1st 5 Talladega Ford Wins in Bud Moore Cars; May 2nd 38th Anniversary of Buddy Baker's 3rd in Row

Today, May 2, 2014, is the 38th Anniversary of driver Buddy Baker's and car owner/builder Bud Moore's third consecutive Talladega SuperSpeedway (then Alabama International Motor Speedway - AIMS) 500 mile Cup win on May 2, 1976 - the Winston 500. The friendly duo of Baker and Moore had swept both 1975 Talladega Cup races, also, in Fords prepared in Bud's neat brick shop at 400 North Fairview Avenue (dial 803/585-8155) in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Through the 1984 season the Ford nameplate had been to Talladega victory lane five times, and all five Fords came out of the same Spartanburg shop with wrenches turned by Bud Moore and crew.

Until Bill Elliott's 1985 win at Talladega, no Ford nameplated car owned by anyone other than Bud Moore had won at Talladega. After Buddy's 3 race sweep, both Bobby Allison and Dale Earnhardt would add single Talladega wins to the resume of the car building World War II hero from Spartanburg.

And, until Dale Earnhardt, Jr. arrived on the scene, no driver (not Bill Elliott, not Cale Yarborough, not even Dale Earnhardt, Sr.) would equal Buddy Baker's Talladega trifecta.

The Gadsden Times sensed in May 1985 that Bill Elliott or Cale Yarborough might challenge the Bud Moore Ford dominance at Talladega, but suggested those drivers should seek Bud's counsel if they ever hoped to find Talladega victory lane in a Ford.

So, here's thinking of you and remembering you Bud and Buddy on the 38th anniversary of your third consecutive Talladega win!

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Race program

The day before the 500, Johnny Halford won the ARCA 200. Woody Fisher started from the pole in his Petty built Dodge Charger. Unfortunately for Fisher, he ended up 22nd with a failed engine.

Actor Jackie Cooper was a guest of the track for the weekend and was the grand marshal

Buddy in action in Bud's car

Buddy in victory lane - Gadsden Times

Running door-to-door at 180 MPH in intense heat? Not a problem. Getting sprayed in the face with champagne after a victory? ARRRRRRGH!! - Daytona Beach Morning Journal

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Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.

That same weekend, Ford was the only star of the show. Dodge Chargers claimed the front row for the 500 with Dave Marcis and the King running the quickest. Woody Fisher in his Petty Dodge won the pole for the ARCA race. And on Saturday, May 1, Paula Murphy became the quickest female on a closed course. She blazed around Talladega at 172+ in a ... Petty built Dodge.

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Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.

I used to love it back when all the Talladega ticket brochures and programs printed the lengthy list of various closed course speed records set at the track, including the speed record for fire engines. Remember when driver, Johnny Ray set the closed course speed record for tractor trailer trucks in 1975? We ought to get a RR sponsorship together for Johnny Mallonee and see if he can top that truck record!!!

Gadsden Times - August 1975

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"