Randy, thank you very much. In the bottom photo, Paul Sawyer is flanked by his older son, Wayne (L) and younger son, Bill (R), who today is the owner and operator of the 1/2-mile dirt Virginia Motor Speedway.
Thanks, Randy for submitting this piece to Tim, especially for sharing the personal significance of this April 12th date.
And, Tim... I think Devin should be forgiven since she obviously had a mental lapse not seeing you wearing official Legend regalia at the moment of the photo in question!
I was in the room on numerous occasions when the Award named to honor Randy Myers' father and uncle was presented by the National Motorsports Press Association, but I was never more proud than the morning in New York City at the Waldorf-Astoria when it was presented to my mentor's race track, a track where I saw my first race, later sponsored races and a place I'd work for ten years. That year was 1988 and the recipient of the Myers Brothers Award was Richmond International Raceway, spearheaded and led by my dear departed friend, Paul Sawyer.
Below is a link to a very nice story in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal regarding the selection of the 1988 Myers Brothers Award winner by the National Motorsports Press Association:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YOoeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lc4EAAAA...
On the Tuesday night Goat Rodeo following the Fontana, California run-ins between Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin, as well as the Logano/Stewart after race theatrics, our own Legend , Tim Leeming, questionned how all the goings on might affect the "Coke Family" , seeing as how all of the above mentioned drivers participate as spokespersons for the soft drink brand.
If you watched the Martinsville race telecast, you got your answer. Seems those southern marketing folks over Atlanta way are pretty sharp and pretty quick. Here's the spot they prepared for Martinsville following Fontana. My hat's off to the Coke marketing folks and their agency for quick, tongue-in-cheek work.
Think King could spare a couple of slices of bacon before he dispatches his minion?
This has gotten serious. Better watch my back!
These were still the days when sports writers wrote of bumping and framming. Can't remember the last time I heard "fram" on a telecast or radio broadcast - probably back when Bob Montgomery was still lead announcer for Hank Schoolfield's Universal Racing Network. I get so damned tired of Mike Joy and his stupid "chrome horn" and shunts. I know he favors driving his sports cars at Lime Rock, Connecticut, but this is stock car racing. No shunts, please. We old fans still remember framming and bamming!
Now , Tim & Chase, don't you think NASCAR would have thrown the yellow if it had been Richard who crashed trying to retalliate against J.T. Putney instead of the other way around? Just asking, you know.
Considering that the late J.T. Putney was my "independent" hero, I especially appreciate this look back, Tim. The first time I ever sat in a race car, it was J.T. who told me to get in his and take a look around his '65 Chevy #19 after a 1965 race at Richmond. I started pulling for J.T. in 1964 (along with Richard as my " factory" driver) and hand made a special sweatshirt I wore to the races with his name, car number and racing patches on it. I valued that shirt more than any kid could value one of today's concession stand bought shirts.
Very few students at my "uppity" Richmond, Virginia high school ever attended a stock car race besides me and my buddies Frank and John.
My really good friend, now deceased, Albert Bruckner never even made it to a race. Albert was born in Vienna, Austria, the son of Jewish parents who survived the holocaust, but lost all their worldly possessions to Hitler's henchmen.
In 1948, Albert and his parents were "sponsored" by a local Richmond synagogue to come to the United States. Mr. and Mrs, Bruckner spoke very broken English and each worked long hours at demanding physical jobs - he retreaded & recapped tires and she was a department store seemstress. But, I was always welcome in their extremely modest home.
Although Albert never made it to a race, he knew that I drove a 1957 Chevy "283" and he knew I talked incessantly about J.T. Putney . I will forever treasure the inscription made by my departed friend, Albert above his photograph in my 1966 Thomas Jefferson High School senior year annual as I've scanned below:
There's not enough money in the world to describe he feelings I get when a post like Tim's triggers those very special feelings. As our RR friend, Johnny Mallonee reminds us so often... MEMORIES !
Thanks, Legend.
Congrats to Maurice on being nominated. My list for the most part would differ widely (and maybe wildly, some would say) from NASCAR's (see Ray Hendrick - probably the winningest driver in the history of NASCAR still not being nominated) and I'd have to put Enoch Staley and Paul Sawyer, as well as the already nominated Clay Earles ahead of Bruton as pioneers, but Maurice Petty is certainly deserving to be honored.
I'm always proud to tell folks I got to see both Maurice & Richard drive team Plymouths at my very first NASCAR race at Richmond in 1964.
If I were a voter, T.Taylor would have my vote in the time it took me to mark my ballot.
Congrats to Rex on being nominated. My list for the most part would differ widely (and maybe wildly, some would say) from NASCAR's (see Ray Hendrick - probably the winningest driver in the history of NASCAR still not being nominated) and I'd have to put Enoch Staley and Paul Sawyer, as well as the already nominated Clay Earles ahead of Bruton as pioneers, but Rex is certainly deserving to be honored.
