Asheville, NC is a beautiful place to visit any time of year. Ann and I are up there often because her sister and brother-in-law are kind enough to invite us up four or five times a year.They have a beautiful home on the side of a mountain and sitting on their deck as the sun sets over the mountains is always a calming and pleasant sight.
Asheville is also the site of one of my most famous race fan adventures which I have relayed on this site in either a blog or Forum months ago. But, for today, we are returning to July 13, 1962, when 19 race cars showed up for the first event to be run on the New Asheville Speedway, a .4 mile paved track.
Some 5,000 fans filled the stands at the track to see Rex White put his Chevrolet on the pole with Richard Petty starting second. Jack Smith qualified third, Ned Jarrett fourth and Joe Weatherly fifth.
Rex White took the lead on the green and would lead for 118 laps before a broken shock mount sent the popular driver to the pits to be a spectator for the remainder of the event. With the speedy number 4 Chevrolet parked for the day, Jack Smith moved into the lead he would hold until the checkered flag. Jack would finish one lap ahead of second place Joe Weatherly in the caution free event.
Top five finishers were:
1. Jack Smith, Smith Pontiac, winning $1,000.00
2. Joe Weatherly, Bud Moore Pontiac, winning $600.00
3. Richard Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $400.00
4. Buck Baker, Baker Chrysler, winning $300.00
5. Ned Jarrett, B.G. Holloway Chevrolet, winning $475.00 **
** I am assuming, hopefully correctly, that Jarrett had a bonus payout as defending Grand National Champion.
Sixth through tenth were Sherman Utsman, Tom Cox, George Green, Wendell Scott, and Earl Brooks.
The remaining nine entrants finished 11th through 19th as follows:
Jimmy Pardue, Curtis Crider, Stick Elliott, Herman Beam, Bob Welborn, Bunkie Blackburn, Rex White, Buddy Baker and Larry Thomas.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
--
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
