Bobby Allison's willingness to race anywhere and everywhere is well known. Grand National, Cup, late models, near, far, bring a car, borrow a car, whatever it took - and what does it pay?
On August 5, 1973, NASCAR's Grand National East division rolled into western EASTERN North Carolina to Fayetteville for the 1st of two GNE races at Cumberland International Speedway - the Cumberland 200 - a 200-lap feature on the half-mile paved track.
With a three week gap between races at Atlanta and Talladega, several Cup regulars ventured over to Fayetteville including Allison, Cale, Buddy, Soapy, Cecil, Dick May, and D.K.
Race preview from Wilmington NC's Star-News
Bobby Allison won the pole in his Coca-Cola Chevy. Tiny Lund timed 2nd and Cale qualified 3rd in Junie Donlavey's #90 Ford.
At the drop of the green flag, Allison owned the afternoon much like Kyle Busch does in contemporary times in the trucks and Sponsor TBD series - albeit using his own resources vs. those of a megateam.
Allison led 165 of the race's 200 laps. He surrendered the lead to future Cup rival Yarborough during a pit stop. But after 35 laps, the #12 Chevy found its way through the field and reclaimed the lead for the rest of the way.
Giving the sponsor a slug and a plug - from Fayetteville Observer
I wasn't an Allison fan as a kid because I pulled for Ol' Blue. But if I'd had the chance to run alongside the winner as a pre-teen - any winner - I'm sure I would have smiled with 'situational loyalties'. - from Fayetteville Observer
Yarborough - a past and future regular Cup winner - was transitioning back to NASCAR from a limited dalliance with Indy cars. Finishing 2nd would seem to be a good day in terms of getting comfortable in a stock car again. But he was also likely frustrated with ANOTHER 2nd place finish - especially in the GNE division.
- His 2nd was the 2nd in 2 days in GNE events having finished 2nd to Buddy Baker the day before at Hickory.
- A year earlier in the GNE race at Hickory, Cale finished 2nd to Bobby Isaac.
- When the GNE cars returned to Fayetteville in November 1973 for the 2nd and final GNE race at the track, Cale again finished 2nd.
Race report from Tuscaloosa News
| Fin | Driver | Sponsor / Owner | Car |
| 1 | Bobby Allison | Coca-Cola (Edmund Allison) | '73 Chevrolet |
| 2 | Cale Yarborough | Junie Donlavey | '71 Mercury |
| 3 | Cecil Gordon | Cecil Gordon | '72 Chevrolet |
| 4 | Buddy Baker | K&K Insurance (Nord Krauskopf) | '72 Dodge |
| 5 | Elmo Langley | Langley Racing (Elmo Langley) | '72 Ford |
| 6 | Wayne Andrews | Jack St. Clair | '70 Ford |
| 7 | Neil Castles | Elmo Langley | '73 Dodge |
| 8 | Earl Brooks | Earl Brooks | '72 Ford |
| 9 | Ernie Shaw | Ernie Shaw | '70 Ford |
| 10 | D.K. Ulrich | D.K. Ulrich | '71 Ford |
| 11 | Bobby Fleming | Bobby Fleming | '73 Chevrolet |
| 12 | Dean Dalton | William Strong | '70 Chevrolet |
| 13 | Ed Negre | Ed Negre | '71 Ford |
| 14 | Tiny Lund | Toy Bolton | '73 Chevrolet |
| 15 | Travis Carter | '71 Mercury | |
| 16 | Baxter Price | Baxter Price | '72 Chevrolet |
| 17 | Rick Newsom | Rick Newsom | '71 Ford |
| 18 | Bill Shirey | Bill Shirey | '70 Plymouth |
| 19 | Vic Parsons | Bill Seifert | '71 Mercury |
| 20 | Dick May | '71 Mercury | |
| 21 | Richard D. Brown | Jerry Brown | '71 Chevrolet |
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Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
