Hamlin Will Honor NASCAR's All-Time Winner, Ray Hendrick at 2017 Darlington Southern 500
Current NASCAR
When I was a kid, I built a replica of the 'Flying 11' from bits and pieces of a '37 Chevrolet plastic model kit. It was not a tribute kit, those would be decades in the future, but I made it anyway, painted it, made the "11" and the wings as accurate as I could. If I'm anything, I am a "coupe-man" have loved them for over 50 years. If there's a more complete, more perfect, more racier-looking race car, I a'int ever seen it. How I hated NASCAR's abandonment of them for the late-model modified. I am well aware of the official "the old bodies are getting scarce" rationale, but it was never quite the same for me. Personally, I think the Frances always felt there was a magical element to "late models".....the success of the "strictly stock" series certainly did nothing to disprove that theory, and optimism was high the same would be true for the modifieds. Maybe it has. Maybe it depends on one's definition of "success"..and maybe I'm being petty, and selfish, as much as I like the flying 11 tribute..........it belongs on an American car. It was made famous by a '37 Chevy coupe, one that was driven to perfection, and was essentially unbeatable. It was home-made genius, and natural talent on an extraordinary level. To see a Toyota so emblazoned, just don't 'fit', at least for me. But I'm old school.
updated by @bobby-williamson: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM
