Passing of Cliff Stewart
Stock Car Racing History
Thx for posting that Dave. Had on "to do" list after getting home tonight as YT isn't open at work. Bill Jr. did nice job with what I've termed a conversation rather than an interview.
Forum Activity for @tmc-chase
Stock Car Racing History
Passing of Cliff Stewart
Stock Car Racing History
Long-time NASCAR car owner and NC businessman Cliff Stewart passed away Sunday at the age of 91.
Obituary and site to leave notes, share photos, etc.
http://www.cumbyfuneral.com/obituaries/Clifton-Stewart/#!/Obituary
Mr. H. Clifton Cliff Stewart Sr., 91, resident of Kernersville, died August 28, 2016 at Shannon Gray Rehabilitation and Recovery Center.
Mr. Stewart was born July 10, 1925 in Davidson County, a son to the late Bernie and Lue Teague Stewart. A resident of this area all his life, he graduated in 1942 from Wallburg High School and later received his Bachelor of Science from High Point College. He owned and operated Stewart Fabric Sales and Spectrum Furniture Company, as well as several different NASCAR teams. He was of the Baptist faith. In 1944 he married Eva Mae Tommie Stewart who preceded him in death on December 15, 2013. In addition to his wife and parents, he was also preceded by two sisters, Pauline Eller and Peggy Lydia; a brother, Loyde Stewart; a grandson, Sonny Wheeler; and a great grandson, Nicholas Sgroi.
Surviving are three daughters, June Stewart of High Point, Henrietta Wheeler of Thomasville and Jackie Johnson of Asheboro; a son, Howard Stewart Jr. of High Point; nine grandchildren, Tammy Sgroi, Julie Jones, Tonia Dyer, Shannon Pope, Kara Webber, Clifton Stewart, Hannah Ridge, Bernie Stewart and Zach Johnson; and nine great grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of the Cumby Family Funeral Service in High Point with Rev. Roy Cantrell officiating. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the organization of the donors choice.
updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
Final closure of Nashville Superspeedway?
Current NASCAR
Still does IMO. NSS came and went with not much more than a yawn locally. Meanwhile the historic fairgrounds track is sized perfectly for a K&N, truck, or cable company race - and has the rep to deserve one. Yet the actions (or inactions in this case) of myopic, negatively-biased politicians here will ensure that never happens.
Final closure of Nashville Superspeedway?
Current NASCAR
After the foreseeable debacle a year or two ago, it looks like Dover has found another buyer for its abandoned Nashville Superspeedway property. This time, the buy actually looks legit.
http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2016/08/25/nashville-superspeedway-purchased-nashville-real-estate-firm/89371334/
Nashville Superspeedway to be sold to developer Panattoni
One of the Nashville area's largest industrial developers has agreed to buy Nashville Superspeedway in a deal valued at $44.7 million.
Newport Beach, Calif.-based Panattoni Development Co.'s agreement with the track's owner, Dover Motorsports Inc. (NYSE: DVD), opens up redevelopment possibilities for the nearly 1,400-acre site in Wilson County's Gladeville community.
"It starts with a clean sheet and certainly there could be any number of components in there," said G.C. Hixson, executive director of the Joint Economic & Community Development Board of Wilson County. "We have great confidence in Panattoni and the projects they've done in our community already and are interested in working with them in any way we can."
Under the agreement that Dover Motorsports announced Thursday, Panattoni will buy the Superspeedway facility along with some related equipment and assets for $27.5 million in cash. In addition, the industrial, office and build-to-suit developer will assume Dover Motorsports' outstanding bond obligations totaling $17.2 million.
Upon completion that's targeted for early next year, the sale would end Dover Motorsports' lengthy efforts to sell the Superspeedway, which was largely shut down in 2011. Opened in 2001, the facility couldn't attract a Sprint Cup Series NASCAR race and major events drew sluggish attendance.
Panattoni is no stranger to Wilson County and the overall Nashville area.
In that county east of Nashville, the company has developed or controls more than 300 acres in various developments mostly in Mt. Juliet. That includes developing a 1.1 million-square-foot distribution center for sportswear maker Under Armour, which opened in Mt. Juliet last year.
