May 22 - Anniversary of two Petty Enterprises Wins
Stock Car Racing History
Oh how I remember those days Chase. Thanks for helping me to remember how old I am.
Forum Activity for @tim-leeming
Stock Car Racing History
Racing History Minute - May 22, 1955
Stock Car Racing History
The year, 1955, we a most interesting year in NASCAR Grand National (now Cup) racing, thanks to the Carl Kiekhaefer Chrysler teams and the addition of a serious challenge by Chevrolets in the stock car field. That season had a good share of really good races with larger than the then average field of cars. On this date in 1955, it was Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway playing host to the drivers for a 100 mile event on the half mile dirt track.
Extremely heavy rains totally washed out any attempt to qualify so starting positions were determined by "draw". Twenty-eight cars entered the drawing and the two Kiekhaefer entries, one driven by Fonty Flock, and the other by Tim Flock. Fonty drew 10th position and Tim drew 22nd. Some of the other stars didn't have much luck of the draw as Lee Petty drew 20th and Junior Johnson 25th. Arden Mounts in a Hudson drew the pole.
To say the track was "muddy" when the green flag fell would be a huge understatement of fact. As it were, the cars took the green flag and slowly and cautiously negotiated an ice slick track into turn one. It was at that point that Jim Paschal, who had started fourth, took the chance and passed for the lead. He would lead the first 58 laps before Jim Rathman moved out front. On lap 67 Paschal threw his Oldsmobile into a broadsliding pass on the outside of Rathman to regain the lead. On lap 78, Tim Flock, who had been steadily and cautiously working his way through the field, took the lead he would hold the rest of the way.
In the latter laps, the track was so rutted and choppy that it was an adventure to just complete a lap. Flying mud clogged radiators and fuel lines forcing many drivers to fall out. In fact, only 13 or the 28 starters finished.
Top five finishers were:
1. Tim Flock, Mercury Outboard Chrysler, winning $1,000.00
2. Fonty Flock, Mercury Outboard Chrysler, wining $650.00
3. Lee Petty, Petty Engineering Chrysler, winning $450.00
4. Jim Paschal, Helzafire Oldsmobile, winning $300.00
5. Junior Johnson, B&L Motors Oldsmobile, winning $200.00
Sixth through tenth, in order, were Bob Welborn, Gene Simpson, Elmo Langley, Volney Shultz and George Parrish. Arden Mounts, who had started on the pole, finished 15th. Buck Baker was 17th, Henry Ford was 19th in a Chrysler so we can safely assume this was NOT the Henry Ford now famous for the blue oval racers. Dick Rathman was 24th, Sonny Hutchins 26th and Jimmy Lewallen was 28th after falling out on lap three which was attributed to "mud" in the official records.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
Racing History Minute - May 21, 1971
Stock Car Racing History
In addition to a history minute today, we will also take a look into the Richard Petty Crystal Ball of the day as what he had to say when this race was over is quite accurate.
On this date in 1971, seventeen cars showed up at the .333 mile paved track in Asheville, NC then known as New Asheville Speedway. The drivers were to race 100 miles/300 laps . Things got off to a contenious start on that day as it became known that promoter, George Ledford had paid Petty, the only factory backed driver in the field, $2,000.00 appearance money. Many of the "independent" drivers went to Ledford asking for lesser amounts for their appearance but Ledford flatly refused to pay anyone else.
Not suprisingly, Petty put his Plymouth on the pole, with Elmo Langley qualifying second. Cecil Gordon, Jabe Thomas and Bill Champion would fill out the top five qualifiers. The lead changed hands five times between Petty and Langley before Petty took the lead for good on lap 206 and finished four laps ahead of second place Langley.
Attendance for the race is listed as 4,500.00 Unknown to the paying public as they entered the gate, was the plan of some of the independents to stage a protest over the money paid to Petty and the refusal of the promoter to pay others to race. On lap one, James Hylton and Neil Castles pulled into the pits for good. Hylton was second in the points to Petty at the time. Soon after, John Sears, Bill Shirey, Frank Warren, Earl Brooks and Dick May were out of the race and the official run down gives their reason for falling out as "quit". With the normal attrition, there were only five cars left on track by lap 155 so that left little competition for the Petty factory backed Plymouth.
Top five finishers were:
1.Richard Petty, Petty Enterprises Plymouth, winning $1,500.00
2. Elmo Langley, Langley Mercury, winning $900.00
3. Cecil Gordon, Gordon Mercury, winning $500.00
4. Jabe Thomas, Don Robertson Plymouth, winning $350.00
5. Bill Champion, Champion Ford, winning $325.00
Credited with sixth through seventeenth, although not on track at the end of the race, in order, were Dick May, J.D. McDuffie, Earl Brooks, Frank Warren, Bill Shirey, John Sears, Benny Parsons, Walter Ballard, Wendell Scott, Ed Negre, Neil Castles, and James Hylton.
