Back in the late 1960s, one of my favorite drivers and one of the best driving talents I have ever seen was NASCAR Late Model Sportsman driver, Eddie Royster of Middleburg, NC - driving the beautiful gold 1955 Chevy with the black #98 and later gold Chevelles with a black #98 prepared by Middleburg, North Carolina's Frank Edwards.
Eddie, the 1967 North Carolina State NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Champion, was a young lion to be reckoned with at Trico, South Boston, Southside, Beltsville, Old Dominion and Cumberland International in weekly competition.
In August 1969, Ediie had a horrific wreck in a Late Model Sportsman race at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, suffering a career ending injury to his hand.
Eddie's car builder, Frank Edwards, who built those beautiful gold #98s went on to work for several decades fabricating cars for another friend, Rick Hendrick at Hendrick Motorsports.
I happened to be looking at film this week of the 1965 Indianapolis 500, where the Wood Brothers pitted both winner, Jim Clark and stock car ace, Bobby Johns in their Team Lotus Colin Chapman cars.
While watching the 1965 Indy qualifying, I was struck with the paint and number scheme of the Parnelli Jones' Indy ride - gold with a black #98.
Certainly not identical, but the film of Parnelli's 1965 Indy ride sure made me think of Eddie Royster and my wonderful Friday, Saturday and Wednesday night visits in the 60s to the Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland bullrings!
Eddie Royster at Beltsville, MD. Speedway - posted previously by RR member, Jim Wilmore
Eddie Royster at Martinsville - posted previously by his son, RR member Johnny Royster.
Eddie Royster's 1969 Richmond Wreck as posted by his son, Johnny Royster.
Parnelli Jones - Indianapolis 500 - 1965 - IMS Photo
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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM