Racing History Minute - July 16, 1958
Stock Car Racing History
A Busti Bump.
(I put that one on a tee for some of you.)
Forum Activity for @tmc-chase
Stock Car Racing History
For High Point area racers and fans
General
From July 13, 2017 Greensboro News & Record
http://www.greensboro.com/gnr/high-point-museum-celebrates-city-s-racing-history/article_3856a9d4-a529-5e5c-8792-45016cf5bb1d.html
The High Point Museum is celebrating High Point’s racing history with an exhibit, community activities and historical markers.
“When Racing Was Racing” focuses on the early days of stock car racing. It highlights the careers of High Point drivers Fred Harb, Bill Blair Sr., Bob Welborn, Jimmie Lewallen, Ken Rush and Jim Paschal. It features photographs and memorabilia on loan from Bill Blair Jr.
The museum will have a NASCAR simulator race car based on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Xfinity Series Goody’s Chevy Camaro from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 29 . This is the car that he will be racing during the Xfinity race at the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 18.
Kona Ice of Greensboro will be at the museum from 1 to 4 p.m. July 29. Also that day, the museum’s Historical Park costumed interpreters will conduct a water bucket relay as well as show visitors how to use a water thumber to water plants.
The museum has planned more special events for Aug. 26 . The day will begin at 10 a.m. with a cruise-in by Johnny Handy, who drove at Tri City Speedway, in a 1939 Ford Coupe No. 0, Bill Blair Jr. driving a 1953 Oldsmobile tribute car that won the 1953 Daytona race for Bill Blair Sr., and Jimmy Hailey driving a replica of Bobby Allison’s AMC Matador.
Scheduled for noon is the unveiling of historical markers for the city’s two tracks — High Point Speedway, a 1-mile dirt track that featured a tunnel entrance, was built by the Baity Brothers, and Tri City Speedway, a half-mile red dirt track built by Bill and Bob Blair. Drivers and local dignitaries will be on hand.
Buz McKim, the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s historian, will be the moderator for a panel discussion from 1 to 2:30 p.m. that will include drivers and family members involved with the old speedways.
Author Rick Houston will be on-site from 3 to 4 p.m. to discuss his new book, “Dale Versus Daytona: The Intimidator’s Quest to Win the Great American Race.” The book features research and a year-by-year look at each of Dale Earnhardt’s Daytona 500s from 1979 through 2001.
For information, call 336-885-1859.
And here is the museum's website:
https://www.highpointnc.gov/699/Changing-Exhibits
updated by @tmc-chase: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM
Racing History Minute - July 12, 1953
Stock Car Racing History
An Uncle Bobby Bump
updated by @tmc-chase: 07/12/17 12:56:25PM
Racing History Minute - July 11, 1987 Nashville
Stock Car Racing History
Here is the Tennessean story that allegedly didn't sit well with Earnhardt. On the other hand, Larry Woody wordsmithed the story exquisitely. From the April 17, 1987 edition:
After much prayerful deliberation, retired stock car racer Coo Coo Marlin has decided how he would try to persuade driver Dale Earnhardt to mend his reckless ways: “I’d take him out behind the barn and beat the hell out of him.”
“Something’s got to be done before Earnhardt hurts or even kills somebody, and NASCAR obviously ain’t going to do a thing,” fumes Marlin. Coo Coo’s son, Sterling, last Sunday became the latest victim of Earnhardt’s alleged automotive assault and battery when he was spun into the wall during a race at Bristol.
“Earnhardt is bullying his way through racing,” says the elder Marlin, who raced for 12 years on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit before turning the keys over to his son six years ago. “Earnhardt’s not basically a good driver; he just runs over anybody that gets in his way. That’s not racing; anybody can win like that.”
“Some people wonder why Earnhardt would deliberately wreck another car and risk taking himself out too. Well, it’s easy to spin a car and get around it if you know how, and Earnhardt knows how. He ought to; he’s had enough practice.”
Sterling was leading last Sunday’s Bristol Valleydale 500 at the halfway point when Earnhardt eased alongside his left flank halfway through Turn Four. Some have interpreted televised replays as showing Earnhardt giving his steering wheel a quick right jerk, bringing the nose of his car into contact with the hindquarters of Marlin’s Chevy.
Marlin’s car was sent spinning into the wall where it was virtually demolished. Earnhardt went on to win the race, his fifth win in seven races this season as he chases a second straight national championship. Earnhardt has denied any intentional rough driving.
Coo Coo, a three-time Nashville Speedway track champion from Columbia, Tenn, was at the peak of his career during the sport’s rough and tumble era. Nashville driver Bullet Bob Reuther once cut across the track infield to ambush a driver who had smacked him earlier in a race.
It therefore sounds strange to hear Marlin say, “Earnhardt has set Winston Cup racing back 20 years.” All the way back to when Coo Coo was racing?
“Nah, we didn’t race like that,” insists Marlin, who earned his nick name Coo Coo from his babyhood at tempts to pronounce his real name, Clifton.
“We raced hard and there was a lot of contact, but we didn’t deliberately wreck each other.” And, he adds ominously: “Somebody who drove back then like Earnhardt is driving now wouldn’t have lasted many races. Something would’ve happened to him.”
Marlin says NASCAR is ducking its responsibility to harness Earnhardt. Winston Cup competition director Dick Beaty had already radioed one warning to Earnhardt’s crew last Sunday following a bumping incident with Harry Gant.
After Earnhardt appeared to deliberately put Sterling into the wall, Beaty again radioed Earnhardt’s team owner, Richard Childress, and told him any more incidents of “aggression” and the car would be black-flagged off the track.
Last season NASCAR fined Earnhardt $5,000 (later reduced to $3,000) and placed him on probation after he wrecked Darrell Waltrip in a similar manner. But spokesman Chip Williams says NASCAR has no such intentions in the wake of the Marlin incident, although Beaty “will probably sit down and talk to Dale before the next race at Martinsville.”
Coo Coo says it’s all idle chatter. “Beaty’s supposed to be tough, but he’s all talk,” says Marlin. “I blame NASCAR more than I blame Earnhardt. Earnhardt is just getting away with what NASCAR lets him get away with. NASCAR’s about to sit around and let this thing really get out of hand.”
Racing History Minute - July 11, 1987 Nashville
Stock Car Racing History
Regarding Coo Coo's defense of his son and give'em-what-for opinion of Earnhardt, a driver of Coo Coo's era had a different perspective. From July 11 Tennessean:
A retired stock car driver claims he was knocked ga-ga by Coo Coo more times than he can recall and chuckles at the recent snarlin’ by Marlin.
“Every time I read about Coo Coo Marlin complaining about what a rough driver Dale Earnhardt is, it makes me laugh,” says Jack Wright, 60, of Tullahoma. “Back when he was racing, Coo Coo was the roughest driver there was at least on his home track in Nashville. He knew he could get away with anything there. When he’d go to another track he’d back off.”
Marlin has been an outspoken critic of Earnhardt’s rough & rowdy driving style. After Earnhardt was involved with a crash with Coo Coo’s son Sterling in a race at Bristol, Coo Coo said Earnhardt was “trying to bully his way to the championship.” Coo Coo went on to say that what Earnhardt needed was a good whuppin’.
“I agree that Earnhardt gets a little out of control now and then,” said Wright, who hung up his helmet in the mid-60’s but still follows the sport “I’m not defending Earnhardt. I’m just saying that of all the people who have a right to criticize him for rough driving. Coo Coo’s last on the list He was the most aggressive driver I’ve ever seen. I raced against him for years and I honestly couldn’t count the number of times he wrecked me.”
On purpose? “Damn straight on purpose,” said Wright. “Every driver knows how to spin out another car, it’s easy as anything when you catch them in the corner and get underneath them. Coo Coo was an expert. And it wasn’t just me. He’d wreck anybody who got in his way.”
Earnhardt, of Kannapolis, N.C, will compete in tonight’s Coors 250 at Nashville Speedway. Sterling is also in the lineup.
“No matter how rough Earnhardt drives, he can’t match Coo Coo,” said Wright. “I’ve had to rebuild more cars because of him than all other drivers put together.” So why didn’t he complain? “You couldn’t complain to Coo Coo because he used to bring his gang with him to the track. Big, rough-looking bunch. Wore overalls and sat on the pit wall. That’s why nobody ever messed with Coo Coo.”
Wright said he wrote NASCAR a letter of complaint about Marlin. “NASCAR called Bill Donoho, who was running the track then, to check on the situation. Donoho called me and chewed me out. He told me I’d better never complain to NASCAR again if I wanted to race on his track. Donoho liked Coo Coo because he drew a crowd. That’s why he let him get away with the rough stuff. He didn’t care as long as the crowd was there.”
Marlin won three track championships before retiring. He admits the racing in his day “was pretty rough but we never wrecked anybody on purpose. Earnhardt just goes out and runs over people. That ain’t racing.”
Wright hasn’t been back in a race car in almost 20 years. Surely he can look back at those dented days of yesteryear and smile. “Are you kidding?” he said. “I still get mad just thinking about it.”
Racing History Minute - July 11, 1987 Nashville
Stock Car Racing History
Dale Earnhardt had a beast of a season in 1987. He won 11 of 29 races and his third Cup title. In addition to his rising presence on the top level of NASCAR, he opted periodically to pocket a little extra cash to race with local guys. One such event in 1987 was the Coors 250 at Nashville Motor Speedway - the then current name for the track also known as Fairground Speedways, Nashville Speedway, or simply The Fairgrounds. Leaseholder Gary Baker changed the name of the track to Nashville Motor Speedway in March 1985.
The news of Earnhardt's possible participation in the Coors 250 was surfaced by Larry Woody during practice and qualifying for Daytona's Firecracker 400.
From the July 3, 1987 of The Tennessean:
Dale Earnhardt has reportedly entered next week’s Coors 250 at Nashville Speedway, but the controversial racing star yesterday huffily refused to confirm he’ll be in Music City.
Speedway president Gary Baker earlier in the day announced that he has received an entry from Earnhardt for next Saturday night’s race. The NASCAR Winston Cup circuit, on which Earnhardt is the defending champion and current points leader, has an open date next week.
Asked about his Nashville plans yesterday, Earnhardt snapped: “Ain’t made up my mind yet” Earnhardt was approached in the Daytona Speedway garage area following yesterday’s final practice session for tomorrow’s 29th annual Firecracker 400. Earnhardt qualified 13th.
After saying he “Ain’t made up my mind,” Earnhardt began to walk away. He was asked when he thought he might have his mind made up. “I’ll look at my schedule next week and decide what I want to do. I’ll let you know tomorrow.”
What other events is he considering? “Look, I told you I’d let you know something tomorrow,” said Earnhardt, disappearing inside his garage trailer. A slammed door ended the interview.
Earnhardt has been on short terms with The Tennessean since the newspaper ran a story picked up and circulated nation-wide by the wire services in which Coo Coo Marlin said he thought someone “ought to take him (Earnhardt) out behind the barn and beat the hell out of him.”
Marlin’s comments came after Earnhardt spun and crashed Sterling Marlin, Coo Coo’s son, to take the lead during a race at Bristol this spring. The elder Marlin went on to say that Earnhardt is “trying to bully his way to the national championship.”
After seeing the story, Earnhardt’s team owner Richard Childress accused the Marlins of “whining.” Following the Marlin altercation, Earnhardt had a similar run-in with Bill Elliott during The Winston at Charlotte, N.C. Both drivers were fined and placed on probation by NASCAR.
Although many have criticized Earnhardt’s means, they can’t criticize his ends. He has won an unprecedented seven of 1 4 Winston Cup races this season, not including The Winston which paid a $200,000 bonus. The 36-year old Kannapolis, N.C. driver has a solid lead in the NASCAR points standings and $760,730 in winnings. By merely starting the remaining 15 races this season, Earnhardt is assured of a second straight $1 million season.
Earnhardt has not raced at Nashville Speedway since NASCAR dropped the track from its schedule three years ago.
Marlin has filed an entry for next week’s race at Nashville Speedway, where he is a former three-time track champion. Marlin, from Spring Hill, Tn., qualified 18th here yesterday.
Another former Speedway track champion, Darrell Waltrip, will not be able to race in the Coors 250. Waltrip’s DarWal, Inc. company is promoting a race in Jefferson, Ga., and Waltrip is committed to race there.
About a week later, Bobby Allison announced he too would like to race in the event. His appearance would be a boon to Gary Baker as Allison had just won the Firecracker in what turned out to be his next-to-last Cup win. From the July 9, 1987 edition of The Tennessean
Race driver Bobby Allison, fresh off last Saturday’s stunning Daytona Firecracker 400 victory, hopes to make it a double Saturday night at Nashville Speedway. Allison, of Hueytown, Ala., contacted Speedway president Gary Baker yesterday and said he wants to race in this weekend’s Coors 250.
There’s just one snag in Allison’s driving plans. He doesn’t have anything to drive. “If we can find him a car, he wants to race,” said Baker yesterday. “Right now, the search is underway. We’re hoping to come up with something by tomorrow (today).”
Allison was scheduled to take advantage of an open date on the NASCAR Winston Cup schedule this week. He planned to race in Maine. Those plans fell through, however, and Allison turned his attention to Nashville. “He said he might even show up even if we can’t find him a car,” said Baker. “He said he may come up and watch the race and sign autographs.”
Allison, 49, became the oldest driver to win a Winston Cup race when he rallied from one lap down to win last Saturday’s Firecracker 400. Another Winston Cup star, Dale Earnhardt, is entered in Saturday night’s race. Earnhardt, of Kannapolis, N.C, has arranged to drive a car borrowed from local driver Tony Formosa Jr.
Earnhardt is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow morning to test a pair of Formosa automobiles and take his pick. Later in the day, Earnhardt will participate in a special Rape and Sexual Abuse awareness function at the Speedway.
A day later, Earnhardt's entry and car were confirmed. Back in the day, track promoters seemed so much more engaged with selling their events - you know, PROMOTING. The Fairgrounds continues to host races today (more on that below), but the current promoter doesn't advertise in The Tennessean, run radio spots, work with the paper on advance awareness of the races, etc. The track has a website and some weak social media presence. That's about it. And oh, the current promoter and leaseholder? Tony Formosa, Jr. - the same driver who provided a car for Earnhardt back in 1987. From July 10, 1987 The Tennessean:
Nashville Speedway had already signed the villain. Yesterday it added the hero. Bobby Allison, one of the sport’s all-time fan favorites, confirmed he has secured a ride for tomorrow night’s Coors 250.
Allison will join Dale Earnhardt whose controversial driving style continues to win him races and enemies in the 7:35 race. Allison, who won last Saturday’s Daytona Firecracker 400, and Earnhardt, a seven-time winner, account for over half the victories on the NASCAR Winston Cup tour this season.
There is a chance Davey Allison, Bobby’s 26-year-old son, will also be in the lineup if he can land a ride. The younger Allison, in his rookie season, has two victories.
Bobby Allison, who raced in British Columbia, Canada last night, will borrow a car from local driver Nicky Formosa. Earnhardt will pilot a loaner from Formosa’s brother, Tony.
“It’s a dream lineup,” said Speedway president Gary Baker after helping arrange an Allison sponsorship from Metropolitan Federal. “In Earnhardt we’ve got the defending national champion who has been the talk of the circuit this season. And in Allison, we’ve got the most recent winner and one of the all-time fan favorites.”
Allison, of Hueytown, Ala., won this spring’s 250-lap race at the Speedway. Earnhardt, of Kannapolis, N.C., has not competed here since NASCAR dropped the track from its schedule three years ago.
Also spicing up the field will be Sterling Marlin, a former three-time track champion from Spring Hill, Tenn. Marlin, who has crashed in his last two Speedway appearances, will drive a car provided by defending track champ Ricky Cruz.
Marlin, a regular on the Winston Cup circuit, became involved in one of Earnhardt’s numerous controversies earlier this season. The two collided while battling for the lead in a race at Bristol. Marlin, who was knocked out of the race, accused Earnhardt the eventual winner of deliberately spinning him into the wall. Earnhardt has also been involved in altercations with drivers Harry Gant, Bill Elliott and Geoff Bodine.
Ironically, they are three of the sport’s most mild-mannered drivers. Not so mild mannered was retired driver Coo Coo Marlin, Sterling’s father. Coo Coo said the way to deal with Earnhardt’s push-and-shove style was to “take him out behind the barn and beat the hell out of him.”
Sterling has avoided adding additional fuel to the controversy but said he is “looking forward to racing against Dale on my home track. I imagine the fans will give him a big Nashville welcome.”
Qualifying was held on Friday night before Saturday's feature. From July 11, 1987 Tennessean:
Young Murfreesboro driver Darryl Sage stole the twinkle from some of NASCAR’s brightest stars last night at Nashville Speedway. Sage turned the swiftest qualifying lap around the five-eighths-mile track to land his Chevrolet on the pole for tonight’s Coors 250. The Top 10 qualifying:
- Darryl Sage, Chev., 103.90
- Chad Chaffin, Buick, 103.00
- Chip Mullinax, Buick, 103.00
- Zillon Felts, Ford, 102.90
- Jack Collier, Buick, 102.90
- Dale Earnhardt, Chev., 102.86
- Mark Smith, Buick, 102.86
- Gary Adams, Chev., 102.41
- Ricky Cruz, Chev., 102.22
- Chubby Crowell, Chev., 102.07
Much of the attention and a mixed chorus of boos and cheers was directed toward Earnhardt. The controversial Kannapolis, N.C driver is the defending Winston Cup champion and current points leader, with seven wins in 15 races this season. Two of the field’s top drivers, Sterling Marlin and Bobby Allison, did not participate in last night’s qualifying.
Davey Allison, Bobby Allison’s son, will serve as honorary starter tonight. The younger Allison, with victories at Talladega and Michigan, has become the first rookie driver to win two Winston Cup races.
Despite the two Big Guns in town (albeit in arranged cars), a good ol' local boy took home the money. In fairness, the local boy was ALSO a Cup big timer in an arranged car. And his win wasn't without some controversy. From July 12, 1987 Tennessean:
Sterling Marlin, who used three past Nashville Speedway track championships as a springboard to stock car racing’s major leagues, last night returned to his racing roots. Marlin took advantage of an open date on the premier NASCAR Winston Cup circuit to make a successful homecoming in the Coors 250.
The 30-year-old driver from Spring Hill, Tenn., led the final 113 laps of the race, out-distancing pole-sitter Darryl Sage by some 20 car lengths. A season-high crowd estimated by track officials at 21,400 turned out for the race.
Even after the race was over, Sage kept battling. He filed a protest of Marlin’s car. At press time, the car’s legality had not been determined. Chip Mullinax finished third, the only other driver in the lead lap and one of just 13 survivors from the original 26-car field.
Winston Cup superstar Dale Earnhardt had jocked with the leaders for much of the race before his car began to balk on lap 209. Earnhardt limped into the pits, and by the time he exited he was a lap down. Earnhardt returns to the Winston Cup circuit this weekend at Pocono, Pa, as the circuit’s winningest driver this season (seven) and current points champion.
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Another of Earnhardt’s fellow Winston Cup celebs failed to fare well. Bobby Allison, who jetted in yesterday from a race in British Columbia, Canada, bailed out after 79 laps with a burned foot. Nicky Formosa took over the car, ran 67 laps, and then had to call on his brother Tony Jr. for relief. The Allison-Formosa-Formosa effort resulted in a fifth-place finish, behind No. 4 Gene Albert.
Darryl Sage of Murfreesboro had nabbed the pole with a speed of 103.90 mph. Sage consistently ran up front and, as late as lap 237, held the lead. At that point Marlin, who had been nipping at Saga’s heels for a dozen laps, squeezed around as they exited the second turn.
With just four scheduled laps to go Marlin had built a commanding lead. The Formosa car stalled on the straightaway, however, bringing out the 11th caution flag of the race and wiping out Marlin’s lead.
The race was re-started on lap 253 of the scheduled 250-lapper. Under track rules, the final four laps must be run under green-flag conditions. Marlin had no problem, using his track savvy to get a good jump out of turn four and leaving Sage in the distance.
“It feels good to come back and win one on my home track,” said Marlin, who at one point was being black-flagged off the track by track officials. His tailpipe came loose and was dragging beneath Marlin’s car, but broke free a few laps later, producing a caution but allowing Marlin to duck in for a free pit stop. “I was going to come in the next lap,” said Marlin. “If the tailpipe didn’t come off when it did, I’d probably have lost the race.”
And about the protest?
“As far as l know, the car is legal,” said Marlin. “All I do is drive it. They had it ready for me when l got here.”
Marlin, a former Winston Cup rookie of the year, has struggled on the circuit this season. “We’ve had some bad luck, and that makes this win even better.”
Sage and his father weren't pleased with Sterling returning home and leaving town again with the loot. But in the end, track officials validated the legality of Marlin's borrowed ride. From July 13, 1987 Tennessean:
Sterling Marlin withstood a post-race protest and charges of preferential treatment to win Saturday night’s Coors 250 at Nashville Speedway. Lee Sage, who owns and maintains the race car of his son Darryl who finished second, filed a protest of Marlin’s motor immediately after the race. Sage also claimed Marlin won only because of rule-bending by track officials. .
A post-race inspection of Marlin’s car found the engine legal. Track officials denied they showed any favoritism to Marlin by allowing him to run several laps with the tailpipe of his car dragging along, showering sparks over the track. “We waited until we could determine exactly what the problem was,” said track steward Don Gregory. “Then we gave Marlin the black flag for two laps. If he had run one more lap and taken a third black flag, his car would have no longer been scored.”
The only thing that saved Marlin was Marlin. His tailpipe finally dropped off, bringing out a caution lap. Sage maintained that under the rules Marlin should have had to start at the back of the field since it was his car that brought out the caution.
Gregory said a car has to start at the back only when it spins out. Gregory said it is a matter of officials’ “discretion” when to black-flag a malfunctioning car off the track.
Sage didn’t buy the explanation. “The track brought Sterling in here and paid him appearance money,” said Sage. “They helped get him a car to drive. And then they helped him win.
“It’s no wonder Sterling was able to win three track championships on this track,” said Sage. “Name one race he’s ever won on any other track. I don’t know of a single one. It seems odd that he’s unbeatable at Nashville and can’t win anywhere else.”
Marlin, meanwhile, was long gone. He departed for his home in Spring Hill, Tenn., immediately after the race, without even bothering to wait around to see if his car borrowed from defending track champion Ricky Cruz was legal. “I don’t know anything about it” said Marlin. “I just showed up and drove it.”
Marlin said the same thing at Daytona last year when his car was caught rigged with an illegal fuel cooling system during pre-race inspection for the Firecracker 400. Marlin denied any knowledge of the illegal device. He placed the blame on car owner Hoss Ellington, who was subsequently fined by NASCAR.
Marlin, a former NASCAR Rookie of the Year, was expected to be a top contender this season. But at the halfway point of the season, his Piedmont & pantyhose Oldsmobile has floundered. Marlin’s best finish has been 4th. His poorest finishes have been 32nd, 30th, 28th, 21st, 19th (twice), 18th and 17th. He has blamed his troubles this season on “bad luck.”
Though I don't have a picture of Sterling's car from that night, I do know it was provided by Ricky Cruz and bore the #1. I believe it looked like this Chevy from 1986 which had the same paint scheme and sponsor as Cruz' #99.
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Sterling won his first career race - a late model feature - at Nashville in June 1977. Ten years later in July 1987 as a Cup regular, he won the Coors 250. And 30 years after that in July 2017, the young gun turned old man won yet again at The Fairgrounds. Last Saturday, I was there to see him take the $5,000 top prize for winning the 100 lap Pro Late Model feature.
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| 1 | Sterling Marlin |
| 2 | Darryl Sage |
| 3 | Chip Mullinax |
| 4 | Gene Albert Jr. |
| 5 | Bobby Allison |
| 6 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 7 | Phil Spickard |
| 8 | Dorrls Vaughn |
| 9 | Bobby Hamilton |
| 10 | Ricky Cruz |
| 11 | Jerry Coble |
| 12 | Mike Montgomery |
| 13 | Mike Oliver |
| 14 | Joe Thoni |
| 15 | Rod Stillings |
| 16 | Harold Ferguson |
| 18 | Jim Berry |
| 19 | PB Crowell III |
| 20 | Mike Sneed |
| 21 | Don Jenkins |
| 22 | Dan Ford |
| 23 | Jack Collier |
| 24 | Newt Moore IV |
| 25 | Mark Smith |
| 26 | Chad Chaffin |
| 27 | Tony Formosa Jr. |
| 28 | Zillon Fells |
| 29 | Charlie Whitefield |
| 30 | Donnie Kaylor |
| 31 | Gary Binkley |
| 32 | Jeff Ladd |
updated by @tmc-chase: 07/12/17 10:43:37AM
Racing History Minute - July 9, 1982 Nashville
Stock Car Racing History
Earlier this year, I blogged about the first time I met Richard Petty. I met him before qualifying for the Busch Nashville 420 at Nashville's fairgrounds speedway on July 9, 1982. THAT much of the evening I remember.
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2017/01/tmc-racing-stories-nashville-1.html
I also got to meet several other drivers that night including Tim Richmond - who was very cool to me that night. I also remember hanging around pit road a bit after qualifying to snap a couple of photos of the Grand American race that was to follow qualifying.
Specifically, I wanted to get a few pics of Sterling Marlin's car (or Sterlin as he preferred to be known back then) as he belted in for the race.
Beyond that, I've forgotten everything else about that night including the Grand American feature. But in reviewing some info about Nashville race winners provided by Russ Thompson recently, I had an A-HA moment.
As was common back in the day - and to some extent, still true today - some of the Cup regulars would moonlight in a race with the locals while in town for their GN / Cup race. I'm sure track promoters padded the drivers' pay envelopes a little bit to give more to the fans beyond just hot laps for the Cup cars.
In the early 1980s, Nashville dropped its traditional late model sportsman division. The cars that generally resembled stock cars - Chevelles, Novas, Ford Mustangs and Granadas, etc. - were scrapped in favor of a new Grand American division. The new series was the first time I recall noticing the transition to cars that didn't much resemble any sort of street rod. They may have been labeled as a Camaro or Firebird, but they hardly resembled either.
The story of the season locally was the rivalry between Sterlin Marlin and Mike Alexander. Mike started racing a couple of years earlier than Marlin by participating in the track's limited sportsman division on Nashville's quarter-mile track. But both were late model rookies in 1976. Marlin was able to secure a Cup ride with Roger Hamby in 1983 and won Rookie of the Year, but he continued to race regularly at Nashville when he could.
Larry Woody of The Tennessean previewed the Grand American feature:
It figures to be a high-speed, version of the Hatfields and McCoys tonight at Nashville Raceway. First off, there’s the 8 p.m. Winston Cup Grand National qualifying for tomorrow night’s Busch 420, to determine starting positions 1-10.
Then the fireworks start. A 50-lap Grand American showdown features local feuding fireballers Sterlin Marlin and Mike Alexander, along with four Grand National drivers who also happen to be carrying a chip on their fenders.
