December 18, 1988: An Australian Shepherd takes top prize

In February 1988, several NASCAR drivers from the US joined a few Aussies for the much-celebrated Goodyear NASCAR 500 race at the Calder Park Thunderdome in Melbourne, Australia. While many tried to hype it as "the first NASCAR race outside of North America", it was certainly not a NASCAR-sanctioned event. NASCAR approved to test the waters of international fan appeal and corporate interest? Sure. But not an official event.

Rightfully so perhaps, Bob Jane was very pleased with the February race. He openly lobbied for future races featuring NASCAR's drivers - and perhaps even a legit, NASCAR-sanctioned Cup race. But the promoter's initial optimism soon turned to reality as is often the case with racing.

A second 500 km, 280-lap race was scheduled for December 18, 1988 called the Christmas 500. As the Cup season begin to wind down, several teams had to also make plans for the long haul across the Pacific. Cars were loaded in shipping containers and sent to the track well in advance of the race.

From  Motor Racing Programme Covers

NASCAR sent some of its officials to the February race, and they had planned to do the same at the December event. A few weeks before the race, however, a decision was made to keep the officials stateside. The track earned a hefty $4 million sponsorship deal to go smokefree. This deal conflicted directly with NASCAR's primary sponsor - R.J. Reynolds and their Winston cigarettes brand.  Spartanburg Herald Journal

Nonetheless, race plans moved forward. About a month after the Cup's season-ending race at Atlanta, several drivers made the long flight to the land down under.Dave Marcis nabbed the top starting spot in qualifying.

Morgan Shepherd timed 2nd in the Valvoline/Rahmoc Pontiac. Johnny Rutherford - an infrequent racer in NASCAR over the prior 20 years was a surprising third in Bob Clark's Slender You Oldsmobile. -  Gadsden Times

Marcis' top starting spot didn't yield him any advantage. He cut a tire at the jump and slid out of the lead as the race began. He did recover enough to lead 9 laps of the race. Jimmy Means wasn't as fortunate. After starting mid-pack, he wrecked on lap 1 and was done. Though Means often struggled, that had to be a killer to have waited so long, travel so far, and spend the extra dough to complete only one lap.

The winter season was arriving in the U.S. as Christmas neared. In Melbourne, however, 100-degree temps and high humidity more closely resembled an August day at Talladega than a winter wonderland. The drivers were taxed physically with the tough racing conditions.

Sterling Marlin in the Sunoco / Billy Hagan Oldsmobile used a strategy similar to one often seen by David Pearson. Marlin led the most laps and made sure he was out front at the quarter-mark, halfway point, and 3/4 distance to claim bonus lap leader money.

As the race worn on, however, Marlin's brakes worsened. He surrendered the lead to an Australian Shepherd...

Wait... not THAT kind of an Australian Shepherd.

MORGAN Shepherd, likely driving the same Rahmoc Pontiac Bonnett raced to the win in February - battled the heat, a failing cool suit, Marlin, and a wall slap to claim the victory.

Race report from  The Item

From The Age  Australian newspaper

A few other screen cap images I've found from the televised video of the race.

Harry Gant

Rick Wilson in a 2nd Rahmoc Pontiac.

Michael Waltrip in what was once perhaps a Jimmy Spencer-driven, Buddy Baker-owned Crisco Pontiac.

Johnny Rutherford after he slendered up his Slender You Olds.

Canadian Trevor Boys in D.K. Ulrich's US Racing Chevy racing in Australia.

I've not yet found a full finishing order. Most papers in the US seemed to print the top 15 or so with a smattering of other US drivers who finishing near the bottom of the field.

Here is what made me think Michael Waltrip's Australian car was a former Buddy Baker Pontiac driven by Jimmy Spencer. - Ray Lamm

Here's video of the February 1988 debut Goodyear 500 at Calder Park Thunderdome:

Thanks Dave. I saw the video clip on YouTube but didn't reference it because it was from February. Wish now I had because it's clear Bonnett raced the Pontiac 2+2 in February vs. the newer model Pontiac Grand Prix raced by Shepherd in December. I suppose it's possible the same chassis was used in the two races, but it's obvious the same body was not.

Buddy had Red Baron sponsorship in '88. Crisco moved back to him in 1989 after they spent 1988 on Bud Moore's #15.

And Baker raced Olds as a driver w/Crisco. Switched to Pontiac when Crisco returned and Spencer was hired to drive the 88. So maybe Michael's car was a Baker/Spencer Pontiac show car for 1989 shipped to Australia? Colors just seem too close to be a coincidence.

It's a shame nothing eventually came of it but some cool moments in the sport's history for sure. The track is still standing today albeit severely beat up as you would expect. Here's a video of a V8 Supercar going around it at speed last year. Just hear that splitter getting whipped.

Bump