I'm certainly not as qualified to do this as many of you are. I can't wait for your lists....and reasons. Be sure to compare them to their "current " competition...meaning their era. I think it is impossible to compare then to now, but easier to compare them to those with whom they competed combined with what they accomplished....according to the resources they had.
How would you list and rank them? This will be interesting. I'd like all your input, then I would like to tally the votes and compile the RacersReunion 50 Greatest Crew Chiefs of all time. Also need to consider that earlier in history, the role of crew chief was quite different. And...as we have heard some crew chiefs say...the COT has changed the crew chief's role considerably since there is less opportunity for chassis "creativity". So, consider how they compared to others in their era.
Here is the beginning of a list to get us started without being totally sure of ranking....We'll have to give considerable thought to ranking later after we hear all the reasons / cases. Let's concentrate on establishing the pool first...then we will vote on ranking.
Please read the list below before posting...and only post those not already listed. We are not yet ready to vote.
The Pool Without Consideration To Ranking
1. Chad Knaus
2. Ray Evernham
3.Dale Inman
4.Harry Hyde
5. Andy Petree
6. Smokey Yunick
7. Jake Elder
8. Waddell Wilson
9. Barry Dodson
10. Gary Nelson
11. Buddy Parrot
12. LarryMcReynolds
13. Steve Hmiel
14. Jeff Hammond
15. Ray Fox
16. Kirk Shelmerdine
17. Bud Moore
18. Herb Nab
19. Ray Nichels
20. Cotton Owens
21. Robbert Yates
22. Jimmy Fennig
23. Greg Zippideli
24. James Hyton
25. Leonard Wood
26. Tim Brewer
27. Ernie Elliott
28. Robby Reiser
29. Travis Carter
30. Red Farmer
31. Jimmy Makar
32. Michael "Fatback" McSwain
33. Chris Hussey
34. Mike Beam
35. Maurice Petty
36. Hoss Ellington ( car owner...did he ever crew chief?)
37. Ralph Moody
38. Mario Rossi
39. Lee Gordon
40. Billy Biscoe
41. Red Vogt
42. Robbie Loomis
43. Len Woods
44. Banjo Mathews
45. Doug Richert
45. Mack Howard
46. Don Johnson
47. Louie Clements
48. John Ervin
49. Tommy Baldwin
50. Matt Borland
51. Donnie Wingo
52. Ken "Bear" Hunley
53.Elvin Rector
54. Larry Carter
55.Todd Parrot
56. Jack Tant
57. Junior Johnson
58. Shorty Johns
59. Alan Kulwicki
60. Paul Andrews
61.Herman Beam
62. Speedy Spiers
63. Marion Cox
64. Jack Sullivan
65.Paul McDuffie
66. Clayton Mitchell
67. Len Bohler
68. Billy Nacewicz
69. "Greaseball" Young
70. Tony Glover
71. Bud Allman
72. Robert "Boobie" Harrington
73. Shelton "Runt" Pitman
74. Bob Rahilly
75. Tiger Tom Pistone
76. Donnie Allsion
77. Scott Huston
78. Bob Schact
79. Hubert Hensley
80. Butch Mock
81. Paul Lewis
82. Emil Reutiman
82. James Franklin Sr.
83. Pete DePalo
84. Sammy Packard
85. JD Lewis
86. Roger Penske
87. Frank Hayworth
88. Gene Petty
89. Robert Fish
90. Sully
91. John Green
92. Leo Jackson
93. Dick Beatty
94. Bill Seifert
95. Ken Miller
96. Tex Powell
97. Kermit Elliot
98. Jim Hanson
99. Junie Donlavey
100. Robin Pemberton
101. Ryan Pemberton
102. Bootie barker
103. Joey Knuckles
104. Richard Childress (?)
I'll add to this pool as you make recommendations. We will not stop the pool at 50. We'll vote on the top 50 from the pool.
Sad to hear . Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Loooonnng arm!...yup.
Jeff Gilder said:
You mean this one?
As many of you have heard me say in the past...I personally have no problems with replicas and like-restorations as long as they are properly represented. In lieu of not having an "authentic" representation it is perfectly acceptable and preferred. How else will our history be remembered if this practice is not continued. There are only so many "authentic" cars around. Sadly some folks are mislead. But sir, you will not find misrepresentation to be an issue at Memory Lane Museum as your post might lead some to think, You should be more careful.
John Craft said:Holman Moody and Grand National...the car is NOT.
But then again, misrepresenting the bonafides of a recently built or "restored" stock car is nothing new. Several other California lads have been sold a bill of goods that was represented as a real deal H&M GN car, too (the "Banana car "sold to Vic Edelbrock comes quickly to mind). The'68 Torinois nicely done in terms of workmanship.But it's wrong mechanically/historically in every detail, starting with the frame. The problem is, NASCAR has done so very little to preserve its history, that most folks would never know the difference between a real H&M half chassis car and the car featured in the E-Pay auction. Indeed, some gullible soulactually bid $45,000 for this homage. I just can't believe that figure would have been reached if the car was truthfully represented for what it actually is: a "no name", back of the pack, sportsman car with very little track time.
