Racing History Minute - May 27, 1956, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1973, 1979, 1974, 1990

When I began to prepare the History Minute for today, I was hoping to find a special race for this special day. Going through all my reference books from Greg Fielden and some other sources I use, I noted there have only been EIGHT races run on this date in the Grand National Division and/or the Convertible Division of NASCAR between inception in 1949 and 1993. I choose the year 1993 to cut off the "History Minutes" as that was twenty years ago and is getting pretty current in the overall scheme of this project.

As I was debating which of the races to outline for today, I was reminded what a special day is this last Monday of May, 2013, and the significance of the designation of "Memorial Day". I decided I'll report just the finishers of the races held on this date and then make my special comments on Memorial Day in my life. For those readers who have written me in the past expressing the opinion that my personal recollections and comments are not warranted in a History Minute, live with it because that's what you're going to get today.

The first race on this date was in 1956 at the .75 mile dirt track in Charlotte, NC. It was won by Speedy Thompson in a Carl Kiekhaefer Chrysler. Second went to Junior Johnson in a Kiekhaefer Dodge, third to Buck Baker in another Kiekhaefer Chrysler.

On this date in 1961, it was a 100 mile race at Ascot Speedway in Los Angeles, CA, that saw Eddie Pagan drive a Ford to a win over second place Don Noel in another Ford. Finishing in 11th place was Ford driving Bill Clinton. I don't believe this was the same Bill Clinton later known as "Slick Willie", but it did catch my attention.

1962 saw the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway fall on this date. Nelson Stacy took the win in a Ford with Joe Weatherly in a Pontiac second. Fred Lorenzen finished third, Richard Petty fourth, and Larry Frank fifth.

1965, the boys raced on a half-mile dirt track known as The Cleveland County Fairgrounds Speedway in Shelby, NC. Ned Jarrett won that one with Lil Bud Moore in second, and Dick Hutcherson third.

In 1973, the race was in Charlotte for the 600. Buddy Baker won, David Pearson was second, Cale Yarborough third, Bobby Isaac fourth and Benny Parsons fifth. After the race Buddy Baker admitted to "stroking" for this race instead of running his usual flat out, go or blow, scenario.

We were back at the 600 in 1979 on thisdate. Darrell Waltrip took the win followed by Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough and Benny Parsons.

It was the 600 at Charlotte again in 1984 and this time Bobby Allison would prevail. Dale Earnhardt took second, Ron Bouchard third, Harry Gant fourth, and Geoff Bodine fifth.

Our last visit to a race day on this date will be the 1990 World 600. Rusty Wallace would win that day followed by Bobby Allison, Mark Martin, Michael Waltrip and Ernie Irvan.

This year, 2013, our country recognizes Memorial Day. I won't get into the historic records of how this day came to be observed as I am sure most of you know and everyone is sure to hear how it came about, first known as Decoration Day. Historically, however, I do want to take a minute to mention that "Memorial Day" is the day to honor those men and women who gave their all, their lives, for the price of freedom we all enjoy. While it is a good thing to honor those living service men and women of today, both currently serving, or who have previously served, and to recognize those individuals as was done at the 600 last night, and it is a good thing to thank those in uniform any time you encounter them, Veterans' Day in November is set aside to honor those individuals specifically.

Memorial Day , in my opinion, is for us to remember and honor all those who died in defense and pursuit of freedom from 1776 through this very day, although hopefully no American will die in battle today. We put flags on the graves in some places, parades are held in some places and even church services may be a part of the day for some. I am distressed that some see this as nothing more than a day for shopping "Memorial Day sales". I am also amazed as, each year, more and more businesses remain open and schools are in session in some areas. But then I stop to think that it is because of Memorial Day that folks are free to do those things.

Memorial Day should be a day for all of us to focus on such events as Bunker Hill, Yorktown, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, San Juan Hill, the trenches in France, Anzio, Normandy, Bataan, Iwo Jima, Inchon, DaNang, "Hamburger Hill", and all those dusty villages in the middle East for the past decade. Those are infamous for the men who died there in defense of our freedoms. I'm not a big fan of the popular saying "All gave some, some gave all" because I've seen too many who have never given a thing, but I also have known many who gave ALL.

The very existance of NASCAR, I think, is somewhat connected to World War II. It was less than three years after the big war that the first Strickly Stock race was run in Charlotte, NC, and it was within weeks of VJ Day that the modifieds returned to running all over the country. War was over and racing was back.

I have been privileged to hear, first hand, the recollections of war from Bud Moore and Nelson Stacy, both serving in Europe. Bud was hitting the beach on D-Day and Nelson was handling a tank under General George S. Patton. I have read the stories of Smokey Yunick and Harry Hyde, but there are many more with which I am not familiar who were serving our country in the war who were later racing, first on the sands of Daytona Beach and then on to the super speedways that would come later. These men learned, in war, that victory was possible, even against sometimes seemingly insurmountable odds.

So, as you go about your day today, May 27, 2013, pause a time or two to remember why there is a Memorial Day. It is not a day for your convenience or mine, per se, but a day to remember why we are allowed to enjoy our pursuits of happiness. This is a Racing History Minute that involves much more than the pursuit of the car in the lead.

God bless America and each and every one who may read this History Minute.

Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.

