Forum Activity for @tim-leeming

My Lunch with Bobby Allison and our Conversation About Short Track Racing

Stock Car Racing History

Awesome, Patrick! Great interview.

Have you seen this picture before? Lexington's Lakeview Speedway 1948

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

I have not seen that picture before but it is a great shot to add to our archives! Thank you.

I'm excited!

Stock Car Racing History

Andy, that is awesome!!!! I started recording races on VHS in 1987. Recorded almost all of them. Some of the tapes are still around but I would have no idea how to convert them to DVD. Great job and I know you will enjoy watching those. Probably prefer watching those to some of the races today.

SAVANNAH GT 200 July 11, 1969

Stock Car Racing History

I really liked that Savannah track. I would like to have seen that charge Charlie Blanton made on the first lap to come from 14th to lead 44 laps. That was a great series and I have much remorse that I didn't attend more of the races than I did. Thanks for the report, Dennis.

Happy 7-Eleven Day.... FREE Slurpees!!!

General

I have been in consultation with my attorney all morning. After explaining what happened to him, and him checking out Dave Fulton, it has been determined that we will use the "insanity defense". It is my attorney's opinion that anyone association with Dave suffers some form of mental insanity and it is his feeling this will be an open and shut case before the court. I expect to walk away free and clear with no record of this arrest. My attorney has already prepared his closing statement: "If he didn't sip, you must acquit". Seeing as how I only got two sips of the Slurpee, that doesn't count.

I appreciate all of my "friends" stepping in to defend me, Billy and Bill especially. It is a good thing I do not need character witnesses. We may be working out a plea deal as well so there will be no need for court. My attorney says the Judge may be willing to overlook this indiscretion if Truett Cathy with Chick-Fil-A will offer the court free chicken sandwiches for a year. When contacted, all Cathy would say is "cheep, cheep" so I don't have much faith in that option.

Happy 7-Eleven Day.... FREE Slurpees!!!

General

Not one bit of my evening was funny!!!! Never been in jail before. They wouldn't even allow me ONE phone call as the law requires. When they read me my rights they did NOT mention to right to free Slurpees. That's where I went wrong. Never again will I believe Dave Fulton except when it comes to his perception of "Famous".

Happy 7-Eleven Day.... FREE Slurpees!!!

General

I finally located a 7-11 store yesterday about 20 miles from me. On the way, I had to pass the Krispy Kreme shop. Stopped there and bought my 2 dozen. Drove on, eating doughnuts and getting my steering wheel all sticky. I had eaten 18 of those monster sugar boosters by the time I got to 7-11. I went in and asked for my free Slurpee. The counter-worker, obviously just off the plane from Pakistan, had a difficult time understanding me so I went around to the Slurpee machine to draw my own. The little guy went nutso and called the cops. Cops arrived and I mentioned the free Slurpee day I had been told about but they knew nothing about it so asked me to come from behind the counter. With an attempt to smooth things over with the cops, Imentioned there were a half dozen doughnuts in my car, but that did nothing to amuse them. After a great deal of discussion and the cops radioing headquarters to check on the free Slurpee day issue, they agreed to let me go. On the way out of the door I mentioned that I was going to complain to Dave Fulton about this. The cop asked me "who?". I said Dave Fulton. That did it. Spent the night in jail just by mentioning Dave Fulton's name. To top all that, I never got but two sips of the Slurpee and my last six doughnuts disappeared.

Thanks a lot Dave.

Happy 7-Eleven Day.... FREE Slurpees!!!

General

Free, huh? I may be able to afford that. Now all I need do is find a 7-11.

Bill, so you have moved already? Good for you! I'm rehearsing my singing so your birthday this year with either be very memorable or totally tragic!!!!

Dave, it is so great to have you posting again. If I can find a 7-11 I'm going to follow Bill's lead and mention your name.

