Racing History Minute - May 5, 1974
Stock Car Racing History
I also remember the Bettenhausen Matador starting second at Atlanta in a rain plagued event - stats say the first 32 laps of that one were not scored.
It was sometime after I first met Don Miller at a 1981 media lunch & golf tourney in Darlington that I realized he was the one and same from the Talladega accident. You are so right about his being a nice fellow.
Referencing the Energy Crisis and the reduction in race distances that Bill France negotiated to keep NASCAR going for 1974, I always remember it was Energy Czar, John Sawhill who negotiated with NASCAR. I equate the name Sawhill with "sawing" 10% off the distance of the 1974 races.
Tim, you don't mention it, but Sawhill and President Nixon had also instituted the national 55 mph speed limit. That had to be a really trying drive back to Columbia wet, driving 55, lol.
Nothing worse than being wet and cold at a racetrack. Thanks for placing such a personal spin on this race, Tim.
Breaker, breaker. I was "Pants Man" and my brother-in-law, a masonry contractor was "Brick Man." Your History Minutes just keep bringing back all kinds of memories. Fuzz Buster, Whistler and of course, Bear Finder, whose owner sponsored some cars and whose daughter attended the General Motors Institute.
