Racing History Minute - November 23, 1975

On November 9, 1975, Buddy Baker had won the "Dixie 500" literally racing on a damp track in the dark. The race had been halted at 301 laps because of rain but rather than call the race with 27 laps remaining, NASCAR decided to "dry" the track and allow them to race to the flag. When the checkers fell, it was in darkness. Not headlights "needed" darkness, but headlights "required" by most State laws. I was at the race and I can tell you it was dark!

So, why do I bring up that race on today's History Minute? Because, after winning that race, Buddy assumed his season was over as he was not scheduled to drive at Ontario so he packed up and went fishing. Six days before the race on the "left coast" car owner, Bud Moore, got in touch with Buddy and told him to pack his bags and head west. Seems the new sponsor of Moore's team for the 1976 season, Norris Industries, wanted Buddy in the California race. So, as the Bud Moore hauler headed out with the number 15 Ford aboard, Buddy packed up and flew to Ontario, California.

Buddy would qualify second to David Pearson. Pearson snagged the pole at a speed of 153.525 mph. Dave Marcis would start the K&K Dodge in third, Bobby Allison in Roger Penske's Matador fourth and A. J. Foyt in Hoss Ellington's Chevrolet fifth.

David Pearson led the first two laps before giving way to the hard charging Baker. The 2.5 mile track suit Baker's lead foot and he was loaded for bear and ready to return to his fishing trip. Richard Petty slipped by Baker to lead lap 15 but Baker went right back by The King on the next circuit. The lead would change hands every few laps between Baker, Pearson, Petty, Marcis, and Bobby Allison. On lap 132 Cale Yarborough was able to lead a lap but otherwise, it was the five combatants preparing to settle the race.

There was one caution flag for 9 laps when Richie Panch crashed on lap 22 and collected west coast driver Don Puskarich in the process. The already crowned 1975 Champion, Richard Petty, departed when his engine expired on lap 168. A. J. Foyt blew an engine in his Hoss Ellington Chevy with 16 laps to go while running with the leaders. Benny Parsons, who had started the season by winning the Daytona 500, departed on lap 31 when the ignition went out on his Chevy.

A crowd of 50,106 fans watched Baker win at an average speed of 140.712, winning by 29.4 seconds over Pearson. The old adage regarding Buddy was always that if his car didn't give up on those big tracks, that big right foot would take him to the front. Such was the day in Ontario. The pace was so demanding that only 14 of the 40 starters were running at the finish.

Finishing order:

1. Buddy Baker, Bud Moore Ford, winning $35,300.00

2. David Pearson, Wood Brothers Mercury, winning $14,300.00

3. Dave Marcis, K&K Insurance Dodge, winning $12,000.00

4. Cale Yarborough, Junior Johnson Chevrolet, winning $8,825.00 (1 lap down)

5. Bobby Allison, Penske Matador, winning $4,925.00 (1 lap down)

6. Lennie Pond

7. Jimmy Insolo

8. Dick Brooks

9. James Hylton

10. Richard Childress

11. Don Hall

12. David Cisco

13. D. K. Ulrich

14. A. J. Foyt

15. Don Hoffman

16. Richard Petty

17. Frank Warren

18. Hugh Pearson

19. Cecil Gordon

20. Walter Ballard

21. J. D. McDuffie

22. Elmo Langley

23. Tom Williams

24. John Kleper

25. Ray Elder

26. Bruce Hill

27. Jim Boyd

28. Clark Adams

29. Roy Smith

30. John Martin

31. Hershel McGriffw

32.Jim Thurkettle

33. Bill Schmidt

34. Benny Parsons

35. Chuck Wahl

36. Richie Panch

37. Don Puskarich

38. Chuck Bown

39.Sonny Easley

40. Ed Negre

This race was number 30 and the final race of the 1975 season. Season standings for the top five:

1. Richard Petty, starts 30, wins 13, $481,750.00 total winnings

2. Dave Marcis, starts 30, wins 1, $240,645.40 total winnings

3. James Hylton, starts 30, wins 0, $113,641.85 total winnings

4. Benny Parsons, starts 30, wins 1 (Daytona 500) $214,353.32 total winnings

5. Richard Childress, starts 30, wins 0, $96,779.78

PERSONAL NOTE: As I worked on this piece today I couldn't help but think of those independent drivers, without much financial backing, who traveled the circuit not merely as "field-fillers" but as competitors trying their best with what they had. There were a number of those guys who towed to California for this race, including D.K. Ulrich, Ed Negre, James Hylton and Walter Ballard. It was, however, the 19th place finisher, Cecil Gordon, catching my special attention this morning.

I had many "adventures" over the years with Cecil, some of which I have recorded in different posts here on the site. What hit me this morning was the "adventure" I had with Cecil a couple of years ago at the "Stocks for Tots" event in Mooresville. Cecil and I were seated side-by-side at the autograph table and we chatted about all the years we both had around racing. The crowd started coming through and he and I were talking to the fans and signing autographs, having a really great time. Suddenly, I sensed something was going on with Cecil. I looked to my right and he was holding a "hero card" of one of his cars from back in the 70s. The young guy handing him the card said his Daddy had that card for all these years and it remained hanging on the wall in his Dad's garage (you could see the holes where the thumbtacks held it in place). The young man, maybe in his late 20s, said his Dad has suffered a stroke and he wanted to bring the card down to have Cecil autograph it for him.

Cecil got the Dad's name and wrote a very special note on the back of the card and then autographed it to the gentleman personally on the front. When the young man had moved on, Cecil said to me "I can't believe someone would hold on to one of my cards all these years". I assured Cecil that the young man, and the Dad, were just like me. EVERY driver, whether we pulled for them or not, was a hero to us. I saw Cecil's name on the finishing order and immediately went to that moment in Mooresville. Cecil Gordon and all those independent, under financed drivers are as much of what made this sport as the Pettys, Bakers, Pearsons, and Yarboroughs. What a fantastic legacy all those folks left for us to pass on to anyone who will listen.

Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future

Race program from Motor Racing Programme Covers

Bobby Allison in his Penske Matador

David Pearson, Buddy and The King dicing it up - racing rarely seen with today's cars at Indy.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

Race report from Tuscaloosa News

Found a few more photos on Spokeo.

Benny Parsons alongside Dick Brooks on pit road awaiting the start. Bruce Hill in the 47 behind BP. And Ray Elder in the 96W a couple of rows back. (From what I can tell, Richard Childress raced a #96 Chevy. Elder just added the "W" to his traditional number.)

Parsons racing Brooks on track.

And Brooks racing Dave Marcis - who took over the 71 Dodge after Baker left it for Bud Moore's team.

Tim the following year, in March 1976, poor Cecil Gordon had his throttle hang going down the backstretch during Saturday afternoon practice on the old Richmond half-mile. He hit the turn 3 ARMCO and wood fence full speed and tore his car all to pieces. NASCAR allowed Cecil to work on the car all night with a group of volunteers in a fairgrounds exhibit building.

On Sunday afternoon, Cecil lined up in 29th position in that ragged, patched back together yellow #24 Chevy. When the checkers flew, Cecil had driven that beat up wreck from 29th to 7th position, endearing himself to every spectator in the Richmond grandstands. It was one of the greatest drives by an independent in the face of adversity I ever saw at a NASCAR race.

Buddy made the cover of the April 1976 issue of Stock Car Racing with a feature on his Ontario win.

Not the best quality pic, but best I've been able to find for Buddy in VL that day.