October 7, 1973 - Cale Captures Controversial Charlotte
Stock Car Racing History
I imagine we need someone like Billy Biscoe to chime in here.
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Stock Car Racing History
October 7, 1973 - Cale Captures Controversial Charlotte
Stock Car Racing History
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 |
updated by @tmc-chase: 02/04/19 04:00:21PM
October 6, 1957 – Martinsville’s Confusing Sweepstakes 500
Stock Car Racing History
Good question. Not sure I know the answer. But RR always likes a good research project! A few I'm aware of based on posts here include:
- October 28, 1956 - Martinsville 400 laps (won by Jack Smith)
- July 14, 1957 - LeHi, Arkansas
- October 6, 1957 - Martinsville 500 laps
- August 10, 1958 - Nashville
- August 22, 1958 - Bowman Gray
- October 12, 1958 - Martinsville (won by Fireball Roberts)
- February 22, 1959 - 1st Daytona 500
- July 4, 1959 - Daytona's Firecracker 250
- August 9, 1959 - Nashville
- August 21, 1959 - Bowman Gray
- September 27, 1959 - Martinsville
- April 9, 1961 - Martinsville
- April 30, 1961 - Martinsville Virginia 500
updated by @tmc-chase: 08/19/19 12:53:37PM
October 6, 1957 – Martinsville’s Confusing Sweepstakes 500
Stock Car Racing History
As Tim Leeming posted from time to time during his series of Racing History Minutes, NASCAR sanctioned several sweepstakes races. The events featured a combination of hard top sedans and convertible racers. Martinsville Speedway hosted its first sweepstakes race, the Old Dominion 400, on October 28, 1956. The second was originally scheduled for September 29, 1957.
Two drivers positioned to gain a lot from the day were Buck Baker and Bob Welborn. Baker was looking to lock-up his second consecutive Grand National title, and Welborn was on the verge of winning his second of three consecutive convertible championships.
Mother Nature, however, had other plans. Heavy rains interrupted Saturdays qualifying session and rained out Sundays race. The race was rescheduled for Sunday, October 6, 1957.
From Spartanburg Herald
From the Herald
Not only did the race have a mixture of sedans and ragtops - but it also had a unique qualifying format that was edited on the fly by Bill France following the race's postponement because of rain.
When rain interrupted qualifying on the race's original weekend, three cars had already qualified - Californias Eddie Pagan (HT),Johnny Mackison (HT) andFrankie Schneider (HT). The three were permitted to retain their speeds when the cars returned the following weekend. Rather than have another full qualifying session, NASCAR slotted the Pagan, Mackison and Schneider in positions 1, 3 and 5. The remaining odd numbered starters were filled by the top 10 GN drivers in the points standings at the time. The even numbered starters were filled by the top 10 drivers in the convertible series. The remainder of the field of 40 was set based on the results of two 10-lap qualifying races.
As the convertible series point leader, Welborn shared the front row with Pagan for the 500. Joe Weatherly (CV) and Glen Wood (CV) rounded out the top six starters for the sweepstakes race alongside Mackison and Schneider. In addition to his own #49 Chevrolet, Welborn entered a second #48 Chevy convertible for Possum Jones to race. Possum started 10th on the day.
Weatherly, who was second in the convertible standings to Welborn at the time, had his good buddy Curtis Turner standing by as a possible relief driver. I'm unsure why Turner may have been needed or if Pops actually spelled Little Joe during the race.
Race preview from Spartanburg Herald
At the drop of the green, Welborn had the top down, sailed off for a Sunday afternoon drive and led the first 183 laps. He then surrendered the lead to Lee Petty who had started 15th in his Oldsmobile hard top. Papa Lee led for 15 circuits before giving way to Jimmy Massey in the Wood Brothers Ford convertible.
For reasons that aren't clear, Welborn needed a relief driver around the mid-point of the race. So who did he tap? Possum Jones in Welborns second car. Only one issue Possum was still in the race and running competitively. Yet Possum was pulled off the track, taken out of the 48 and belted into Welborns 49. But what about the 48? Darel Dieringer was at Martinsville that day though not entered in the race. Welborns team suited him up and had him take over Possums original car.
