Did You Ever Not Start a Race to Keep the Judge from Garnishing Your Winnings?

Anyone who followed NASCAR Late Model Sportsman racing in the 1970s is familiar with "Terrible Tommy" Ellis of Richmond and how his temper kept him in hot water with NASCAR and fellow drivers and car owners. He's the same Tommy Ellis who had to have the lights turned off at Franklin County Speedway and get a Sheriff's escort out of the infield to keep the fans from assaulting him.

He's the same Tommy Ellis who had several run-ins with NASCAR Modified "Most Popular Driver" and Virginia Late Model Sportsman driver, Al Grinnan, including a shoving match with their cars in the Southside Speedway infield.

He's the same Tommy Ellis who rammed the winning car of Langley winner, Bill Dennis on pit road following Dennis' win, earning a lengthy NASCAR suspension.

In the mid-70s, Tommy took exception with the owner of Sonny Hutchins' car, Emanuel Zervakis - The Golden Greek -at Langley Speedway. Ellis hit Zervakis in the face with a metal bar, breaking his nose and earning another lengthy suspension from NASCAR.

Zervakis spent sevaral years bringing lawsuits against Ellis and finally a Virginia judge decreed that Ellis' race earnings should be garnished and paid to Zervakis.

Before the big Winston Tobaccoland 200 at Richmond's Southside Speedway in 1979, Ellis came up with a plan to keep from paying Zervakis any of his winnings in that race. Understanding that NASCAR official race winnings were credited to the starting driver, Ellis arranged for Charlie Ford to start his car, planning to get in the car himself during the first caution.

Much to Ellis' dismay, the entire 200-lap race went caution free and Ford went down several laps and finally left the race without Ellis ever getting in the car. Tommy had outfoxed himself.

Morgan Shepherd ran away with the win in Richmond that night, lapping all cars except Sonny Hutchins.

Thanks to the wondertful Google News Archives , you can read an actual account of this strange race. Did you ever not start as the driver in your car to keep from paying a court judgement? Read here at the link below of what Tommy Ellis did:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fOBLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z4sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2129,4025877&dq=southside+speedway&hl=en

Yeah I learned a long time ago A tire Iron was not a weapon of choice in the eyes of the law

Awesome piece of history brutha Dave.

The media also complained when Tommy WASN'T fighting, lol!

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xd9LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=P4sDAAAA...

I miss Terrible Tommy's shenanagins...Definitely not my favorite personality but man was he ever controversial and colorful...I remember thinking in 1985 how in the world did he manage to end up in a Cup car. After the Eric Freedlander scandal came to light it made a little more sense...Not that Tommy had anything to do with the financial dealings, just that this type car owner kinda sorta fits the image that was associated with Tommy, playing outside the rules!

Johnny I remember (as I am sure that you do as well) Roy Tyner getting that same lesson from the law after a tire iron altercation against Sam Sommers at Myrtle Beach. Man did he ever do a number on Sam's head!

William, I always shared your thinking regarding Tommy and Eric Freedlander.

A trivia side note.. the late Kenneth Campbell "signed" Freedlander to a two-year contract to sponsor the September 1986 & 1987 Busch Series race at Richmond... the Freedlander 200.

Promoter Paul Sawyer never failed to remind Kenneth that Freedlander never paid a dime of the money due the Richmond track.