My great uncle. Chief Petty Officer Robert Luther Hughes. US Navy, World War II. Ship was sunk, lost at sea.

http://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=487581

Kyle Petty was scheduled to make his Winston Cup debut in the 1979 World 600. He practiced a few laps at Charlotte in the same Dodge Magnum he raced to a win in his debut race in the ARCA 200 at Daytona a few months earlier. But, he had his problems wrecking twice in two days. His Cup debut would have to wait another few weeks until Daytona's Firecracker 400 - where again he'd find trouble in the star-crossed Magnum.

Article source: Free Lance Star

Jerry Bushmire went to the Petty shops shortly after the 600 and got a couple of photos of Kyle's mangled Magnum in the shop.

Thanks, Tim. Lot's of great racing history on this date.

One of the folks I always remember in particular on Memorial Day is my First Year (Freshman) resident hall advisor, Pete Gray at the University of Virginia. A nicer, more gracious guy to help look after a bunch of 17 and 18 year olds just out of high school couldn't be found. Pete also played Atlantic Coast Conference football for the University and was his senior year elected President of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Joining the Marine Corps after graduation, Pete led eight patrols in Vietnam and died there on July 19, 1970.

http://explore.lib.virginia.edu/exhibits/show/hoos/we-will-remember...

1979 World 600 article from Spartanburg Herald Journal

Anheuser-Busch was the only full time beer sponsor in 1979. Their Busch brand sponsored the weekly pole award as well as Cale Yarborough's #11 Junior Johnson ride. But in the 1979 World 600, a couple of other beer brands made a one-off sponsorship appearance.

Pabst Blue Ribbon on Bobby Fisher's Buick (from TMC's collection ).

And A-B's Natural Light was aboard the Monte Carlo of Glenn Jarrett.

For the 1973 World 600, qualifying had some controversy and some "feel good" news. The controversial part of qualifying rested in toughened inspections. Some claimed it may have been retribution for drivers mouthing off after wrecks at Talladega. Also, USAC told Bobby Allison he couldn't race in the 600 because he was committed to their Indy 500 race the next day. And The King and Silver Fox acknowledged they got "the call" about the tougher inspections.

The "feel good" story was vested in RR's own Billy Scott who got a Fan Vote to qualify for the race. Source: Tuscaloosa News

From  David Bailey collection

From Billy and Barbara Scott collection

A good article from The Spartanburg Herald Journal about Buddy's 1973 World 600 is almost too long for me to copy, crop and paste. So here is  the link to read it at the source.

And here is a nice video recapping the race:

1962 World 600 - From  Bill Rankin collection

From Daytona Beach Morning Journal

And a photo caption descriptor that perfectly describes the situation - but one never used anymore.

Chase, Dave, you two are making this series work! Thank you for all the hard work and postings that you do. I never imagined, when I came up with this idea, that we would be building a library of such a rich collection. Just over 10 months to go and we will have covered a year. If you guys will keep helping, I'll keep contributing my little bit of writing when I can. Thanks guys.

The spring Shelby race was rescheduled for May 27 after its originally scheduled date was rained out. Source: Spartanburg Herald Journal

Race report from the Sumter Daily Item

Race report for 1956 event at Charlotte from Spartanburg Herald Journal . As Tim noted, Junior Johnson finished 2nd. This race was Junior's first and only start for Carl Kiekaefer - and his first of only a handful of starts in a Dodge.

On the subject of Junior and Dodge, one of my all-time favorite literary passages comes from the famed Esquire Magazine series by Tom Wolfe: The Last American Hero is Junior Johnson. Yes!

I wasn't in the South five minutes before people started making oaths, having visions, telling these hulking great stories, and so forth, all on the subject of Junior Johnson. At the Greensboro, North Carolina, Airport there was one good old boy who vowed he would have eaten "a bucket of it" if that would have kept Junior Johnson from switching from a Dodge racer to a Ford. Hell yes, and after that -- God-almighty, remember that 1963 Chevrolet of Junior's? Whatever happened to that car? A couple of more good old boys join in. A good old boy, I ought to explain, is a generic term in the rural South referring to a man of any age, but more often young than not, who fits in with the status system of the region. It usually means he has a good sense of humor and enjoys ironic jokes, is tolerant and easygoing enough to get along in long conversations at places like on the corner, and has a reasonable amount of physical courage.

A quick, 10 minute video of the intro and first few laps from the 1984 World 600 is on YouTube. Unfortunately embedding has been disabled, so you'll have to watch it at YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DzGN9meLUY

The 1984 race was the last time the event would be known just as the World 600. In 1985, it was titled the Coca-Cola World 600. And then beginning in 1986 through today, the race has been known simply as the Coca-Cola 600.

A ticket stub from the race - thanks ebay!

The race program. Source: Motor Racing Programme Covers

A key storyline was King Richard. Petty picked up win #199 a week earlier at Dover. All eyes were on him to see if he could get #200 in his Mike Curb / STP Pontiac. Obviously it didn't happen, but he got 200 at Daytona a few weeks later. He lost an engine in the 600 and finished 26th.

Allison's win in the 1984 World 600 would turn out to be his final one with DiGard. Internal fighting between Allison and the Gardners would prove to be a major distraction for the championship winning team from 1983. The straw that broke the camel's back for Allison was Greg Sacks' win in Gar Nelson's experimental DiGard car in the 1985 Firecracker 400.

Source: Ellensburg Daily Record

Our 7-Eleven Ford Probe that would run in the May IMSA event made the program cover. Wonder if the two CMS condos purchased by one of our VPs had anything to do with that?

This is great!

Ad for May 27, 1956 GN race at Charlotte Speedway - then under the management of North Wilkesboro's Enoch Staley.