The following is an Associated Press story thatwas in the April 24, 1963 edition of the Richmond County Journal.
updated by @dennis-andrews: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
The following is an Associated Press story thatwas in the April 24, 1963 edition of the Richmond County Journal.
Nice piece. "Big John" Sears would make his Grand National debut later the same year on December 29, 1963 at Savannah (a 1964 season race). I remember watching his brother James in the modifieds running against David Munnerlyn and the like at Sanford between 1967-1970.
Just noted that Big John won the pole for NASCAR's last big-time dirt track race.
From a Benny Parsons story in a Circle Track Magazine 2009, Benny talks of the all-Ellerbe front row at Raleigh:
In 1970, at the Raleigh North, Carolina Fairgrounds, the last dirt-track race for what is now Winston Cup cars was run. I started on dirt and ran several races in the Detroit area. The dirt up North is so dry, hard, and slick that its almost like racing on asphalt. At Raleigh, Ill never forget that Ellerbe, North Carolina, won the front row--John Sears on the pole and me on the outside. We lived one block apart in the town of 900. The race started and John blew up. I got the lead, and here came Richard Petty jerking (pitching) his car sideways into a broad slide in the corners and nailing the gas. He passed me easily. This was red clay and stickier than what I was used to, and I was still driving the car like I would on a dirt track in Michigan. I said Id only heard about pitching a car, but if I was going to keep up with Richard I had to change my style. I made up my mind to drive like Richard. Just as I came off Turn 4 and prepared to pitch the car into Turn 1, the engine blew. So I still dont know if I could have driven on dirt like Richard Petty, doggone it.
Read more: http://www.circletrack.com/thehistoryof/1821/index.html#ixzz1pJxK35DJ
Dave, Here is a piece on Big John on his ROTY bid in 1966. From Richmond County Journal.
Some great old names on that money won through the first 13 races list. Interesting to note that David Pearson and JT Putney were tied for most starts with 12 each, followed by Big John, Elmo Langley, and Henley Gray with 11 starts. Paul Goldsmith, The King, Wendell Scott and Soapy Castles were next with 10 starts each.
