On this date, in 1965, 20 drivers entered an event known as "The Myers Brothers Memorial" race at Winston-Salem's Bowman-Gray Stadium. Just last week, several of us had the pleasure of being with the on of the sons of each of the Myers Brothers at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte. Billy and Bobby Myers were true pioneers of the sport. Bobby Myers was killed in a crash on the 27th lap of the 1957 Southern 500, which I watched happen right in front of me. Billy Myers, I understand, had just completed a race at Bowman-Gray, climbed out of his car and collasped from an apparent heart attack. I never met Billy or Bobby, but I have met Randy and Chocolate and they carry the passion for the sport both in memory of their famous fathers and also with a true love of the sport. It is because of folks like the Myers families that NASCAR became a major sport.
Richard Petty, back in action after the Chrysler Corporation boycott of NASCAR, put his Plymouth on the pole. Junior Johnson's Ford started second, Dick Hutcherson in a Ford was third fastest qualifier, Tiger Tom Pistone fourth, and Fred Harb fifth. Petty's pole winning speed on the quarter-mile flat asphalt track was 50.195 mph.
Petty led the first lap but Junior Johnson stormed past him on lap 2 and would lead the remaining 249 laps comprising 62.5 mile. Once out front, Junior pulled away steadily and only a scrape with spinning G. T. Nolan causing a mometary concern. 15,000 fans watched Junior score his 48th win in his Grand National Career which moved him into a three way tie for second in number of overall wins. Junior Johnson, Ned Jarrett and Herb Thomas were tied with 48 wins each for second behind over all time leader, Lee Petty. Petty's career virtually ended at Daytona in Febuary 1961, although he made sporadic starts, entering his last event at Watkins Glen in 1964. Lee held that lead with 54 wins. Within two years, his son would take over with a winat Darlington in the spring race. Yes, I was there as well and rode on the back of the convertible headed for the press box after the race. Johnny Reb was on the hood with the Confederate Battle Flag and I was on the trunk with the Plymouth 43 flag.
Johnson averaged 46.632 mph for the race, winning for the third consecutive time on the tight track. After the race , Junior was so exhausted he took several minutes to get on his feet and accept the accolades of the victory.
Top five finishers were:
1. Junior Johnson, Johnson Ford, winning $1,000.00
2. Richard Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $800.00
3. Dick Hutcherson, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $400.00
4. Ned Jarrett, Bondy Long Ford, winning $300.00
5. Cale Yarborough, Kenny Myler Ford, winning $275.00
Sixth through tenth were Fred Harb, Buren Skeen **, Neil Castles, Clyde Lynn and Bob Derrington. The remaining ten finishers, in order were E.J. Trivette, Elmo Langley, Wayne Smith. G.T. Nolan, Darrell Bryant, Wendell Scott, Tiger Tom Pistone, Buddy Baker, Henley Gray and Jimmy Helms.
** Buren Skeen would be killed on the second lap of the Southern 500 only nine days after this event. His car was broadsided by Reb Wickersham in turn three directly in the driver's door.
Just a fun fact to add here, although it has nothing to do with this particular race. Ned Jarrett is shown, in the records, as driving the Bondy Long Ford. For a long period of time, that car carried the sponsorhip of "BoWaNi" and was known as "The BoWaNi Ford". The moniker was comprised of the first two letters of each of the Long brothers, Bondy, Walter and Nicky. That thought came to me as I was writing this Minute so perhaps my mind was going back at full speed to the earlier times.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
