The Good Ol' Boys

By - Roger Jewell

Way back yonder in the late 70's and 80's and early 90's I penned a regular weekly column in "Southern Auto Racing News," which eventually changed names to a more generic title of "Racing News." It was fun and some folks enjoyed reading my stories. So, since the demise of that former publication the columns have been on the back burner. Hopefully I can revive the old title here on this site.

Recently I paid a visit to my old stomping grounds, Greenville-Pickens Speedway between Greenville and Easley, South Carolina. As soon as I entered through the third turn gate the old memories started flowing like flood waters from the nearby Saluda River.

The first thing that head me front and center as I strolled through the pits and surveyed the crowd in the grandstand was a startling realization. "Man," I uttered to myself, "either the drivers and fans here are getting younger or I'm getting older."

I kept walking and tried not to look too damned old.

"Wow, that is exactly the spot where ol' Don "Stumpy" Sprouse used to pit, every week," I thought as images of the sleek red #7 Camaro that he drove for car owner Bobby Rogers flashed through my memory banks. But ol' "Stumpy" wasn't anywhere to be seen. The same held true for Buddy Howard's red #29 Mustang, Lonnie Pirkle's multi-colored #00 Camaro, Dr. Bob Jarvis' white #4 Camaro and Jerry Hughes' orange #17 "Boss-a-Nova" Chevy II.

Aw yeah, Jerry Hughes. You won't see his name on the speedway's championship wall but it should be there. He was one of the best and became better after he bought an old Chevy II racer from Butch Lindley.

Hughes was a plumberby trade and owned his own plumbing business in Mauldin, SC. The late great track announcer used to kid Hughes by telling everyone, "Now that Jerry is winning races, his business has picked up and now he uses a fur lined commode as a driver's seat."

Jerry went on to win most of the features that year and was closing in on the track championship. In the final race of the season, all he had to do was finish ahead of Don "Stumpy" Sprouse to secure the highly sought track championship and South Carolina NASCAR championship.

Some say it was a freakish accident. Others say it was intentional. Wheither accident or intentional Jerry Hughes or no man deserved what developed in that final race.

Hughes was leading the way as the 35 lap feature rolled onward and he had left Sprouse way back down the track running in hot pursuit. Suddenly Lonnie Pirkle looped his Camaro around in a spinout between turns three and four and that generated a caution period. Hughes led the pack as the field circled around the speedway under caution. Pirkle sat in his stall car in the spot where he spun out. As Hughes came in front of Pirkle, Lonnie Pirkle fired his engine and drove nose first into the side of Hughes' car. Hughes' car was so damanaged that he had to fall out of the event. Sprouse went on to steal the track championship and Pickens County deputies had to protect Pirkle from the fans after the event. Hughes was floored emotionally.

Pirckle later explained that his clutch slipped and that is why he crashed Hughes' car. Hughes never bought that story and neither did most of the fans.

Hughes returned the next season with a Camaro as the ol' Chevy II was retired but Jerry never came close to winning a track championship.

So, Don Sprouse's name is on championship wall. But the spot on the wall doesn't tell us about the sad case of Jerry Hughes, who died way too early. His name isn't known by thekids that are running around grand ol' Greenville Pickens Speedway today and that is a shame. He andmany others need to be remembered. And I reckon that's why I've decided to revive this column.