With Possum at the wheel of the 49, the car soon found its way back to the front. Jones led the remaining 252 laps to take the checkers on Welborns behalf. Consequently, Welborn was credited for his first GN win despite driving a convertible. Yet Welborn apparently earned convertible series points for his day's efforts that allowed him to extend his points lead over Joe Weatherly.
The race was not only a dominant affair by the Welborn car but was also a fairly clean one. The only wreck ... at Martinsville ... in a 500-lap race ... with 40 starters was a blown engine and wreck by Paul Goldsmith who then collected Speedy Thompson to end his day.
Between the two drivers behind the wheel of #49, the car led an amazing 435 of the races 500 laps. Perhaps even more surprising than the dominating performance by Welborn/Possum was the 8th place finish by Dieringer in Possums original car, albeit 10 laps down to the winner.
Massey finished second to Welborn in the Woods Ford the only other car on the lead lap with Welborn. Lee Petty was the first hard top to finish. He nabbed P3 two laps down to the winner. The Woods primary car driven by Glen Wood could only muster a 13th place finish despite a sixth place starting spot.
A couple of somewhat Petty related finishes Gwyn Staley finished 9th in Julian Pettys Chevrolet. And finishing 17th was T.A. Toomes in a #41 1956 Dodge entered in his own name as the owner. Toomes was a first cousin of Elizabeth Toomes Petty and second cousin of Richard and Maurice (if I've done my genealogy mapping correctly). Toomes raced in 11 GN events all in 1957. He later spent time in the sport as a mechanic including time with Smokey Yunick. T.A. was with Yunick when [ Curtis Turner demolished Yunicks car ] during practice at Atlanta in 1967.
Race report - Spartanburg Herald
I tried noting the type of car (hard top vs. convertible) using the news clippings and the odd-even starting positions. I couldn't find the results of the qualifying races or any other source to know if my hunch is completely accurate. I'm certainly open to support one way or the other & will edit the Type if necessary.
| Fin | Driver | Type | Car |
| 1 | Bob Welborn | CV | '57 Chevrolet |
| 2 | Jimmy Massey | CV | '56 Ford |
| 3 | Lee Petty | HT | '57 Oldsmobile |
| 4 | Rex White | CV | '57 Chevrolet |
| 5 | Joe Weatherly | CV | '57 Ford |
| 6 | Bill Amick | HT | '57 Ford |
| 7 | Jack Smith | HT | '57 Chevrolet |
| 8 | Possum Jones | CV | '57 Chevrolet |
| 9 | Gwyn Staley | CV | '57 Chevrolet |
| 10 | Tiny Lund | HT | '57 Chevrolet |
| 11 | Whitey Norman | HT | '57 Ford |
| 12 | Fireball Roberts | HT | '57 Chevrolet |
| 13 | Glen Wood | CV | '57 Ford |
| 14 | Larry Frank | CV | '56 Chevrolet |
| 15 | Brownie King | HT | '57 Chevrolet |
| 16 | Marvin Panch | HT | '57 Ford |
| 17 | T.A. Toomes | CV | '56 Dodge |
| 18 | Jim Paschal | HT | '57 Ford |
| 19 | Eddie Pagan | HT | '57 Ford |
| 20 | L.D. Austin | HT | '56 Chevrolet |
| 21 | Eddie Skinner | CV | '57 Ford |
| 22 | Emanuel Zervakis | CV | '57 Chevrolet |
| 23 | Buck Baker | HT | '57 Chevrolet |
| 24 | Frankie Schneider | HT | '57 Chevrolet |
| 25 | Art Binkley | CV | '56 Plymouth |
| 26 | Ted Chamberlain | CV | '56 Chevrolet |
| 27 | Roy Tyner | CV | '56 Ford |
| 28 | Speedy Thompson | HT | '57 Chevrolet |
| 29 | Ken Rush | CV | '56 Mercury |
| 30 | Bill Champion | CV | '56 Ford |
| 31 | Dick Walters | CV | '56 Plymouth |
| 32 | Paul Goldsmith | CV | '57 Ford |
| 33 | Banjo Matthews | HT | '57 Ford |
| 34 | George Green | CV | '56 Chevrolet |
| 35 | Johnny Allen | HT | '57 Plymouth |
| 36 | Neil Castles | CV | '56 Ford |
| 37 | Billy Myers | HT | '57 Mercury |
| 38 | Cotton Owens | HT | '57 Pontiac |
| 39 | Johnny Mackison | HT | '57 Ford |
| 40 | Bill Massey | CV | '56 Ford |
updated by @tmc-chase: 01/21/19 11:08:15PM
October 3, 1965 - Junior Johnson's final win as a driver
Stock Car Racing History
Over his driving career, NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnson accumulated 50 victories. Of that total, 13 came in 1965 - his last full time season as a driver. His ability to stockpile trophies in 1965 - as was also the case with Ned Jarrett and Dick Hutcherson - largely resulted from his driving a Ford. FoMoCo feasted in 65 as Chrysler's stalwarts Richard Petty and David Pearson parked for much of the year, and Junior Johnson bellied up to the buffet for plenty of wins.