Dale Earnhardt, Jody Ridley, Bobby Allison and Bill Elliott have entered the 50-lapper, and all are noted for their hard-charging short track ways. In a recent race at Jefferson, Ga., the four became involved in a bumping incident and, Earnhardt and Ridley ended up with a bit of fist-shaking.
Locally, the Marlin-Alexander fuss has been simmering since earlier in the season, when Marlin was accused of wrecking Alexander on what NASCAR officials termed an “unprofessional” passing attempt. Alexander went to the hospital with a concussion and Marlin went on probation for the rest of the season.
Two weeks ago, Marlin beat Alexander, and Alexander promptly filed a protest and made the Marlins tear their engine apart. It was found legal. Last week Alexander beat Marlin, and the Marlins proceeded to return the favor, filing a protest and making Alexander dismantle his engine for NASCAR inspectors. It was found legal too.
“We had planned to protest their car the first race they won,” admitted Sterlin’s dad, Coo Coo, who was furious after the Alexander protest. “We were going to give them a taste of their own medicine.
Back in 2014, I posted about the June 1982 incident between Marlin and Alexander that really fueled their feud.
http://racersreunion.com/community/forum/stock-car-racing-history/32720/june-1982-nashville-raceway-sterlin-vs-mike
After snapping a few pics of the Petty cars on the qualifying grid, I aimed my meager camera at a couple of other cars. My woeful photography skills truly let me down in the moment - but I'm OK years later with at least a partial shot of a few cars.
I took a pic of Earnhardt's #15 Bud Moore Wrangler Ford; however, I did not get a pic of his Grand American car - perhaps because I didn't recognize it.
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I also barely got some of Jody Ridley's 98. It took me many rolls of film to learn how far apart the viewfinder vs. the lens were on my little GAF 110 camera. I'm also uncertain why I thought the shot would be better if I turned the camera sideways vs. taking a standard, landscape angle. Oh well.
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I found Marlin's car and snapped a couple of front angle pics. I moved to the back and then did something I hadn't done before & I don't think I've done since. I yelled "STERLIN" as he belted in. He actually looked back over his shoulder, and I snapped. Other than the memory of meeting The King and Tim Richmond that night, yelling STERLIN was about all I remember.
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Woody's article in Saturday's feature in The Tennessean focused primarily on Cup qualifying and the ten drivers who locked in their starting spots. But he did mention the winner, top 5, and perhaps the predictable story line of the race.
Dale Earnhardt won the 50-lap Grand American feature, taking advantage of a crash that knocked out frontrunners Sterlin Marlin and Mike Alexander.
Marlin and Alexander were running away from the field, running 1-2, when Alexander tried a passing move on lap 37. Alexander tagged Marlin and both cars went spinning. The crash was almost identical to one earlier in the season that touched off an on-running feud.
Marlin appeared to be at fault in that first crash and was slapped with a season’s probation by NASCAR; Alexander appeared to cause last night’s collision. “If Marlin and Alexander hadn’t wrecked, I don’t think I would’ve won,” admitted Earnhardt following the victory.
Jody Ridley came in second, Tony Cunningham third, and Wayne Carden fourth. Marlin, who got himself back in the race, finished fifth.
I've let to find a pic of Earnhardt's car from that race. My understanding is he raced a Camaro fielded by Georgia's Billy McGinnis. I would think one exists, but it has yet to surface for me.
updated by @tmc-chase: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM
Racing History Minute - June 30, 1973
Stock Car Racing History
Several big names from NASCAR's national Late Model Sportsman division returned to Nashville for the Union 76 200 race on June 30, 1973
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The race drew many of the biggies of that era including Sam Ard, L.D. Ottinger, Red Farmer, and Jack Ingram. The race also drew up and comer Neil Bonnett as well as former GN racer Sam McQuagg.
Many of the local drivers mixed in with the out-of-towners including Charlie Binkely, Darrell Waltrip, Flookie Buford, James Ham, Bill Morton, Freddy Fryar, Alton Jones, and Paddlefoot Wales.
Dave Marcis also entered the race as he balanced his season of late model races and a Cup career of racing for himself and a few races for Roger Penske.
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In addition to the LMS practice and three local series races, fans were entertained by a motorcyle jump by stuntman Jose Canuc. Not "Ho-zay Kan-uck" but "Oh Say Can You See". A second night of weekend racing was held on Friday night. The LMS cars had a practice session. And a 50-lap, double-points feature race for the track's limited sportsman division was held on Nashville's quarter-mile track.