Aric, Trent, and The King, and the 43

Current NASCAR

Chase, I sort of held off in writing about the win as well. But after reading post after post after post on other sites, I felt I owed it to Richard, Trent and Aric to say something. Facebook was raging with other fans criticizing the race shortened win. The Yahoo site was also very negative. The comments to the Press Conference Video got downright nasty.

I realize RPM is merely a name being used by the huge corporate money man that put up the dollars to make it happen, but that money man did that BECAUSE Richard is who he is, in my opinion. I know you and I are on the same page as Petty fans and that is the way it is. Having said that, everyone needs to remember that Richard is 77 years old and is still at the race track almost every weekend. His dedication to the sport, and to the team, is tremendous.

So, while I look back at the glorious past of Petty Enterprises, I am hopeful that the future of Richard Petty Motorsports has been ignited. As for Trent, I look at it this way. For several years now, the 43 would run pretty good and gain positions on the track only to lose 10 or 12 positions on pit stops and on green flag stops those were huge losses. Trent has turned that around. Pit stops are getting better every race.

Thanks for the comment to my post.

Aric, Trent, and The King, and the 43

Current NASCAR

Like the Lion on television advertising the grocery store, I want to get my 2 cents worth in the discussion about the win of the number 43 Ford in Daytona last weekend. Let me begin by saying, as you all know, that I have been a fan of Richard Petty since his very first race. I still watch almost every race, missing only those when a grandson is involved in an event that conflicts with the race. I still pull for the 43 and look for it on the track all the time. As I have recently said, when Richard retired it sort of took the wind out of my sails as far as a favorite driver, even in the 43.

Frankly, what I knew about Aric Almirola before Sunday was very little, other than the drove for RPM. I did know enough about him that I could pull for him but it seemed as though he didn't have the equipment to go to the front. As for Trent Owens, I have watched him in Nationwide and knew he was a darn fine crew chief. His step-dad, Barry Dodson, spoke very highly of Trent's ability and considering Barry's record in racing, that spoke volumes.

Throughout this 2014 season, Aric, Trent, and the 43 had some really good runs but misfortune seemed to follow them. That is until Sunday. Sure, the race was called because of rain, but all the naysayers spouting forth the negative statements that it was the rain that "gave" the win to the Petty Organization, think of this; every crew and driver in the track knew the rain was coming and they were all racing to the sure to come red flag as if it were the checkers. It did, in fact, turn into the checkers for sure. Still, when the red was displayed, it was Aric and the 43 out front. I want all these naysayers to go through this history of NASCAR racing and see how many races were called because of rain and it may just be that you'll find one of your favorites won a race somewhere down the line in a rain shortened race. Right, Matt Kenseth?

But this is only one win. Accepted, and we know that. I feel bad for Aric in a way that HIS win seemed to be overshadowed by the fact that it was 30 years ago the King won his 200th race at the same track. Many of the questions in the post race interview were along those lines. It is good to remember the history and honor it, as I continue to say over and over, but this was Aric and Trent's day. Richard said it best in the post race interview (which, by the way you can watch on YouTube). He said that the win 30 years ago is history. The win Sunday is NOW and, he says, for Richard Petty Motorsports, the future. There is much made of the fact that Richard never gave up on the team and with all he has been through the past six or seven years, no words could ring louder. But this is only ONE win.

Where Aric and Trent and the 43 will go from here remains to be seen, of course. But I am choosing to believe that the 43 is about to return to winning ways. Not quite the 1967 season of the King, but to winning again more than ONCE. Aric can drive, Trent can really handle the pits, and The King believes in the team.

So, to Aric, Trent, and Richard, thanks for hanging in there. I still can't find the words to describe how I felt Sunday when the race was called, but the "Yahoo" from my recliner could have been heard to at least Savannah. I can only imagine what I may have done if it had come down to a last lap fight to the checkered flag and Aric winning, but in reality, he DID win on the last lap dash to the line. Made an old man feel really good. Thank you guys.

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM