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Racing History Minute - August 12, 1951

Stock Car Racing History

In current news, Detroit, Michigan is a bankrupt city. Decay and decline are obvious even to the causal observer. A few years ago, back in the days when I did allow the airlines to abuse me before I gave up flying completely, I flew into the Detroit airport and then drove a rental car over to Dearborn to spend a week at Ford Headquarters. Yep, me, a Mopar guy, spending a week in the Ford Towers. Long story but not to be share here. What we are going to share here is an event on this date in 1951 when Detroit WAS Motor City and a 250 mile race was set for the one-mile, flat, dirt track there. There would be 15 makes of cars represented in the 59 car starting field and most of Detroit auto brass would attend the event along with 16,352 race fans. It was to be a day of stock car racing in the city from whence the stock cars originated.

Marshall Teague, in the FABULOUS Hudson Hornet, drew first blood in the war of the auto makes as he qualified on the pole with an average 69.131 mph for the two lap qualifying run. Tim Flock put his Oldsmobile on the outside front row and Gober Sosebee in a Cadillac locked up third place starting position. Fonty Flock put an Oldsmobile in fourth and Tommy Thompson started a Chrysler in fifth. Sprinkled through the field were makes such as Nash, Mercury, Ford, Plymouth, Pontiac, Dodge, Studebaker, Packard, and a Henry J. Detroit was ready to see some racing!

Marshall Teague led lap one then Fonty Flock took over until lap 24. Tommy Thompson pulled his Chrysler in front for two laps, 25-26, then it was Flock again for a lap, then Thompson. The torrid battle between Thompson and Fonty Flock went on until lap 96 when Gober Sosebee stormed into the lead in his Cadillac. Gober would lead two laps before Fonty Flock once again moved out front. On lap 131 it was Curtis Turner taking the point he would hold until lap 212. The persistent Tommy Thompson moved past Turner to lead laps 213 to 215 and then it was Turner again.

With 25 miles to run, Turner and Thompson slammed into each other after an absolutely unbelieveable fender banging duel lap after lap. They hit each other hard and spun into the guard rail. Joe Eubanks went around the two frustrated drivers as they tried to get their cars back in action. Thompson got restarted and set about "burning up the track" in an effort to get back to the front. Turner was trying, but the crash destroyed his radiator and he soon had to park his steaming Oldsmobile. Meanwhile, back in the race, Joe Eubanks was motoring along at a steady and safe pace, not knowing he was leading the race, as Thompson was rapidlly gaining on the Eubanks Olds. With 18 laps to go, Thompson stormed around the clueless Eubanks to retake the lead for the final time and take the checkered flag. There were 14 lead changes in the race, a record number of leaders at that time.

Several cars were eliminated in wrecks, at least two of which were spectacular. On lap 130, there were 10 cars involved in a wreck that totally flattened the car of Fonty Flock, who, at the time, was leading. Others involved in that accident included Billy Myers, Jack Smith and Bill Holland. Later in the event, Lee Petty would flip his Plymouth, but would get the car back on four wheels and journey on to a 13th place finish.

Thus ended the race before the American Auto Brass with the Chrysler Corporation boys given bragging rights, for a time, as it was their make winning the race. I am imagining the fans leaving that race in awe of what they had seen. It had to be a race to remember for a long time.

Top ten finishers were:

1. Tommy Thompson, Thompson Chrysler, winning $5,000.00

2. Joe Eubanks, Oates Motor Company Oldsmobile, winning $2,000.00

3. Johnny Mantz, Mantz Nash Ambassador,, winning $1,000.00

4. Red Byron, Daytona Racing Ford, winning $600.00

5. Paul Newkirk, Nash Ambassador, winning $500.00

6. Jack Goodwin, Plymouth, winning $400.00

7. Lloyd Moore, Julian Buesink Oldsmobile, winning $300.00

8. Ewell Weddle, Ford, winning $200.00

9. Curtis Turner, Eanes Motor Company Oldsmobile, winning $100.00

10. Erick Erickson, Packer Pontiac, winning $100.00

Other familiar names and their finishing positions include Lee Petty 13th, Bob Myers 15th, Jim Paschal 16th, Tim Flock 17th, Bob Flock 19th, Iggy Katona 22nd, Bobby Myers 25th, and Marshall Teague 33rd. Fonty Flock is credited with 35th, Jack Smith 37th, Billy Myers 38th, Gober Sosebee 42nd, Bill Blair 47th, Frank Mundy 50th, Jim Rathmann 52nd, Hershel McGriff 54th, and Dick Rathman 55th. Herb Thomas was credited with 57th.

Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Racing History Minute - August 11, 1963

Stock Car Racing History

The 1963 season was the season of Fearless Freddie and the pearl white Ford with the blue number 28 on the doors. It seemed that Fred Lorenzen had the kind of luck in most races that season that others could only dream about. Coming into the "Western North Carolina 500" at Asheville-Weaverville Speedway on this date in 1963, the 41st race of the season, Lorenzen was fourth in the National Points Standings and had only started 19 of the races.

When the public learned Lorenzen would race for 250 on the half-mile paved track, tickets went like hotcakes (wonder where that say originated) and some 14,500 fans showed up to see how Lorenzen would do on the short track. He didn't get the pole, Ned Jarrett did in another Ford. Fred would start second, Tommy Irwin third, G.C. Spencer fourth, and Elmo Langley fifth. The qualifying was actually rained out so the starting lineup was determined by the order in which the cars signed in at the track. The real story of starting the starting line up comes out of the Bud Moore/Joe Weatherly effort.

Seems Bud Moore was the very first to show up and get in line to sign in at the appointed time. There was no NASCAR official available to sign him in. After waiting an appropriate time (whatever that may have been) Bud decided to go get breakfast. When he returned, he was 18th in line which would have put him in 18th starting position in the 27 car field. Bud argued his case that he had been in line first but the official was late, very late, and Bud should not be penalized for NASCAR officials oversleeping. He did, of course, lose the argument, so he turned his tow car around and headed back to Spartanburg. This left points leader, Joe Weatherly, without a ride for the race. Part of Bud's issue was that during all his arguing with NASCAR, Joe hadn't yet made an appearance at the track.

Joe finally did arrive at the track and found his ride gone. He did some quick negotiations with Wade Younts to drive the Dodge Larry Thomas was scheduled to drive. The buzz was going around the track that Weatherly had lost his ride in the Bud Moore car and Bud was not there to confirm or deny that issue. Joe was only concerning with going for his second consecutive championship no matter how he had to accomplish that.

Ned Jarrett took the lead on the green and held it for 13 laps before Fred Lorenzen moved in front for the first time on lap 14. Freddie would stay in front until lap 188 when he brushed the concrete wall and put a fender against the tire. He had to pit to have the fender pulled out and lost the lead to Richard Petty. Petty would stay on the point until lap 223 when Lorezen would pass for the lead and would lead the rest of the way. Fred led 452 of the 500 laps and would win with just over a one lap lead. The Lorenzen fans were ecstatic. After the Victory Lane ceremonies, Fred spent over four hours signing autographs for the fans.

Top five finishers were:

1. Fred Lorenzen, LaFayette Ford, winning $2,550.00**

2, Richard Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $1,425.00

3. Jim Paschal, Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $1,150.00

4. David Pearson, Cotton Owens Dodge, winning $950.00

5. Billy Wade,Cotton Owens Dodge, winning $800.00

** With his victory at Asheville-Weaverville, Lorenzen's race winnings for the year now reached $92,220.00, an all time record for NASCAR drivers at the time.

Sixth through tenth were Jack Smith, Buck Baker, Joe Weatherly, Ned Jarrett and Buddy Baker.

Wendell Scott came home 11th, Reb Wickersham 12th, Worth McMillon 13th, Cale Yarborough 14th, Elmo Langley 15th and Roy Mayne 16th. Major Melton, Bobby Isaac, Tommy Irwin, Curtis Crider and G. C. Spencer would finished 17th through 21st. Junion Johnson was 22nd, Jimmy Pardue 25th and Possum Jones was credited with 27th and last position after parking his Pontiac on lap 8 with a fuel leak.

Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Ya never know where that road will lead to?

Stock Car Racing History

Awesome story Jim. I sometimes wander off the beaten path but I've never made a discovery like that one!

Other August 10 memories

Stock Car Racing History

Chase, Dave, it's great to have all these additional memories for August 10th added. The photos are awesome. I do so enjoy seeing photographs from those days of my youth. Kinda puts a little extra bounce in my step.

Racing History Minute - August 10, 1968

Stock Car Racing History

There were actually several options from which to choose for the History Minute for August 10th, but I chose to go to Bowman Gray Stadium for the race there in 1968. Bowman Gray has been in the news quite a bit lately and with the recent approval by the N.C. Legislature to sell the property to a University, I thought I would use this opportunity to throw out a memory of a good race.

The event, 62.5 miles on the quarter mile paved track was known as the "Myers Brothers Memorial". Many younger fans of today may not recognize the names associated with this memorial, and that is sad. But most will recognize the names, Randy Myers and "Chocolate" Myers for their involvement in racing. Each is a son of one of the Myers brothers from whom the event was named. Do a little research on the names Bobby Myers and Billy Myers to see what they contributed to the sport and what a part of the heritage they are.

A total of 20 cars arrived at the track to qualify for the event. Richard Petty put his Plymouth on the pole with David Pearson starting second in his Holman-Moody Ford. Bobby Isaac would start third, James Hylton fourth, and Bobby Allison fifth. This was the 75th time in his career that Richard Petty would start from the pole.

Petty took the lead at the drop of the green flag and would hold on to the lead, although usually by a couple car lengths or less, for the first 139 laps of the 250 scheduled laps. It was on lap 139 when Richard was running behind Bobby Allison to put the Hueytown, Alabama driver a lap down, that Bobby's Chevrolet blew it's engine putting Bobby into the wall. In an effort to miss the Allison car, Richard brushed against the wall just enough to allow Pearson, who was five car lengths behind at the time, to take the point. Pearson would lead to the checked flag.