Jose was a bit of a poor man's version of Evel Knievel - but he likely came at a much cheaper appearance rate! He didn't jump as far as Knievel, but part of this schtick was that he handed on a very narrow, 24-inch ramp.
Though I'm not yet absolutely certain, I believe Nashville teenager and future NASCAR driver Bobby Hamilton was watching Jose's pre-jump message. Hamilton raced in the limited sportsman races on Friday and Saturday nights, and I think that is him behind Jose's right shoulder.
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Race results for limited sportsman and mini-stock races + preview for Union 76 200.
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I'm not sure the qualifying order. Time trials were held just a few hours before the race, and I suppose Max York' chose to focus his column inches on the race itself.
Alabama drivers were up front early and often with Farmer and Bonnett leading big chunks of laps. And Alton Jones - often thought of my me as a "local" but was actually from Birmingham - had a solid run with a P4 finish.
With about 50 to go, however, Farmer's rail run came to an end when he t-boned the spun car of Bobby Baucom.
Waltrip struggled throughout the race with tire wear. Though he claimed a 10th place finish, it was a bit out of character for the driver who generally won whenever he showed at the track. Big picture, however, he was fine as he later claimed his second track late model championship at the end of the 1973 season.
I can only imagine how bent Dave Marcis must have been. Because of issues with his truck, he arrived late at the Fairgrounds and after qualifying had been completed. I would think Bill Donoho, the track's leaseholder and track promoter, could have offered a sponsor's exemption to allow Marcis to start. Instead, he was not allowed to race and left the track with all costs and no earnings.
Jerry Lawley was a fairgrounds regular - though not a frequent winner at the track. He arrived at the track on Saturday just before qualifying began. Unlike Marcis, he DID make it in time to qualify - though he didn't have time to unload and shake down the car in practice. He timed a reasonable 10th and continued tweaking the car to get it race ready.
Though Farmer, Bonnett, L.D. Ottinger and Sam Ard led almost all of the race, Lawley stayed in contention. With less than 10 laps to go, he made his move. He went to the point and drew away from Ard and Bonnett to claim his biggest career LMS win.
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updated by @tmc-chase: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM
Racing History Minute - June 29, 1974
Stock Car Racing History
In late June 1974, several of NASCAR's national Late Model Sportsman drivers rolled in to Nashville to rub doors with the local heroes in the Union 76 200.
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National drivers such as Jack Ingram, Red Farmer, Butch Lindley towed their cars to Nashville's fairgrounds track to race against some prominent locals such as Flookie Buford, Charlie Binkley, Jerry Lawley, and Darrell Waltrip. Despite having set out for a Cup career, Waltrip returned to race frequently at his home track in the mid 1970s.
Waltrip didn't just show back up at Nashville to collect show money. He won the second of his two track championships at Nashville in 1973. He carried his momentum into 1974 by winning just about anytime he hit the track.
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The Tennessean included several solid advance, race preview articles. But for reasons I haven't determined yet, a full race report was not included in the Sunday, June 30 edition of the paper. But... Russ Thompson has some solid photos from the race...
http://russthompsonracing.com/1974Union200.html
... and I know a bit about how the race played out based on references to it in previews of subsequent races.
Waltrip won the pole, and Lindley accompanied him on the front row. Bobby Allison and Ingram made up the second row.
Nashville regular Jerry Sisco - brother of Cup independent and former Nashville track champ David Sisco - raced his regular #16. Out-of-towner Lindley masked the "1" on his #16 Chevelle, and he was scored in car #6 for the night. I'm not sure if there was a gentlemen's agreement, Lindley deferred to the local driver, or dates of entry blanks determined who got 6 vs 16.
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Lindley got an early jump on Waltrip from the outside as the field barreled into turn 1. But he didn't get too far away from him. As a matter of fact, Lindley, Waltrip, Allison stayed close to another for a large portion of the race.
When the checkered flag fell, Allison captured his first late model feature win at the Fairgrounds since winning a 100-lap race in September 1965. Lindley finished second, and Waltrip got ready to head to Daytona for the Firecracker 400 with a 3rd place finish in his pocket. Though Waltrip finished the race, it was the first time in five 1974 starts that he didn't win.
Lawley raced with his new engine - but the result was the same. He finished fourth, and once again he had a view of Waltrip's back bumper.
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After winning at Nashville, Allison made a bee line for the airport. He flew to Hagerstown, Maryland to participate in the Zodiac 100 portion of the Johnny Roberts Memorial Classic at Hagerstown Raceway on Sunday, June 30. Bobby Goodling won the race when Allison broke an axle and fell out of the race. Following the race in Hagerstown, he like Waltrip headed to Daytona to race the famed AMC Matador for Roger Penske.
updated by @tmc-chase: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM