#31
Gene Lovelace
Late Model Sportsman
196_? Chevy Chevelle
Sponsor: LOVELACE UPHOLSTERY SHOP
Race car color: body? Yellow, roof? gold
Location: Southside Speedway, Chesterfield County, Va.
8 miles south of Richmond, Va. on Rt.360 & Genito Rd.
Date of photos: 1970
Died: July 3, 1970 Suffered a massive heart attack at Southside Speedway and was pronounced dead at age 36 at Medical College of Virginia Hospital in Richmond.
I was there the night Gene suffered his heart attack. Gene was an exellent driver and was building a great fan base. He had just won his 1st Late Model Feature the week before at South Boston Speedway. Had it not been for his untimely death I think Gene was on his way to winning a lot of races. I think he had finally got the car handling like he wanted it. He was in a serious battle with Sonny Hutchins and another car I can't remember when he had his attack. If I could I would go back to that era and never come back. Southside Speedway, South Boston, Langley, Manassass, Richmond Fairgrounds, Martinsville. I was so lucky to have grown up watching all my heroes at these tracks.