On May 19, 1963, NASCAR's Grand National division raced at Southside Speedway in Richmond for the fourth and final time. Ned Jarrett won over Richard Petty as Dave Fulton posted about here:
http://racersreunion.com/dave-fulton/gallery/64413/ned-over-richard-in-last-southside-speedway-gn-1963
NASCAR sanctioned another race the same day three time zones and more than 2,500 miles to the west. NASCAR's Pacific Coast late model division ran the Riverside 250 on RIverside's winding road course.
Program cover from Motor Racing Programme Covers
Seventeen cars raced at Richmond - a full 8 cars less than the average for other GN races in 1963. One explanation for the shorter field is that a few of the GN regulars raced in the Riverside race instead. I'm guessing Les Richter's show money and purse size were substantially better than offered at Southside - enough so at least to make the trek west.
Some of the "names" that raced at Riverside included:
- Joe Weatherly - the reigning GN champion from 1962
- Darel Dieringer
- Rex White - the 1960 GN champ
- Jack Smith
Another interesting participant was Roger Penske, a USAC regular. Penske had road course racing experience - but limited experience at best in stock cars. Penske's Pontiac along with the one raced by Weatherly were built by Ray Nichels.
Recently, I've tried to find many more articles about non-GN races. Landing ads, previews and reports for the Pacific Coast late model races has been among the toughest challenges. But the Riverside 250 got a good bit of publicity in the local papers.
Dieringer won the pole in his Bill Stroppe Mercury.Skip Hudson won the pole, but he didn't get to start first - or even race at all. Hudson qualified the Nichels Pontiac that Joe Weatherly planned to race. Little Joe raced in the GN race at Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas on Saturday and then flew to California for Sunday's race.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Penske qualified 3rd but fell to dead last on lap 1. He skittered off course while to avoid the spinning car of Jack Norton. By the time he gathered up his Nichels Pontiac, the full field had flown by him.(Confusing point: race report suggests Penske started 12th - so I'm not really where he qualified.)
As the race progressed, Dieringer continued to set the pace out front. Behind him, however, Penske was putting his road racing experience to good use. Undaunted by the lap 1 off-road excursion, Rapid Roger returned and lap by lap began making his way through the field. He found himself in third after only TEN LAPS.
A caution around the mid-point of the race negated a sizable lead Dieringer had built on Weatherly in second place and the rest of the field. When the green flew again, however, Darel held onto the lead.
With a bit more than 20 laps to go, however, Penske made his move. He passed Weatherly and Dieringer to take the lead. He led the rest of the way, and claimed the win when the checkered flag fell at the end of the 93-lap race. The Riverside victory was Penske's only NASCAR win as a driver.
The Captain takes the checkers. - Getty Images
And gets the enjoy the rewards of victory lane as a driver - something he has had the opportunity to do many more times as an owner. - Getty Images
Race report from San Bernardino Sun-Telegram
While Penske was happy - and Ray Nichels - and Les Richter, others were not. USAC officials were none too pleased with Penske's dalliance with NASCAR. Following his win, his USAC license was suspended.
I realize AAA/USAC and NASCAR were competitors in many ways in the 1950s through 1970s for tracks, factory support, hot shoe drivers, fan interest, etc. But it seems like USAC was generally the organization that always came off sounding like an annoying, petulant little brat whenever one of "their" drivers wanted to race in other events. Big Bill wasn't particularly happy when the roles were reversed, but he seemed to handle it privately and with far less public chirping than USAC.
In the end, I think Roger cared little about having his USAC license suspended. In time, the reconciliation happened. And as evidenced by Team Penske celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2016, it's pretty clear he has fared quite well.
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Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
updated by @tmc-chase: 05/18/17 06:20:07PM
