.CAN YOU COMPARE DRIVERS OF DIFFERENT ERAS

While points and victories are a valid means of comparing talent over the past 20 years, such criteria were not applicable forty years ago. In the early and intermediate years of NASCAR many race teams ran only the big events, choosing not to participate in the weekly 100 milers which filled out the Grand National schedule. In those days the Grand National (now Winston Cup) champion was laughingly referred to as the Grand National LAP champion. Because of vast differences in the number of quality cars entered, and the length of events, races were at that time classified as "major" and "minor." A major event being 250 miles or more on a half mile or larger paved track. By the mid 1970's, NASCAR historians unofficially decided to simply drop the sub group and combine all Grand National/ Winston Cup wins. The result was a fiasco. Suddenly hundred mile "heat" races at Bowman-Gray Stadiums quarter mile track, with three factory cars entered, counted as one career victory just like a 500 miler on a superspeedway, with fifteen factory cars entered. In the 1960's many of NASCAR's all time greats, including Fred Lorenzen and Firewall had numerous year ending finishes in the top ten in points, while running only HALF the scheduled races. The $1,000 winner's check at the Savannah Fairgrounds wasn't worth the drive to pick up. Can you imagine that?

Johnny, I think we have all reached the understanding there is no fair way to compare. I do get insensed, however, when they add all of Kyle Busch's wins together to try to equate him to David Pearson's record. It's like trying to compare you and me. You are, by far, the more talented driver but we both had our share of great fun out there. Now, after 40 years, we're reeking havoc on a computer website. Do you remember ever even discussing computers back in those days? Wow. Whata comparison huh?

About the closest I came to a (computer??) electronic gadget was my Sun Timing light and dwell/rpm meter. Believe it or not I still have both of them..

I remember something the late David Poole said, 'You know, a lot of people say, well, Richard Petty won 200 races but a lot of times, he was the only one there. I don't care!'. That is the way I look at it too. You cannot do any more than meet the highest challenges offered to you by the sport during your time.

Thanks Sandeep! I like that assessment.

I see no way to compare todays driver and teams with the ones from years ago. Putting it simply, todays drivers and teams can't compete with my memories. Even if everything was the same the memories from my younger days would far exceed what I witness today.

or radial tires, or cooling helmets, with the jack man swinging that ole jack around the car...

and yes...

I, too wouild immediately rescind that Lucky Dog deal

I agree that the cream usually rises to the top, but there are definitely some of today's drivers who couldn't physically manhandle the cars of yesterday. I remember watching Mark martin in his first Southern 500 try to control his car coming off Darlington's turn 4. After a few laps he just couldn't hold on.

Jim, if you remember, Terry was awesome at Darlington in his debut race for Billy Hagan afterBilly yanked Skip Manning. Poor Mark was definitely a beneficiary of power steering.

Funny... just saw this John Betts posted photo that he put up today of Skip Manning in the late Billy Hagan's Strata Graph car at MIS in 1976, pre Terry Labonte.

Bumpertag, that comment was exquisite. So many of us are exactly that way, especially, it seems, you and I. It took you pointing that out to make me realize it. Thank you.

Thanks, glad I connected with someone. Have a great weekend.

Anyone have the picture of Skip trapped in his car after the T-Bane crash with Joe Frasson at Darlington? If my memory is right, he looked like he was smiling at the camera while the safety crews were trying to cut him free. Heard the bars wrapped around his legs and he couldn't get out.

Do know how true it is but I heard Joe said he was looking at the crowd as he approached turn one and when he looked up Skip was right in front of him.