His 50th and final one came in the Wilkes 400 on October 3, 1965. The race was scheduled for 400 laps - 250 miles. - Motor Racing Programme Covers
Fearless Freddy won yet another pole in his Holman-Moody Ford. Just to keep the blue oval gang a bit honest, Petty grabbed the outside pole in his Plymouth. Hutcherson and Pearson made up the second row, and Cale Yarborough rounded out the top 5 starters. - Spartanburg Herald
Junior won the Gwyn Staley 400 earlier in the year, and he was obviously expected to contend for the win when the GN cars returned. But Petty, Pearson and Lorenzen were expected to be right in the mix as well.
Despite Junior living nearby, Lorenzen declared to the field that he planned to make North Wilkesboro his 'home track' that particular day. When the green dropped, the Golden Boy took off. No one could get by him in the first half of the race as he settled in for what was expected to be a dominating victory.
Only 13 laps into the race as Lorenzen began to pull away, Buddy Arrington lost an engine in his Dodge and dumped oil onto the track. Petty, Hutch and Bobby Isaac were racing THREE WIDE through turn 3 - when all 3 managed to hit Arrington's oil patch. With the snap of one's fingers, the day was over for all 3 of them - just like that.
When the race returned to green, Lorenzen re-established his hot pace. Fred led lap after lap after lap - 190 consecutive ones in all. But then, he lost a valve in his H-M Ford and lost the lead. On lap 218, he pulled his pearl-white #28 behind the wall on lap 218, and his day was done.
Except for a half-dozen laps led by Junior's future driver and 3x champion, Cale Yarborough, Junior led the second half of the race - with about as much dominance as Lorenzen. Junior took the checkered flag with a more-than-comfortable 2-lap lead on Yarborough. - Getty Images
Jarrett and Pearson finished 3rd and 4th. Coming home in 5th place was Curtis Turner. The 5th was a bit of a moral victory for Turner and the Wood Brothers team. The Wilkes 400 was Pops' 5th GN race since Bill France lifted his 'lifetime ban' of Turner - but it was only the 1st race of the five that Turner finished. He DNF the 4 previous ones.
Race report from Sumter Daily Item
And race "notes" from Spartanburg Herald .
| Fin | Driver | Car |
| 1 | Junior Johnson | '65 Ford |
| 2 | Cale Yarborough | '65 Ford |
| 3 | Ned Jarrett | '65 Ford |
| 4 | David Pearson | '65 Dodge |
| 5 | Curtis Turner | '65 Ford |
| 6 | Marvin Panch | '65 Ford |
| 7 | Junior Spencer | '64 Ford |
| 8 | Tom Pistone | '64 Ford |
| 9 | G.C. Spencer | '64 Ford |
| 10 | Buddy Baker | '64 Dodge |
| 11 | J.T. Putney | '65 Chevrolet |
| 12 | Buck Baker | '65 Chevrolet |
| 13 | Wendell Scott | '63 Ford |
| 14 | Elmo Langley | '64 Ford |
| 15 | Doug Cooper | '65 Chevrolet |
| 16 | Roy Mayne | '65 Chevrolet |
| 17 | Gene Black | '64 Ford |
| 18 | Darel Dieringer | '64 Ford |
| 19 | Fred Lorenzen | '65 Ford |
| 20 | E.J. Trivette | '63 Chevrolet |
| 21 | Wayne Smith | '65 Chevrolet |
| 22 | Paul Lewis | '63 Ford |
| 23 | Jimmy Helms | '63 Ford |
| 24 | Jabe Thomas | '64 Ford |
| 25 | Bobby Johns | '64 Pontiac |
| 26 | Frank Weathers | '63 Dodge |
| 27 | Neil Castles | '65 Oldsmobile |
| 28 | Sam McQuagg | '64 Ford |
| 29 | Henley Gray | '64 Ford |
| 30 | Bob Derrington | '63 Ford |
| 31 | Roy Tyner | '65 Chevrolet |
| 32 | Dick Hutcherson | '65 Ford |
| 33 | Richard Petty | '65 Plymouth |
| 34 | Bobby Isaac | '65 Dodge |
| 35 | Buddy Arrington | '64 Dodge |
updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
What's the worst race you've watched besides there being a death?
