November 13, 1977 - Dale Earnhardt Wins Wilson's Southern Late Model 200

Dale Earnhardt won the Southern Late Model 200 at Wilson (NC) County Speedway the first time he ever saw the track.

SOUTHERN LATE MODEL 200 - TOP 10 RESULTS - WILSON COUNTY SPEEDWAY

Wilson, NC

200 Laps - One-Half Mile Dirt Track - 40 Cars

NOVEMBER 13, 1977

(As Reported in the next day's Wilson Daily Times)



1) Dale Earnhardt Kannanapolis, NC #17 Camaro $2,500

2) Tommy Houston Hickory, NC #95 Nova $1,500

3) Monk Tate Ruffin, NC #86 Nova $1,150

4) "Farmer" John Matthews Raleigh, NC #16 Chevelle $ 850

5) Earl Arnold Raleigh, NC #1 Nova $ 650

6) J.E. Beard Bailey, NC Nova $ 590

7) Dennis Smith Goldsboro, NC Nova $ 400

8) Sam Ard Asheboro, NC Pontiac $ 300

9) Tommy Tudor Emporia, VA Chevelle $ 200

10) Stick Elliott Shelby, NC Mustang $ 150

Margin of Victory - < 1/2 lap

Earnhardt drove the #17 Robert Gee owned Camaro, starting 11th

LEADERS AT HALF-WAY (100 LAPS)

1) Earl Arnold - Raleigh, NC

2) Billy Scott - Gaffney, SC

3) Dale Earnhardt - Kannapolis, NC

4) Sam Ard - Asheboro, NC

5) Monk Tate - Ruffin, NC



TOP-5 QUALIFIERS

1) Monk Tate - Ruffin, NC 25.18 Seconds

2) Dennis Smith - Goldsboro, NC 25.37 Seconds

3) Earl Arnold - Raleigh, NC 25.42 Seconds

4) Glenn McDuffie - Sanford, NC 25.42 Seconds

5) Shelton McNair - Plymouth, NC 25.44 Seconds



Results of 25-Lap Consolation Race for Non-Qualifiers

1) Joe Huss - Roanoke Rapids, NC

2) Bud Elliott - Emporia, VA

Notable Wilson County Speedway regular snot making the field included Junior Johnson of Florence, SC. and Jimmy "Porky" Edwards, Jr.



Note: This was the first dirt track race for 2nd place finisher Tommy Houston in eight years.

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 11/09/17 11:57:48AM

I`d like to add a few things. Dennis Smith was driving the 88 normally driven by Mutt Powell. He spun after tangling with Tommy Houston. Sam Ard was in the 59 normally driven by Fuzzy Ferrell. Also, Jimmy Edwards Jr. didn`t make the field. That was the year Dillon reopened and Edwards had been dominating there.

Thank you, Heather. I was there, but your memory is MUCH BETTER than mine. I remember that after all the water and calcium chloride that was applied Friday and the freezing temperatures Friday night, it was COLD during Saturday qualifying and the track was darn near frozen. There were cars qualifying at the front that never did and cars missing the show that usually ran well at Wilson.


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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

Driver Dale Earnhardt and car owner Robert Gee accept the winner's trophy for taking first place in the prestigious Southern Late Model 200 at Wilson County Speedway in November 1977 - the very first time they raced at Wilson:

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

Color photo of Dale Earnhardt and Robert Gee at Wilson County Speedway with the Southern Late Model 200 winner's trophy on November 13, 1977. Earnhardt drove the Gee Camaro #17 on his fist visit to the famed Wilson half-mile dirt track. In coverage by the Wilson Daily Times he following day, 2nd place finisher Tommy Houston said Firestone tires on the Gee #17 won the race for Earnhardt.

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM

Wilson Daily Times coverage of Dale Earnhardt's November 13, 1977 Wilson County Speedway win:

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM