Hutchins' career started on March 18, 1950, in Richmond at the Fairgrounds for the Hank Stanley Memorial Race. Stanley, who drove for Richmond's Junie Donlavey, burned to death in a race in Charlotte and the race was devised to help raise money for his family.

Well, 19-year-old Hutchins, always a car enthusiast, managed to wrangle a ride for the race. Longtime NASCAR announcing legend and fellow Richmonder "Jolly" Joe Kelly was there.

"Sonny placed second in the heat race and seventh in the main that night," he says. "That started one of the greatest careers in motorsports history."

In those days, and for years to follow, Hutchins drove modifieds, drastically altered late-model hot rods that sizzled speedways. Hit the gas, hold tight and tear 'em up. That's the way it was in those mostly 1936 and '37 Fords and Chevrolets.

"I've loved cars all my life, but I always made my own living," Hutchins says. "There was no money in racing. Hell, as much money as it cost me to race, it's a wonder I ain't in the poorhouse."

Hutchins supported himself by running a restaurant. Though drivers with his success now make millions, in those days a win could bring a few hundred bucks. Finish out of the Top 10 and you were fortunate to bring home $50.

"When I started racing, if we had $400 in a car, that was a lot of money," Hutchins says. "Nobody raced for a living back then."

No matter the opponent, Hutchins opened a can of whip-ass and poured it on when he fired his cars up. He drove anything with an engine, four tires and a gas pedal.

He was hell on wheels.