There were a total of five caution flags for a total of 38 laps. keeping the average speed to 42.940 mph for Pearson. At the flag, Pearson had a 3.0 second lead on Petty. Bobby Isaac, finishing third, left the track trailing Pearson by only 9 points in the race for the Championship.

Top five finishers were:

1. David Pearson, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $1,000.00

2. Richard Petty, Petty Enterprises Plymouth, winning $850.00

3. Bobby Isaac, K&K Insurance Dodge, winning $400.00

4. James Hylton, Hylton Engineering Dodge, winning $300.00

5. Elmo Langley, Langley-Woodfield Ford, winning $275.00

Sixth through tenth were Clyde Lynn, John Sears, Wendell Scott, Jabe Thomas and Bill Seifert. Roy Tyner would finish 11th, Ed Negre 12th, Wayne Smith 13th, Bobby Allison 14th and Neil Castles 15th. The remaining five finishers, in order, were J.D. McDuffie, Paul Dean Holt, Ben Arnold, Earl Brooks, and Henley Gray.

Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

worth McMillion 1965 poniac 83

Stock Car Racing History

Those are some great pictures, Ray, and certainly bring back a lot of memories. No plans to restore that one, I guess? Shame. Oh, and by the way, 83 is MY number!!!! lol

Racing HIstory Minute - August 9, 1959

Stock Car Racing History

Chase, Dave, Russ and Robert, thank you all for adding so much to this History Minute! Those articles, pictures and comments are awesome. You guys are really helping this series become monumental in the history department. I am loving this.

Racing HIstory Minute - August 9, 1959

Stock Car Racing History

When NASCAR allowed thehardtops and convertibles to race together in the same event, such events were designated as "Sweepstakes" race. Such was the event that took place on this date in 1959 at the half-mile paved track known as The Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, TN. At least 16 convertibles were entered int he 150 mile event with at least one entry not designated as either a convertible or hardtop and that would be the Ford Thunderbird entry of Gerald Duke, who would end up in 17th place, some 51 laps behind the winner.

Rex White started on the pole in a Grand National (which designates the hardtops) and Joe Lee Johnson would start his convertible Chevy on the outside pole. Lee Petty started third in his GN Plymouth, Larry Frank fourth in a convertible Chevy and Bud Crothres fifth in a Chevy Convertible.

Rex White took the lead on the green and led more than half the race before a broken rear end gear relegated him to a 24th place finish. Because the leader was paid "lap money" for leading, Rex took home a total of $510.00 which was just slightly less than the fifth place finisher.Joe Lee Johnson would win the event in his convertible and he did, in fact, lead a sweep of the top three places by convertibles. This was the first major event win for Johnson. He would become the winner of the first World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1960 to secure his place in racing history.

A local driver from the Nashville area Bob Reuther, filled in for an absent Marvin Porter and finished ninth in a Ford. If you don't recognize the name, Bob was, at the time, holder of the all time qualifying record on the Daytona Beach sands at 150.250 mph set in 1957 driving a modified 1938 Plymouth.

Top five finishers were:

1. Joe Lee Johnson, Honest Charley Chevrolet Convertible, winning $2,912.00

2. Larry Frank, Carolina Plating Chevrolet Convertible, winning $1,453.00

3. Elmo Langley, Ratus Waters Buick Convertible, winning $1,125.00

4. Lee Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth GN, winning $900.00

5. Tommy Irwin, T-Bird Convertible, winning $750.00

Sixth through tenth place finishers were Cotton Owens, Joe Weatherly, Gene White, Bob Reuther, and Bud Crothers. Buck Baker would finish 11th, G.C. Spencer 12th, Herman Beam 15th, L.D. Austin 16th, and Bob Welborn 19th. Brownie King finished 25th, Tom Pistone 27th and Tiny Lund 29th.

Rookie drivers, Richard Petty and Buddy Baker, both second generation drivers, both driving convertibles, were credited with 29th and and 30th positons, respectively, as Baker parked his Chevy Convertible on lap 10 with engine problems and Petty followed on lap 12 when his Plymouth Convertible developed engine problems.

Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Racing History Minute - August 8, 1968

Stock Car Racing History

Well Happy Birthday Patsy!!!! I hope it has been an awesome day for you!

Racing History Minute - August 8, 1968

Stock Car Racing History

OMG!!!!!! TMC Chase is now reading my mind!!!! Careful, Chase, you may stumble upon classified information which may result in great physical harm. lol. Thanks, Buddy. You do an awesome job. Oh, and as for "Sandlapper", that is the South Carolina equivalent of North Carolina "Tarheels" and Tennessee "Volunteers". Once upon a time I knew why we got that nickname, but the answer escapes me this morning. I would suppose it has to do with all the sand in the state.