October 7, 1973 - Cale Captures Controversial Charlotte

TMC Chase
@tmc-chase
10 years ago
4,073 posts

This weekend, I'm headed to Charlotte for the 500-mile race sponsored by some big, bailed-out bank. While I've got a pretty good track record of attending the spring 600, this will be my first trip to the fall 500 since 1993 - the forgettable year when Rick Wilson was chosen to drive what I believed to be the coveted seat of the Petty Enterprises STP Pontiac vacated by The King. My what a disaster.

Anyway... 20 years before that 1993 race was the 1973 edition of the National 500. One of the dominant story lines was the good points battle going on between the champion King Richard and the underdog contender Benny Parsons. But race weekend ended up having plenty of unexpected supplemental story lines. - Motor Racing Programme Covers

Charlie Glotzbach took over Hoss Ellington's Chevy earlier in 1973 after Fred Lorenzen abandoned the ride late in 1972. Lorenzen deemed the car un-competitive, but Glotzbach wore the field out on qualifying day to claim the pole. David Pearson who may have held a bit back during practice ended up laying down the quickest lap before Glotzbach's run knocked him off the pole. - Spartanburg Herald

Rookie-of-the-year candidate Lennie Pond was quickest in the second round of qualifying as another story line was explored as the season began drawing to a close: who would be the 1973 ROTY? Pond or Darrell Waltrip? - Spartanburg Herald

Today, we have Twitter at our fingertips to get rapid fire, up-to-the-minute, news blurbs from the track. Back in the day, we had Gene Grangers notes columns including an ooh that musta hurt yet funny update on Marty Robbins. - Spartanburg Herald

On Saturday as final tech inspections and qualifying were to begin, NASCAR uttered the words made famous by Lee Corso on ESPN: "Not so fast my friend." Inspectors determined Ellington's team had monkeyed with the required carburetor restrictor plate. Glotzbach's pole-winning time was disallowed, and he was forced to re-qualify in the last session. Though fastest in the session, he had to start his #28 Chevy in 36th position. - Spartanburg Herald

David Pearson was elevated from second to the top starting spot with Cale alongside him. With Pearson up front, he began a streak of 11 consecutive pole wins at Charlotte stretching to the 1978 National 500. Bobby Allison was moved to third and Richard Petty to fourth.

Starting 17th in Junie Donlaveys #90 Truxmore Ford was an established Carolina late model hot shoe making his Cup debut: Handsome Harry Gant. While Gant was making his first start, another legendary driver was making his final one. Wendell Scott made a return from a savage wreck at Talladega several weeks earlier to make one final start. He put Doc Faustinas #5 Kmart Dodge Charger in the field in 38th starting spot. - Billy Kingsley

The field lined up and ready for the green. - Chuck Johnson

Chargin Charlies weekend went from good to bad to worse. After winning the pole and then losing it, he then crashed coming out of turn 4 on lap 47. Pearson plowed right into Glotzbach, and the pole winner's day was done. Darrell Waltrip who was still looking to make a favorable impression upon car owner Bud Moore also got collected in the melee. Cale and Richard dodged the accident and continued on to the finish. - Bumpertag

Cale dominated about two-thirds of the race in Juniors Kar Kare Chevy. He led 257 of the races 334 laps. Though he and Petty swapped the lead from time to time, The King only led 52 laps and finished second to the 11 car the only other car on the lead lap.

Cale held on and went to victory lane. RR member Colbert Seagraves joined the Junior Johnson team in victory lane and got the opportunity to hold the winners trophy. - Colbert Seagraves

Gant finished a respectable 11th in his Cup debut, and Wendell Scott went out on a high note. He rallied from 38th starting spot to finish 12th. Finishing 40th was Wayne Andrews who was making his 6th and final Winston Cup start. The engine in his #98 James Hylton owned Mercury failed after 5 laps, and his day and Cup career was over.

Dick Trickle finished 5th in his only Cup start in the 1973 season and just his 3rd career start. He raced a #1 Richard Howard-owned Chevy - perhaps the same car Billy Scott drove in the spring World 600.

Buddy Baker completed 228 laps. But when NASCAR informed crew chief Harry Hyde that they planned to inspect the #71 Dodge's restrictor plate after the race, Hyde and Nord Krauskopf said "nope". They ordered Baker to park the car, and the team left CMS. Consequently, NASCAR DQ'd Baker and placed him 41st, last in the running order.

