We have, at least I have, enjoyed an exciting trip back into time to recall races at the Riverside Raceway over the years. We have memories of Dan Gurney's almost exclusive mastery of the track, the loss of Joe Weatherly in 1964 which left the sport without a defending Champion and left a huge void in the life of many long time fans. We have experienced the elation of hard fought wins and the sadness of victories lost for a number of reasons. But, the 1981 Winston-Western 500, the subject of yesterday's Racing History Minute, was the last season-opening event at Riverside.
The track would host a near end of the season even from 1982 through 1987 before the final race would be run for the NASCAR teams on June 12, 1988. That race was called the "Budweiser 400" with the "400" again representing kilometers, equating to 248.9 miles.That race was run on June 12, 1988. Rusty Wallace would win that race in the Blue Max Racing Pontiac. It was Rusty's third consecutive road course win to equal what Tim Richmond had accomplished.
The "excitement",for lack of a better word, in the race occurred first on lap 27 when Ruben Garcia lost control of his Chevy in turn nine and ended up going through the concrete barrier protecting the fans. Amazingly, neither Garcia or any spectator was injured. The next episode was near the end of the race and, again, involved turn nine but this time it was a multi-car accident almost blocking the track. The three lead cars, battling for position, came to the scene and two of the pack, Wallace who was leading, and Ricky Rudd running second, were slowing for the pace car that was already on the track. Third place runner in that pack, Dale Earnhardt, somehow slipped around them both to take the front position albeit under the yellow flag. Mass confusion reined in the NASCAR tower for a minute or two before Earnhardt was moved back to his original third place position. This win gave Rusty the points lead over Dale leaving California.
Finishing order:
1. Rusty Wallace, Blue Max Pontiac, winning $49,100.00
2. Terry Labonte, Junior Johnson Chevrolet, winning $26,175.00 (0.34 secs back)
3. Ricky Rudd, King Motorsports Buick, winning $20,950.00
4. Dale Earnhardt, RCR Chevrolet, winning $18,600.00
5. Phil Parsons, Jackson Brothers Oldsmobile, winning $10,725.00
6. Richard Petty
7. Mark Martin
8. Dale Jarrett
9. Sterling Marlin
10. Neil Bonnett
11.Michael Waltrip
12. Bill Schmitt
13. Benny Parsons
14. Kyle Petty
15. Rick Hendrick
16. Bill Elliott
17. Derrike Cope
18.Tom Kendall
19. Buddy Baker
20.Ken Schrader
21. Dave Marcis
22. Bobby Allison
23. Chad Little
24. Bobby Hillin
25. John Krebs
26. Lake Speed
27.Roy Smith
28. Darrell Waltrip
29. Joe Ruttman
30. Jockco Maggiacomo
31. Ernie Irvan
32. Dave Allison
33. Rick Wilson
34. Geoff Bodine
35. Terry Petris
36. Hershell McGriff
37. Rick McCray
38. Alan Kulwicki
39. Ruben Garcia
40. Brett Bodine
41. Jim Bown
42. Morgan Shepherd
43. Jimmy Means
Road course racing would continue, and continues today, at the track in Sonoma, California, under whichever name is chosen for that facility as times change, and at the historic road course in Watkins Glen, New York. To me, that is a good thing. I like the road races. Sadly, the Riverside course is only a memory for those of us around long enough to have listened to the end of those races on the East Coast through a radio A.M. station so filled with static that we sometimes didn't know what was happening, but we knew it was racing and that was all that seemed to matter to us.
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