After the race, Richard is quoted as saying "I think Grand National Racing will work itself out of short track racing into nothing but a large track circuit." Continuing, Petty said "I think for it to be what it started out to be - the very best in racing - then NASCAR is going to have to work up a circuit with 25 races or something like that". (many thanks to Greg Fielden's Forty Years of Stock Car Racing, Volume Three, for that quote).
The end of this race is one of the few in which the winner was booed and jeered as fans felt they had been ripped off by the promoter. A week later, Mr. Ledford determine it was in his best interest not to continue promoting races at the track. He resigned.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
1968 Daytona pre-race
Current NASCAR
You're right, Andy. It's 1968. Richard is in the Plymouth with the vinyl top. He was in a Ford in 1969.
Thanks for adding the video. Awesome to see those fine race cars again.
Bruton Says 70% Sure He'll Move Fall Charlotte Race to Las Vegas
Current NASCAR
Go ahead Bruton! Do whatever you want. I simply do NOT care anymore. You ruined Atlanta, you've destroyed Rockingham and Wilkesboro. Andy brought Rockingham back so thanks to him we can still see races there. I was at the first race ever run at Charlotte in June, 1960. I was there for almost all the races until you went crazy with ticket prices and all the other ways you found to bleed race fans. Take your October date. Take your May Date. We have already determined the All-Star Race is a dead horse. Go put on a few more pounds why don't you?
Bruton Says 70% Sure He'll Move Fall Charlotte Race to Las Vegas
Current NASCAR
And I'm right there with you Robert. Wow, 100% feels good, huh?
Bruton Says 70% Sure He'll Move Fall Charlotte Race to Las Vegas
Current NASCAR
Jay, I would think that is a strong possibility. Bruton sees Atlanta as a liability, I fear, and who knows what he'll do with it. I hope not, but Bruton is not known for anything much more than "money grabbing".
Sink or swim.
Stock Car Racing History
Some good points raised here, especially those who vote to get rid of it all together. It was fun the first few years, but it has become so contrived and fake that it is no more fun. I do watch, because I'm addicted to seeing fast cars chase each other, but I really don't care who wins or finishes second or whatever.
Racing History Minute - May 20, 1979
Stock Car Racing History
Today, we return to Dover Downs International Speedway for a 500 mile event on the one mile paved track. The field was open to 36 qualifiers, but only 31 cars showed up to race.
Darrell Waltrip, in the DiGard Chevrolet qualified on the pole with Buddy Baker in the Harry Ranier Chevrolet qualifying second. Darrell took the lead at the start but was blown away by a hard charging Buddy Baker on lap 25. Buddy would lead for 30 laps then yield to Cale Yarborough. There would be 27 lead changes during the race between between 9 drivers. In addition to Buddy, Darrell, and Cale, Ricky Rudd, J.D. McDuffie, Joe Milliken, Bobby Allison, and Neil Bonnett would all have their turns out front.
Lap two of the event saw a three car crash involving Richard Petty, Jimmy Means and Richard Childress which eliminated all three cars. Childress was transported to a local hospital for observation but was released after it was determined he was fine.
The sixth and final caution flag came with 8 laps to go when Ricky Rudd blew a tire right in front of J.D. McDuffie, who was running 9th at the time, and J.D. hit the wall to avoidRudd . At the time, Cale Yarborough was in front by 10.6 seconds with only Neil Bonnett on the lead lap with him. Neil was driving for the Wood Brothers who called their driver in for four fresh tires. Cale stayed out. When the green waved again, the new tires proved just what Neil needed to finish two car lengths ahead of a disgruntled Cale Yarborough. Neil said afterwards that he "just did what the Wood Brothers told him" and credited that decision for his win.
This is the race in which D.W. blew an engine in his Chevy and his crew changed the engine in 18 minutes and returned him to the track where he would finish 18th, only 38 laps behind on a one mile track. That is still impressive today but NASCAR no longer allows such engine changes. Thanks to D.W.'s problems, Bobby Allison came out of Dover with a 30 point lead in the Winston Cup Standings.
Top five finishers were:
1. Neil Bonnett, Wood Brothers Mercury, winning $17,750.00
2. Cale Yarborough, Junior Johnson Chevrolet, winning $14,800.00
3. Buddy Baker, Harry Ranier Chevrolet, winning $10,650.00
4. Bobby Allison, Bud Moore Ford, winning $8,100.00
5. Dale Earnhardt, Rod Osterlund Chevrolet, winning $7,750.00
Sixth through tenth were, Terry Labonte, Benny Parson, Joe Millikan, Lennie Pond and Buddy Arrington. D.K.Ulrich finished 12th, J.D. McDuffie 13th, Ricky Rudd 14th, Ronnie Thomas 16th, James Hylton 17th, Harry Gant 25th, Joey Arrington 26th, Elmo Langley 28th, Richard Childress 29th, Richard Petty 30th and Jimmy Means 31st.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
Racestoppers
General
How well I remember the Racestoppers and what wonderful ladies they were. Doshia, it is great to have you here on RacersReunion and I hope you'l be really active on the site. You have personal knowledge of a lot of history here and I hope you will share with us.