Race report - Spartanburg Herald

Race report - Spartanburg Herald

Allison finished third in his self-owned Chevy but began raising a ruckus as soon as the checkered flag fell. He paid a $100 fee and protested the cars of Yarborough and Petty because he believed their engines may have been oversized or something else going on to allow them to generate more HP than his engine. NASCAR insisted all cars were going to be checked despite Allison's protest.

CMS president and promoter Richard Howard was very vocal in his support of Cale as the winner. Well of course he did. After all, he just happened to be the listed car owner of Yarborough's Chevy (as well as for Trickle's 5th place car)!

A day later, NASCAR conceded its inspection process could use some improvements. Yet, they refunded Allison his protest fee and said the finishing order would stand. - Spartanburg Herald

Fin Driver Sponsor / Owner Car
1 Cale Yarborough Kar-Kare (Richard Howard) '73 Chevrolet
2 Richard Petty STP (Petty Enterprises) '73 Dodge
3 Bobby Allison Coca-Cola (Bobby Allison) '73 Chevrolet
4 Benny Parsons DeWitt Racing (L.G. DeWitt) '73 Chevrolet
5 Dick Trickle A&W Root Beer (Richard Howard) '73 Chevrolet
6 Lennie Pond Master Chevy Sales (Ronnie Elder) '73 Chevrolet
7 Buddy Arrington Cherokee Construction (Buddy Arrington) '72 Plymouth
8 Elmo Langley Langley Racing (Elmo Langley) '72 Ford
9 Cecil Gordon Gordon Racing (Cecil Gordon) '72 Chevrolet
10 Henley Gray Warren Lindsey (Henley Gray) '71 Mercury
11 Harry Gant Truxmore Industries (Junie Donlavey) '72 Ford
12 Wendell Scott Faustina Racing / Kmart Special (Doc Faustina) '73 Dodge
13 James Hylton Stott Chevrolet (James Hylton) '73 Chevrolet
14 Charlie Roberts Sunny King (Charlie Roberts) '72 Chevrolet
15 Johnny Barnes Hopper-Crews (J.C. Crews) '71 Mercury
16 Jimmy Crawford Black Part (Crawford Brothers) '72 Plymouth
17 Jim Vandiver Bradford Enterprises (O.L. Nixon) '72 Dodge
18 Richard Childress L.C. Newton Trucking (Tom Garn) '73 Chevrolet
19 Coo Coo Marlin Cunningham-Kelley (H.B. Cunningham) '72 Chevrolet
20 Eddie Bond Bond Racing (Eddie Bond) '72 Dodge
21 David Sisco Sisco Racing (Charlie McGee) '72 Chevrolet
22 Joe Frasson Pizza Huts of Charlotte (Joe Frasson) '73 Dodge
23 Walter Ballard Textilease (Vic Ballard) '71 Mercury
24 Dave Marcis Marcis Racing (Dave Marcis) '73 Matador
25 Jabe Thomas Robertson Racing (Don Robertson) '73 Dodge
26 Bill Champion Earl Powell Auto Parts (Bill Champion) '71 Mercury
27 Ed Negre Brown Racing (Jerry Brown) '71 Chevrolet
28 L.D. Ottinger Lonesome Pine Raceway (James Bryant) '73 Chevrolet
29 J.D. McDuffie McDuffie Racing (J.D. McDuffie) '72 Chevrolet
30 Dean Dalton Belden Asphalt (Dean Dalton) '71 Mercury
31 Neil Castles Howard Furniture (Neil Castles) '73 Dodge
32 Donnie Allison DiGard Racing (DiGard) '73 Chevrolet
33 Raymond Williams Williams Racing (Raymond Williams) '72 Ford
34 Dick Brooks Brooks Racing (Dick Brooks) '73 Dodge
35 Frank Warren Hinson Construction (Frank Warren) '73 Dodge
36 David Pearson Purolator (Wood Brothers) '71 Mercury
37 Charlie Glotzbach Pylon Wiper Blades (Hoss Ellington) '73 Chevrolet
38 Darrell Waltrip Sta-Power Industries (Bud Moore) '73 Ford
39 G.C. Spencer Spencer Racing (G.C. Spencer) '72 Dodge
40 Wayne Andrews Hylton Engineering (James Hylton) '71 Mercury
41 Buddy Baker K & K Insurance (Nord Krauskopf) '73 Dodge



--
Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.

updated by @tmc-chase: 02/04/19 04:00:21PM
bill mcpeek
@bill-mcpeek
10 years ago
820 posts

Great report. Loved it.. You really don't think there was some plate shenagins going on do you???? lol

TMC Chase
@tmc-chase
10 years ago
4,073 posts

I imagine we need someone like Billy Biscoe to chime in here.




