Have a Safe Memorial Day Weekend
General
Thanks for the thoughts, Dave. Back at you double. And I truly do remember those who gave their lives for our freedom. Memorial Day and Veterans Day are two days I observe in reverence. God bless America.
Forum Activity for @tim-leeming
General
May 24, 1964: Paschal's overlooked World 600 win
Stock Car Racing History
Awesome Post Chase. Thanks for including my memories. Dave, I was 11 when I got Richard's first autograph. He says it was the first autograph he signed as a driver. I have it insured for 5 million.
Racing History Minute - May 24, 1959
Stock Car Racing History
Today, we go to Nashville, TN and the half mile paved track at the Nashville Fairgrounds. Today we will run 100 miles on that half mile track withOUT a caution flag. Today, we will talk about a race in 1959 in which every car finished, although the last place finisher was 40 laps behind the winner.
Twelve cars showed up to race in Nashville on this date in 1959. Rex White would start his Chevy on the pole with Lee Petty, in a Plymouth, to his outside. Lee took the lead on the green flag and lead the first 37 laps before Tommy Irwin would take over for for 110 laps. On lap 149, Rex would take the point for the first time since the start of the event but on lap 184 of the 200 laps, Junior Johnson moved out front. With four laps to go, Rex passed Junior as Junior's car sputtered for lack of fuel. He and Rex had both tried to make the distance without a pit stop but Rex had to come in on lap 183 for just a "splash of gas" but was able to take advantage of Junior's lack of fuel.
At the time, it was the first time in the almost TEN year history of the Grand National Division that every car starting the event, finished the event. There were no mechanical malfunctions to drop a competitor out, nor were there any cautions.
All twelve finishers were:
1. Rex White, White Chevrolet, winning $900.00
2. Junior Johnson, Paul Spaulding Ford, winning $525.00
3. Tommy Irwin, Irwin Thunderbird, winning $350.00 (one lap down)
4. Buck Baker, Baker Chevrolet, winning $250.00 (two laps down)
5. Joe Lee Johnson, Honest Charley Chevrolet, winning $225.00 (two laps down)
6. Lee Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $200.00 (four laps down)
7. Charley Griffith, Red Bank Pontiac, winning $165.00 (seven laps down)
8. Cotton Owens, W. H. Watson Pontiac, winning $150.00 (seven laps down)
9. Bob Burdick, Roy Burdick Thunderbird, winning $140.00 (eight laps down)
10. Herman Beam, Beam Chevrolet, winning $130.00 ( twenty-one laps down)
11. G.C. Spencer, Chevrolet, winning $125.00 (twenty-nine laps down)
12.Tommy Thompson, Chevrolet, winning $110.00 (forty laps down)
Records say over 9,600 fans attended the event and there is no report of disappointment for the lack of cars. This was Rex White's third Grand National win of his career and it had been almost a year since his previous victory.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
Rick Hendrick wealthy?
Current NASCAR
Mr. Gruner, very well spoken. Rick has paid dearly for all he has. I have no way to equate figures such as you mention, but then I really don't need to. Thanks for sharing this.
DEFINITION OF FLAT OUT
Current NASCAR
Yep, Denny must have had that Jap Trap rocking. Guess rice is a better fuel than Sunoco.
Racing History Minute - May 23, 1965
Stock Car Racing History
I suppose I picked this particular event for a History Minute for two reasons:
1. The World 600 comes up this weekend, and
2. This involves Fred Lorenzen, who was overlooked for the NASCAR Hall of Fame this year.
The 1965 season was the year of the boycott by the Chrysler Teams after NASCAR outlawed the potent Hemi engine which had been successful on the superspeedways the previous year. Fords ruled and General Motors was not "officially" involved in the sport while Ford was in it to the limit.
Forty-four cars started the 1965 World 600 with "Fearless" Freddie capturing the pole with a speed of 145.268 mph. You have to go all the way back to 13th starting spot to find the first non Ford/Mercury starter. Buck Baker qualified a Chevrolet in 13th.
The race got off to a fast start with Fred leading laps 1-16 before Junior Johnson took over to lead for 7 laps. Then Panch took over. Six drivers would share the lead with a total of 23 lead changes during the race with Lorenzen consistently in front or very near the front. He fought off serious challenges from Darel Dieringer, Panch and Johnson. Although Lorenzen led for 257 of the 400 laps, he was in a side by side duel with Dieringer for several laps which kept the crowd of 50,000 on its collective feet.
Earl Balmer, referred to at the time as an "upstart" driver turned out to be the late race nemesis of Lorenzen. Balmer had led in the early going and was running every bit as fast as the white 28. On lap 246, Balmer brought his Bud Moore Mercury to the pits with a broken wheel. He returned to the track four laps down but began to run the fastest laps of the day. With his speed, and caution flags at just the appropriate times, Balmer made up the four laps and was ready to race Fred for the win. With seven laps remaining, Balmer made his move to pass Lorenzen and would almost assuredly have done so, but a lapped car didn't get out of the way fast enough forcing Balmer to brush the wall (guard rails in those days) and it slowed him enough that it allowed Lorenzen to win. Lorenzen and Balmer were the only two cars on the lead lap at the end.
An interesting note to this race was the entry of a Ray Fox prepared Chevrolet with LeeRoy Yarbrough as the driver. The car could not seem to get through NASCAR tech inspection, although such inspections back in those days were far less intensive than those of today. Charlotte Motor Speedway officials, A.C. Goines and Richard Howard met privately with Big Bill France and "convinced" him that the Chevy needed to be in that race. Surprisingly, after the meeting, the Chevy passed inspection and was placed in the field in 44th and final starting position. No one seems to know, or at least won't tell, what convinced Big Bill to "pass" the 396 Cubic Inch Chevy to run, but logically, it was all Big Bill (or bills). The car blew an engine on lap 309 and was credited with 14th finishing position.
Top five finishers were:
1. Fred Lorenzen, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $27,270.00
2. Earl Balmer, Bud Moore Mercury, winning $10,900.00
3. Dick Hutcherson, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $6,895.00
4. Buddy Baker, Baker Dodge, winning $4,250.00
5. Pedro Rodriguez, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $3,425.00
Sixth was Ned Setzler. Seventh was Paul Lewis in the Lewis 1964 Ford. I call special attention to Paul as it is due to him that we have this RacersReunion site to share memories and history. Paul and his wife, Linda, are a huge part of this site and the events in which we participate. Eighth was Donald Tucker.Larry Hess was 9th and Neil Castles 10th.
So, if you watch, or attend, the 600 this weekend, remember these guys who pioneered the sport on short tracks, dirt tacks, and the then emerging superspeedways like Charlotte. When you see all the glitz and glamour that is Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend, remember that once upon a time the track was surrounded by metal guard rails, had much less seating capacity and the infield was mostly dusty and dirty. NASCAR has come a long way but needs to always remember from where it came and who helped it climb that ladder.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
May 23, 1954 - Lee Petty Soaks up Sharon
Stock Car Racing History
Nice post Chase. You know, as we go back through this history of this sport, they were racing all over the country "back in the day" and even in Canada. I've heard Richard tell the stories of the long road trips and sleeping on the floor in a motel room here and there. How far they've come.
Well, another confusing selection to NASCAR HOF
Current NASCAR
As anticipated, I don't agree with all of the selections but, as Dave said, I'm not asked to nominate or vote. I do know that I called Frances Flock last night to congratulate her and the sound of the joy in her voice was worth billions. I'm so happy for her and for Tim.
Tiny Lund Won BOTH NASCAR Halves 42 Years Ago!
Stock Car Racing History
Wow Dave! This is awesome. I had forgotten that race completely and with all the close association I had with Tiny, I am surprised that slipped my mind. Thank you for finding it and sharing. Oh, and apparently I am no better at math than the FOX/Speed staff but I've always known I was terrible in math.
Warren Prout article
Stock Car Racing History
That is both informative and interesting. Thanks for your research and finding that Chase.