November 29th is another one of these dates which did not have a Grand National Race run between 1949 and 1993. While I am certain some of our other historians will come up with some interesting details of a race somewhere on this date, I decided to go back to 1970 and relate a part of the history of the sport with which some fans may not be familiar. Certainly there are those fans who won't even care about the events of the early part of 1970, but I think it is important to note what happened at that point in time as it only served to once more enforce there is no power in sports that will alter the iron hand rule of the NASCAR organization. As noted by several folks, without NASCAR the sport of stock car racing is like to have never evolved into the sport it became, but at the same time can we help but wonder if we are now on the white flag lap of what was once the granduer of the sport.
For those of you who recall the PDA (Professional Drivers Assocation) headed up by Richard Petty, you will remember the debacle of the first race at Talladega in September, 1969. The tire companies could not build a tire that would hold up to the speed at that super track so the PDA member drivers pulled out. Big Bill France, as determined as always not to be undermined by anyone or anything, filled the field with Grand American (Mustangs, Cougars, Camaros, etc) and ran the race anyway. Richard Brickhouse won in a Dodge Daytona, which was his only win on the Grand National Circuit.
About the time all of those events were going on in Alabama, a "wheeler-dealer" from Detroit, one Larry LoPatin was building his "racing empire" to be known as American Raceways, Inc. LoPatin had the money to compete with Big Bill and he was already in total control of Atlanta Internation Raceway Michigan International Speedway, Riverside International Raceway and Texas International Speedway. At the time, LoPatin was already hard a work building a fifth track in New Jersey. Les Richter, a former Football player with the NFL, was Executive Vice President for LoPatin's organization but was "fired" in October, 1969, for what LoPatin called "siding with France and siding with drivers" in different areas of the Talladega dispute.
Actually, it was reported Richter resigned, but those in the know realized the resignation was obtained "under pressure". Pushing further, LoPatin openly questioned France's actions in allowing the Talladega race to run under the circumstances it did. He very publicly asked "if the track had been some other track that France's, would they have allowed the Grand American cars to compete"?
Within days of Richter's departure from American Raceways and LoPatin publicly criticizing the NASCAR operation, Bill France removed the season ending, long scheduled Texas 500, set for December 7th, from the schedule. Advantage: Big Bill. The caveat, according to Big Bill was that the purse was not enough at $75,000.00 and Bill was demanding a minimum $100,000.00. Long story short, LoPatin arranged the funds to handle the minimum requirement of the purse and the race, although plaqued by awful weather, was run on the December 7th date in 1969 with Bobby Isaac as the winner.
LoPatin and France first came together in the same room after the Talladega remarks by LoPatin at the Ford Awards Banquet in Dearborn, Michigan in late November. The two were seen in a corner, very confrontational, arguing and finger pointing. France stormed out of the affair while dinner was being served and did not return for the awards portion of the evening. Advantage, LoPatin.
Although LoPatin faded into the rearview mirror of Big Bill as a threat, the PDA was still an entity with which he had to deal. In December, 1969, NASCAR signed a broadcast agreement with ABC Television for some $1,365,000.00 to provide television coverage of the races but NOT live coverage. France was set for a good 1970 season. It was also about this time that Richard Petty returned to the Chrysler Corporation camp after one year with arch rival Ford, and that was sure to spark renewed interest in some fans that pulled for the car make over the driver. Petty was happy, Chrysler was happy, and Big Bill was happy. It appeared the 1970 season would be a "barn-burner" for NASCAR.
While Petty was signing up with Chrysler Corporation again, Big Bill was working on a new entry blank for NASCAR events in an effort to destroy the PDA. He had added a clause to the entry blank which contained verbage that stated once the entry blank was signed, NASCAR had total and complete control of the race car, which assured that the driver of that car would appear and would race. The first entry blank to carry the extended verbage was for the Motor Trend 500 at the American Raceways track at Riverside. Richard Petty, President of the PDA, Elmo Langley, VP, James Hylton and E. J. Trivette returned their signed entry blanks with that verbage marked through. Petty stated "France wants to keep control of 110 percent of racing and it can't be done. The sport has outgrown a one man operation". Langley added "We disagree with the pledge. If this is binding,then NASCAR could put anyone in the car, even an unqualified driver. I'm not going to let anyone drive my car if I can't".
NASCAR sent the forms back to the four drivers. Petty and Chrysler executives conferred (personal note: probably including a lot of high paid Detroit attorneys) and determined they could sign the entry blanks because they all intended to race anyway. Thus, that part of the confrontation was avoided.
Throughout the coming months, events such as tire tests at Talladega to develope new tires, ABC actually joining the Talladega race at halfway for live action, and France holding LoPatin's tracks to minimum promotion by NASCAR and the continued efforts of Bill France to destroy the PDA, were ongoing and France seemed to hold all the advantage.
When the August race at Atlanta was unable to provide the required purse, Big Bill had his advantage over LoPatin he needed. Long story short, Bill removed the race from the schedule until the required $100,000 purse was posted. Through some very "slick" actions, Richard Howard of Charlotte Motor Speedway guaranteed the purse and the race went on. On July 31st, less than a week before the Atlanta race, LoPatin resigned from his position with American Raceways .
LoPatin had some good ideas but was fighting the might of Big Bill France, AND, absolutely awful weather for several of his events. Crowds were almost non-existant (much like today's events) and ARI was losing big money. LoPatin said he felt "my actions were right and the concept was right. The question is was my personality right for it".
Throughout the 1970 season, Goodyear was testing tires, NASCAR was working with drivers and mechanics to find a way to balance speed, tires, and handling. The PDA would quietly slip into obilvion and Big Bill would once more rule with the iron hand that had built the sport. But changes were on the horizon as R.J. Reynolds was in the background, about to be approached by Junior Johnson to sponsor his race car. With television advertising banned for the cigarette maker, they needed an advertising venue. In the days of the 70s, there were no more loyal product supporters than NASCAR fans. Big Bill would step down and hand the reins to Bill, Jr. The Winston Cup, restrictor plates, and some good racing would entertain the fans. At the end of the decade, the Daytona 500 would be aired by CBS, flag to flag, and we all know what an Hollywood scripted ending did for the sport.
So, race fans, I hope at least a portion of this History Minute was entertaining for you. As always, many thanks to Greg Fielden and his "Forty Years of Stock Car Racing" series of books from which I obtained most of this information and the quotes used in the Minute.
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
