@bobby-williamson16 years ago
History seems to confer that Richard Brickhouse was the ultimate looser in the inaugural Talladega 500 debacle of 1969. Brickhouse, of course, resigned his PDA membership, broke the picket line, and won that controversial event.In Brickhouse's defense, Ronnie Housholder, then Chrysler racing CEO, offered him the seat in the Ray Nichels/Charlie Glotzbach #99 Daytona Charge, abandoned by Glotzbach, in his own show of PDA support. There was a lot at stake, the debut of the Dodge Daytona, the debut of the speedway, and the assembled throng waiting for the 'race of the century'.Big Bill, of course, convinced the Grand Touring division to race in the '500' and any Grand National teams/drivers that he could muster. This should have been a feather in Brickhouse's cap, and the following year, he was associated with the Bill Ellis Plymouth-backed team, as shown here. An interesting side-bar to this story: another lesser-known driver/owner that remained and raced: Richard Childress.For unknown reasons, France seemed to never forget either one, Childress or Brickhouse. One went to the penthouse, the other would wind up in racing's outhouse. Brickhouse, of course, un-endeared himself to Richard Petty and his up-start driver's union, but it would eventually fizzle as well. Lot of scenes were playing out at Talladega, that long ago weekend, that would shape racing for years.Richard Brickhouse returned to the Wilmington area of eastern North Carolina. In the late 1970's, on his own farm, he would build/operate the dirt 'Pender County Speedway', ultimately folding in the early 1980's.
History seems to confer that Richard Brickhouse was the ultimate looser in the inaugural Talladega 500 debacle of 1969. Brickhouse, of course, resigned his PDA membership, broke the picket line, and won that controversial event.In Brickhouse's defense, Ronnie Housholder, then Chrysler racing CEO, offered him the seat in the Ray Nichels/Charlie Glotzbach #99 Daytona Charge, abandoned by Glotzbach, in his own show of PDA support. There was a lot at stake, the debut of the Dodge Daytona, the debut of the speedway, and the assembled throng waiting for the 'race of the century'.Big Bill, of course, convinced the Grand Touring division to race in the '500' and any Grand National teams/drivers that he could muster. This should have been a feather in Brickhouse's cap, and the following year, he was associated with the Bill Ellis Plymouth-backed team, as shown here. An interesting side-bar to this story: another lesser-known driver/owner that remained and raced: Richard Childress.For unknown reasons, France seemed to never forget either one, Childress or Brickhouse. One went to the penthouse, the other would wind up in racing's outhouse. Brickhouse, of course, un-endeared himself to Richard Petty and his up-start driver's union, but it would eventually fizzle as well. Lot of scenes were playing out at Talladega, that long ago weekend, that would shape racing for years.Richard Brickhouse returned to the Wilmington area of eastern North Carolina. In the late 1970's, on his own farm, he would build/operate the dirt 'Pender County Speedway', ultimately folding in the early 1980's.