TMC Chase
August 4, 1973 STP 200
NASCAR late model sportsman division race
Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway
Pole winner: Darrell Waltrip
Race winner: Jack Ingram
1. Jack Ingram
2. Neil Bonnett
3. Sam McQuagg
4. Jimmy Means
5. Freddy Fryar
6. Jimmy Hensley
7. Darrell Waltrip
Not only was Waltrip going for a win in NASCAR's touring LMS division, but he was also looking for a record-breaking win in features on Nashville's 5/8 mile track. Going into the race, he was tied with Coo Coo Marlin. Click article for larger version in new tab.
Today, Nashville's Fairgrounds Speedway does little to no marketing for its limited slate of races each year. They have an under-utilized Twitter account, post a few things to Facebook, try to update their website, and include the track's promoter on a 1x/week racing-themed radio show that's mainly a commercial for the track. But back in the day, Bill Donoho's staff did a nice job getting info to The Tennessean to help stir interest in the track's events. Here are a few promo articles leading into the STP 200. James Ham - James is still with us and drove a while in a car fielded by my father's long time friend, Roy Counce.
Before Nashville's August LMS race, Jack Ingram tried to pull a fast one in June based on NASCAR's rules but was shot down. As the article notes, an LMS race began at Greenville-Pickens before being interrupted and postponed by rain. Because Ingram started the race, he technically earned the points regardless of whether he finished it. Isn't that what we've always been told with relief drivers? So when the G-P race was rescheduled, Ingram put Butch Lindley in his car to finish it up as he headed for Nashville to run a 100-lapper in a car provided by Waltrip. The idea? Work the system & earn double points for the night! Yeah, but the beach suits weren't particularly enamored with Jack's creativity & didn't allow him to keep the points earned under "his name" at G-P.
Flookie Buford, Nashville's 2x late model champion in 1971-1972, raced the #84 Harpeth Motor Ford fielded by R.C. Alexander. Later, Waltrip would take the wheel of the 84 and win with it. By the mid 1970s, the number became synonymous with R.C.'s son, Mike Alexander. Many remember Dick Trickle racing the Stavola Brothers #84 Miller High Life Buick in Cup. But many do not know the 84 was put on the sides for Mike Alexander who was hurt in the Snowball Derby before really getting much of a shot in the Stavolas car. Waltrip did soon break Coo Coo's record for most feature wins at Nashville. He eventually compiled 55 wins at the fairgrounds. Coincidentally though, Flookie's son Joe Buford eventually caught and surpassed Waltrip's record. As best I can tell, Joe still has the track record with 66 feature wins at Nashville.
Sounds lke Mr. Donoho was severely chapped that Richmond's (Glen Allen) Bill Dennis - winner of the Daytona Permatex 300 - wound up racing at Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas, Virginia although he filed an entry for Nashville. The Harold Cole mentioned in the story was President of Truxmore in Richmond, longtime sponsor of Junie Donlavey cars.