Racing History Minute - May 27, 1956, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1973, 1979, 1974, 1990
Stock Car Racing History
When I began to prepare the History Minute for today, I was hoping to find a special race for this special day. Going through all my reference books from Greg Fielden and some other sources I use, I noted there have only been EIGHT races run on this date in the Grand National Division and/or the Convertible Division of NASCAR between inception in 1949 and 1993. I choose the year 1993 to cut off the "History Minutes" as that was twenty years ago and is getting pretty current in the overall scheme of this project.
As I was debating which of the races to outline for today, I was reminded what a special day is this last Monday of May, 2013, and the significance of the designation of "Memorial Day". I decided I'll report just the finishers of the races held on this date and then make my special comments on Memorial Day in my life. For those readers who have written me in the past expressing the opinion that my personal recollections and comments are not warranted in a History Minute, live with it because that's what you're going to get today.
The first race on this date was in 1956 at the .75 mile dirt track in Charlotte, NC. It was won by Speedy Thompson in a Carl Kiekhaefer Chrysler. Second went to Junior Johnson in a Kiekhaefer Dodge, third to Buck Baker in another Kiekhaefer Chrysler.
On this date in 1961, it was a 100 mile race at Ascot Speedway in Los Angeles, CA, that saw Eddie Pagan drive a Ford to a win over second place Don Noel in another Ford. Finishing in 11th place was Ford driving Bill Clinton. I don't believe this was the same Bill Clinton later known as "Slick Willie", but it did catch my attention.
1962 saw the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway fall on this date. Nelson Stacy took the win in a Ford with Joe Weatherly in a Pontiac second. Fred Lorenzen finished third, Richard Petty fourth, and Larry Frank fifth.
1965, the boys raced on a half-mile dirt track known as The Cleveland County Fairgrounds Speedway in Shelby, NC. Ned Jarrett won that one with Lil Bud Moore in second, and Dick Hutcherson third.
In 1973, the race was in Charlotte for the 600. Buddy Baker won, David Pearson was second, Cale Yarborough third, Bobby Isaac fourth and Benny Parsons fifth. After the race Buddy Baker admitted to "stroking" for this race instead of running his usual flat out, go or blow, scenario.
We were back at the 600 in 1979 on thisdate. Darrell Waltrip took the win followed by Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough and Benny Parsons.
It was the 600 at Charlotte again in 1984 and this time Bobby Allison would prevail. Dale Earnhardt took second, Ron Bouchard third, Harry Gant fourth, and Geoff Bodine fifth.
Our last visit to a race day on this date will be the 1990 World 600. Rusty Wallace would win that day followed by Bobby Allison, Mark Martin, Michael Waltrip and Ernie Irvan.
This year, 2013, our country recognizes Memorial Day. I won't get into the historic records of how this day came to be observed as I am sure most of you know and everyone is sure to hear how it came about, first known as Decoration Day. Historically, however, I do want to take a minute to mention that "Memorial Day" is the day to honor those men and women who gave their all, their lives, for the price of freedom we all enjoy. While it is a good thing to honor those living service men and women of today, both currently serving, or who have previously served, and to recognize those individuals as was done at the 600 last night, and it is a good thing to thank those in uniform any time you encounter them, Veterans' Day in November is set aside to honor those individuals specifically.
Memorial Day , in my opinion, is for us to remember and honor all those who died in defense and pursuit of freedom from 1776 through this very day, although hopefully no American will die in battle today. We put flags on the graves in some places, parades are held in some places and even church services may be a part of the day for some. I am distressed that some see this as nothing more than a day for shopping "Memorial Day sales". I am also amazed as, each year, more and more businesses remain open and schools are in session in some areas. But then I stop to think that it is because of Memorial Day that folks are free to do those things.
Memorial Day should be a day for all of us to focus on such events as Bunker Hill, Yorktown, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, San Juan Hill, the trenches in France, Anzio, Normandy, Bataan, Iwo Jima, Inchon, DaNang, "Hamburger Hill", and all those dusty villages in the middle East for the past decade. Those are infamous for the men who died there in defense of our freedoms. I'm not a big fan of the popular saying "All gave some, some gave all" because I've seen too many who have never given a thing, but I also have known many who gave ALL.
The very existance of NASCAR, I think, is somewhat connected to World War II. It was less than three years after the big war that the first Strickly Stock race was run in Charlotte, NC, and it was within weeks of VJ Day that the modifieds returned to running all over the country. War was over and racing was back.
I have been privileged to hear, first hand, the recollections of war from Bud Moore and Nelson Stacy, both serving in Europe. Bud was hitting the beach on D-Day and Nelson was handling a tank under General George S. Patton. I have read the stories of Smokey Yunick and Harry Hyde, but there are many more with which I am not familiar who were serving our country in the war who were later racing, first on the sands of Daytona Beach and then on to the super speedways that would come later. These men learned, in war, that victory was possible, even against sometimes seemingly insurmountable odds.
So, as you go about your day today, May 27, 2013, pause a time or two to remember why there is a Memorial Day. It is not a day for your convenience or mine, per se, but a day to remember why we are allowed to enjoy our pursuits of happiness. This is a Racing History Minute that involves much more than the pursuit of the car in the lead.
God bless America and each and every one who may read this History Minute.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