--
Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
TMC Chase
@tmc-chase
10 years ago
4,073 posts

The engines of Cale and King were still a story three days after the race along with Allison's complaints and NASCAR's inspection process. Cale working over Bobby through the media is a piece of art. - Spartanburg Herald




--
Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
10 years ago
9,137 posts

That's an extremely thorough and enjoyable report, Chase. Jame Hylton's sponsor, Stott Chevrolet, caught my eye. They appeared to have operated in Tryon, NC where Bud Moore's longtime All-Pro rear tire changer, Harold Stott operated(s) Stott's Ford, where I bought a Ford van for Derrike Cope's 1986 Rabanco racing effort in Cup, as well as a 1986 Ford wagon for the family. Harold's brother managed his Ford dealership and Harold worked in the service department.

Anybody know the relationship between the proprietor of Stott Chevrolet and Harold Stott's Stott's Ford in Tryon, NC.?

Harold Stott, by the way was deathly afraid of snakes and opposing crew members would often throw rubber snakes at Harold to watch him scream and jump! Dale Earnhardt, in 1982, had the the Henrico County Police chain one of their German Shepherds to the roll cage in Bud's Ford at Richmond and we all split our sides when Harold took off the car cover!

Enjoy your weekend trip. The rain isn't supposed to hit until after the checkered flag Saturday night.




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
10 years ago
9,137 posts

I'm guessing Perry Allen Wood could shed some light on the relationship between Stott Chevrolet and Stott's Ford in Tryon, NC.




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
Blane Moon
@blane-moon
10 years ago
113 posts

Didn't Bobby threaten a lawsuit against NASCAR after his protest. As I recall, Bobby had a meeting with Bill Jr., yet nothing was disclosed after they met. A payoff from NASCAR to Bobby?

Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
10 years ago
9,137 posts

Blane, here's Gene Granger's report in the Spartanburg paper on Bobby's meeting with Bill France, Jr., filed during the Rockingham weekend:




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
TMC Chase
@tmc-chase
10 years ago
4,073 posts

Perhaps someone has the March 1974 issue of Stock Car Racing magazine. Looks like it included a feature article on the discussion with Bobby and Billy.

(Plus, how about that cover pic of a young Sterling Marlin with duct tape "knee pads"?)




--
Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
10 years ago
9,137 posts

When the teams arrived at Daytona to begin SpeedWeeks 1974, Allison's meeting with Bill France, Jr. was still center stage with new prerace inspections procedures for engines and the report by Chris Economaki of National Speed Sport News that Petty's Charlotte Engine had been a tad over 437 cu. in., while Cale's was 440 cu. in. The story below is from Daytona sports editor, Bernie Kahn:




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
10 years ago
9,137 posts

The day before the National 500, Bobby Allison won the Saturday, October 6, 1973 World Service Life 300 Late Model Sportsman race at CMS. The beautiful powder blue #01 Richmond, Virginia Chevelle of Sonny Hutchins, built and owned by Emanuel Zervakis, was voted "Best Appearing."

Sonny Hutchins with World Service Life "Best Appearing" Late Model Sportsman - Butch Zervakis collection




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
Dennis  Garrett
@dennis-garrett
10 years ago
560 posts

DAVE,
Sonny Hutchins with World Service Life "Best Appearing" Late Model Sportsman - Butch Zervakis collection.

I DO KNOW Sonny Hutchins GOT AN BEAUTIFUL World Service Life TROPHY FOR HAVING "Best Appearing" Late Model Sportsman.
LORD KNOWS WHERE IT IS? HADN'T SEEN ANY PHOTOS OF IT IN SONNY HUTCHINS TROPHY COLLECTION.
DO YOU KNOW IF THERE'S ANY PRIZE MONEY GIVEN FOR WINNING THE "Best Appearing" Late Model Sportsman TROPHY..
Thanks for any information or photos posted.
Dennis Garrett
Richmond,Va.USA

Blane Moon
@blane-moon
10 years ago
113 posts

The lf tire changer looks like Sterling.

Blane Moon
@blane-moon
10 years ago
113 posts

Great research fellow members!

TMC Chase
@tmc-chase
10 years ago
4,073 posts

Coincidentally, MRN added the 1973 National 500 to their list of Classic Races. I downloaded and listened to it on my way to the Charlotte races this weekend. What a fun listen with Ken Squier as primary anchor and Marvin Panch and Hershel McGriff as the color analysts.

You can listen / download it here - and it's also available for free on iTunes.

http://www.mrn.com/Media-Center/MRN-Show-Archives/Classic-Races.aspx?id=7a65c4630d76470a887ac418804dc7e6




--
Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.