY 24,1957; and JUNE 14, 1957.
Listed race driver Tom Webster as winning (1) "CONSOLATION" RACE on April 26, 1957.

Thank you very much any information given.
Dennis Garrett
Richmond,Va.

THANK GOD AND EVERYTHING A-OK IN RICHMOND, VA. USA

Note that Dink Widenhouse was going for his 5th feature win in a row when spun out on the final lap at Coastal Speedway. (Dink would have been driving his famous #B-29 then)

I see Eb Clifton in those lists a few times. Eb started racing in '48 or '49 and he's still at it, helping build the cars at the shop in Rural Hallwhere his grandson Tim Brown's Bowman Gray car is built. He's gotta be at least 85 now. And Fred Harb who startedracing in the '40sis still running his garage in High Point!

Oh, and I ran into Harry Leake at the K & W here in Winston a couple of weeks ago. Super nice guy.

Photo #3. Bowman Gray Stadium Hobby 3 different types of auto brands
What are they? Crosley on far left side?

The white car in the center may be a 1935-36 Oldsmobile. The car on the near side should be easy but I can't seem to place it. I'm confused about exactly what that grillework looks like. I'm certain that the little car isn't a Crosley

David - I was looking at some old race results, and noticed that Mel Larson finished 42nd at Concord. The race was 200 lapson Oct 27th, 1957, and named the U.S. Modified Championship. Banjo Matthews won driving a 1937 Ford. It was also the race that Earl Bryant got killed in. Was this the race that Mel Larson crashed the #9A in ?

Thanks David --- According to Racing Reference the last dirt track Grand National race held at Hickory was April 9th, 1967, and the first paved Grand National race at Hickory was Sept.8th, 1967.

Jack

David - I did a little more research, and found an article in Southern MotorSports Journal saying the first pavement race at Hickory was on Tuesday August 8th, 1967. (see attachment)

Very cool, Chuck! I'm glad you were able to attend. That's awesome.

Do you know Earl Bryant or anyone who does. I am trying to get some information on him.

Gary - Earl Bryant died in the 8th lapcrash in the U.S. Modified Championship race at Concord, NC on Oct 27th, 1957.

Awesome early NASCAR history! Thanks for sharing it to us.

Gentleman Ned, as many referred to him, was an example of a fair guy in racing. He was my favorite around 1961 in the Chevy going for the GN championship. He and Joe Gibbs are very special men that are and have been associated to helping NASCAR grow. They set good examples for kids learning to like our sport.

[quote="David l steelman"] ,This was my dad's cars 9 & 9A. Frank Steelman Sr. My brother Frank Steelman Jr was off running dirt with #9 Ned Jarrett driver. Ned drove our sportsman car and also drove # 238 limited sportsman car , not sure who owned it, but both counted toward sportsman points. Frank Steelman Sr passed away May 1958. Jr. Passed away January 2001. Thanks for your interest in the Steelman's racing history!!! [/quote]

#238" align="center" id="photo" vspace="5">

Photo   #7b .Probable Entries For The Sportsmen's Races

Listed #238 limited sportsman Ford car driver and car owner as Ned Jarrett from Newton, N. C.

Dennis Garrett

Richmond, Va. USA

[quote="David l steelman"] Good story from fall of 1957. Ned had two second place finishes in one day at Richmond & Greensboro fairgrounds driving Frank Steelman Jr #9 sportsman car. Ran second to Johnny Roberts #7 at Richmond in the afternoon. We loaded quickly and started to Greensboro and Ned stayed and got winnings and then flew his plane toward NC. Ned had plane trouble and had to land in a corn field south of Danville. A farmer brought him to Greensboro just in time to start in the rear for the main event, finished second. Cannot remember who won Greensboro feature. Earl Moss driving William Davis #3 also ran both races. William got a speeding ticket on the way to Greensboro. I am David Steelman crew member of #9. PS: Ned was the first person I can remember that was a businessman, gentleman, and handled himself with class during the early racing days. Ned won the sportsman championship in 1957 running around 70+ feature races. [/quote]