Stock Car Racing History
1992 spring ATL race. Local favorite (though not mine) Bill Elliott was running way behind the leaders. The Georgia contingent wasn't happy,but I had a smirk on my face. The leaders made green flag stops - and suddenly the caution flag flew. Elliott hadn't yet made his stop. He made his stop under yellow and pinned the rest of the field a lap down. I don't remember the rundown. All I know is Bill stroked it the test of the day to an easy win to the delight of the crowd and my agony.Adding insult to injury was our seat location and lunch arrangements. Granted, tickets were free so I can't chirp too much there. But we were on about the 7th or 8th row on the front stretch as they came out of turn 4. All race long, we were peppered in the face with gravel grit and tire marbles.A couple of friends went with us. True racing noobs. They agreed to provide lunch in exchange for their tickets. Rather than bring ready made sandwiches, they brought loaf bread, mayo, cheese and a pack of bologna.Ever tried to build a sammich in the wind wake of cars storming by a few feet away? And though I finally got mine assembled, it shouldn't have had a crunch factor. Yet it did because of the grit that landed in my mayo slathered onto my white bread. For you younger RR members, we still had a few years to go before squeeze bottle mayo made the scene.
September 28, 1990 - My Racing Hero Passed
Stock Car Racing History
Striking while the iron is hot, today September 28th is PAUL LEWIS' birthday.
Rockingham Speedway being sold
Stock Car Racing History
Yep. Another thread started yesterday re: the foreclosure.
http://stockcar.racersreunion.com/forum/topics/bank-requests-immediate-and-exclusive-custody-of-rockingham
Applaud Hillenburg for giving it a shot. But if you don't pay back the bank on their loan, they will close your doors. Pretty much simple as that.
Earl Ross has passed away
General
Just saw news that the 1974 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year, Canadian Earl Ross, has passed away at the age of 73. (S eptember 4, 1941 - September 18, 2014 )
From National Speed Sport News
DELAWARE, Ontario Earl Ross, the only Canadian driver to ever win a race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, died Thursday in Canada. He was 73.
Ross made 26 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts during his career, running 21 of 30 races during the 1974 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. He scored his only series victory on Sept. 29, 1974 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, leading the final 79 laps and beating Buddy Baker by a full lap to score the victory. He also won the 1974 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year Award.
Ross was inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2011.
NASCAR's statement:
D AYTONA BEACH, Fla. "NASCAR extends its condolences to the family and friends of Earl Ross, a true racer whose considerable on-track success helped grow the sport internationally.
"Ross was the first Canadian driver to win a race in what is today known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and he did it at one of NASCARs most historic tracks for one of NASCAR's most historic owners. His 1974 win at Martinsville for Junior Johnson helped lay the foundation for the sport's tremendous growth in Canada, and beyond."
Almost a year ago, Dave Fulton started a post about the 1974 Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville - the one Cup race Earl won in his brief NASCAR career.
http://racersreunion.com/community/forum/stock-car-racing-history/28180/8-va-weekly-racers-1-canadian-thrilled-martinsville-cup-crowd-in-1974-hutchins-led-hensley-frammed-him-earl-ross-won-on-se
updated by @tmc-chase: 01/30/21 06:59:24AM