More recently, Panattoni has expanded its presence in Nashville's office market. The company developed a five-story, 98,000-square-foot building at 35 Music Square East, where Panattoni shares local headquarters with performing rights organization SESAC and the Country Music Association, with another major office project on the drawing board for that Music Row area.
In Nashville's Brick Church Pike area, the company is developing a 600,000-square-foot warehouse park to be called Skyline Distribution Park.
Dover Motorsports entered an agreement to sell the track to NeXovation Inc. in May 2014 for nearly $46 million $27 million in cash and the assumption of about $18.8 million in bond obligations owed to Wilson County.
NeXovation, however, defaulted on the agreement when it failed to make a required $1.5 million deposit to replenish the escrow account after a closing deadline was extended.
NeXovation had invested about $2.9 million into the track, much of it reported to be nonrefundable. Specifics on how NeXovation planned to use the property hadnt been revealed.
In 1999, the Wilson County Sports Authority issued the bonds that are involved in the Dover Motorsports-Panattoni deal in order to build certain infrastructure improvements benefiting the speedway. Debt service on the bonds, which have a remaining principal balance of $17.2 million, is payable from property and sales taxes generated by the facility.
Wilson County and local city officials beyond economic development chief Hixson are excited about Dover Motorsports' agreement to sell the Superspeedway to Panattoni.
The great thing is it gets it into the hands of people who will develop it, Lebanon Mayor Philip Craighead said. I dont know a lot of details, but the way it was sitting there unused it could have a positive (impact) on Wilson County.
If it has sold thats wonderful news and Im thrilled, added Sonja Robinson, the Wilson County commissioner of the area the racetrack is in.
Were looking forward to some changes out there because it hasnt been used much, said Wilson County Commissioner Jeff Joines, who wasnt aware of details about the sale.
updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM
CRICKETS, BULLFROGS AND RUMBLING ENGINES
Stock Car Racing History
I realize NASCAR's LMS series pre-dated 1972. But I think RJ Reynolds' funding for the various Winston Racing Series throughout the 1970s and 1980s really allowed those weekly NASCAR sanctioned tracks to flourish during that 20-25 year period.
Winston's exit after 2003 did more than alter Cup. Nextel/Sprint's "activation" didn't flow down to the bread and butter tracks as did their predecessor title sponsor.
With today's Cup, cable company, and truck series all on the back side of the popularity curve, I'm rather doubtful Sprint's successor will do much to support the local tracks. I can only hope a few someones will have the right pitch and business model to again help support the tracks that for years provided the training ground for the drivers that eventually got the big bucks and glory in the three 3 big national series.
1956 Akron Rubber Bowl racing results
Stock Car Racing History
Maybe sign up for ANOTHER 7 day trial with a different email address? As I recall, you have to enter a credit card number with the hope you'll subscribe beginning day 8. I'm not sure if the site matches on an email/user account or the cc number. If the former, you could easily create a new email to try a new 7 day trial.
1956 Akron Rubber Bowl racing results
Stock Car Racing History
A few weeks ago, I found an ad and preview article for a 1953 MARC race at the Akron Rubber Bowl.
I found them in the archives of The Evening Independent of Massillon, OH via newspapers.com. The site requires a subscription, and mine expired at the end of July. I think Dennis Andrews still has a subscription to newspapers.com. Perhaps he can look in that paper around early June 1956 to see if there is any mention of the Akron race you're seeking.
updated by @tmc-chase: 07/24/17 04:18:51PM
THE MYSTERY OF HISTORY
Stock Car Racing History
Had to ride an elevator with him at Charlotte back in May. Pretty sure I paid enough dues with that excursion.
THE MYSTERY OF HISTORY
Stock Car Racing History
Original posts and other contributions have dwindled here a good bit the last couple of years. Thought we were on our way to losing your memories and insights Tim. Good to know differently.
Glad to have you back in the saddle.
Errr, scratch that. Poor visual metaphor. Let's try this one instead.
