Be sure to check out the Forum Post from Scott Baker today about the Ontario, California race. He has some outstanding photographs from that race. Great to have such an addition to our continuing efforts to preserve the history of the sport.
Along the lines of preserving history, it was on this date in 1863, that Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. Part of that address, although this may not be the exact quote, was "people will little remember what I said here but will long remember what they did here" as he referred to the fallen Americans on both sides of the battle. Seems funny that 150 years later that short speech is the one most Junior High School Students have to memorize in their American History Class. Waxing a little philosophical here, I am more and more convinced each day that passes that if those of us who care about the true history of this sport we care so much about don't record our memories for the future generations, then all we will have is the fantasy stories from the sanctioning body which seems to enjoy revising the real history to satisfy some agenda which escapes me.
Today, we are traveling back to November 19, 1989, and the Atlanta International Raceway for the "Atlanta Journal 500". Forty-two cars would start the event, the 29th and last race of the 1989 season which would settle the points battle between Dale Earnhardt and Rusty Wallace. The two had been battling for the title for weeks and both were prepared to run the race for the title. Well, when you look at the record, it appears Dale was much more interested in running off with the race than the title but he also knew that by winning, Rusty could not "out point him" so Dale's plan was to go for broke.
Qualifying saw Alan Kulwicki put his Ford on the pole with a speed of 179.112 mph. Ken Schrader would start a Hendrick Chevy second, Dale Earnhardt in the Childress Chevy third, and Rusty Wallace in the Blue Max Pontiac fourth. Terry Labonte in the Junior Johnson Ford would roll off fifth.
Schrader led lap one but Earnhardt blasted past Ken coming off turn two on lap two and would lead for the next 50 laps. Davey Allison took over on a pit stop exchange and led laps 53-54 before he pitted allowing D.W. to lead a lap. Dick Trickle led lpas 56 to 84, before Ricky Rudd took over on lap 85. It was A.J. Foyt out front on lap 86 bit he lost that lead on lap 87 when Schrader went back in front. The lead changed hands several times the remainder of the race between Schrader, Ricky Rudd, Sterling Marlin and Earnhardt, but it was Earnhardt who clearly had the upper hand in the speed department. In fact, Dale would lead the last 35 laps of the race, pulling away from the field as if the others were running on flat tires.
When the race started, all Rusty Wallace needed to do was finish in 19th place or better to win the Championship over Dale, no matter what Dale did. It started out easy enough with Rusty starting fourth. At the start of the race, Wallace, leading the points by 78, dropped back to protect his lead and conserve his car. He was one of the first to pit, on schedule, but only a few laps later the caution waved and Rusty was then a lap down to Earnhardt and the other front runners. Later, Rusty felt what he thought was a flat tire so he pitted. The tire was fine. Down another lap. Nearing the end of the event, lug nuts began to tear through the left rear wheel so it was back to the pits and a third lap in arrears. He did manage to struggle through the setbacks and ended up finishing 15th to win the Championship.
After the race, the elated Wallace denied he "stroked" his way to the Championship saying "I ran the car as hard as it would go". Earnhardt said he did everything he could do to win the Championship and he congratulated Wallace on the Championship. He did go on to say that he had the car to run away from the field and if it had not been for the six caution flags, he would have lapped the field. As he finished 25.71 seconds ahead of second place Geoff Bodine that doesn't sound like an empty statement.
One of the caution flags flew for a bad crash on lap 202 when the orange and white Oldsmobile of Grant Adcox slammed into the outside wall and burst into flames. It took rescue workers more than 15 minutes to extract Grant from the mangled race car. He was airlifted to Georgia Baptist Hospital where he was pronounce dead of massive head and chest injuries. He was the 23rd Grand National to die in a race car in the 41 year history of NASCAR's premier division racing.
The Rookie of the Year was named after the race and it was the then 47 year old Dick Trickle who had sporadically participated in NASCAR racing but ran the full schedule in 1989 to win that title.
Finishing order:
1. Dale Earnhardt, RCR Chevrolet, winning $81,700.00
2. Geoff Bodine, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, winning $33,635.00
3. Sterling Marlin, Billy Hagan Oldsmobile, winning $25,275.00
4. Ken Schrader, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, winning $18,875.00
5. Darrell Waltrip, Hendrick Chevrolet, winning $18,800.00 (1 lap down)
6. Kyle Petty
7. Bobby Hillin, Jr.
8. Morgan Shepherd
9. Neil Bonnett
10. Lake Speed
11. Ernie Irvin
12. Derricke Cope
13. Alan Kulwicki
14.Ricky Rudd
15.Rusty Wallace
16.Dale Jarrett
17. Harry Gant
18. Rick Wilson
19. Larry Pearson
20.Hut Stricklin
21. Jim Sauter
22. Rich Bickle
23. Brett Bodine
24. Jack Pennington
25. Davey Allison
26. Michael Waltrip
27.Bill Elliott
28. Richard Petty
29. Greg Sacks
30. Mark Martin
31. Rick Mast
32. Grant Adcox
33. Dave Marcis
34. Rob Moroso
35. Dick Trickle
36. A. J. Foyt
37. Jimmy Spencer
38. Mickey Gibbs
39. Ken Ragan
40. Terry Labonte
41. Rodney Combs
42. Phil Parsons
PERSONAL NOTE: I did not attend this race. At the time, we had two kids in college and funds for racing trips to Atlanta just didn't make the budget cut. I did watch it on television and watched Rusty climb on the roof of his Pontiac and jump down on the hood. I was not a big fan of Rusty but I didn't dislike him either. I was just surprised he didn't bust his rear end jumping on the hood of the car like that but obviously he knew what he was doing. I can still "see" that event before my eyes as I sit here typing this "Minute". But what really brings that to full capacity in my thoughts this morning is recalling those ridiculous "burn outs" that have become the way to celebrate a win. I didn't like them from the first one I ever saw, although I can't recall who did it and when, or where. I guess I always enjoyed seeing the pit crew pile all over the car and be driven to Victory Lane. I wish NASCAR would ban burnouts but I guess the fans of today consider all that as a part of "the show".
I can also vividly recall watching the Grant Adcox accident. Grant had been around the circuit since the mid seventies and I had encountered him on many occasions. I remember he was always easy to talk with and although he was not considered a "front runner" he never seemed to have the attitude that he would only run for money but would do his best to take what he had and make something good with it. He was 39 when he died and he never won in the big leagues but, in my opinion, he was a winner with all those who knew him.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
