Forum Activity for @alex-fl-racing-fan

Racing History Minute - Racing Continues of the Beach 1937 - 1941

Stock Car Racing History

If he hadn't shown up in one of these, I was going to openly wonder where Bill Snowden was when all this happened, but there he was in 1939. I also noticed that the drivers who ran pickup trucks didn't fare so well.

R.I.P. GN Driver Wayne Smith - Advance, NC

-RacersReunion® OUTREACH

Sorry to hear the news. My prayers go to his family.

Coming Soon Right Here in The Forum

Stock Car Racing History

I can hardly wait! The suspense is killing me!

Hall of Shame

Stock Car Racing History

Terry: I'm OK with him as the token modern driver

Curtis: I have read cases of 6 or 7 people saying Curtis was the best they ever saw, and multiple drivers who raced with him have told me the same.

Bruton: He helped the sport grow immensely in the 1990s (what he and Curtis did with Charlotte is overrated, IMO), but now in modern NASCAR those same things he did to increase the ratings are one of a laundry list of reasons why NASCAR has lost millions of fans in the last few years.

Jerry Cook: What bothers me is those who say the non-Cup drivers don't deserve to get in. Yes they do!

Isaac: Highly UNDERrated IMO. This is a good chance for the incredible things he did to finally get recognized.

Hall of Shame

Stock Car Racing History

Well it's the unwritten secret that Brian France tells the voters who he wants in before they vote. Anything in NASCAR.

Hall of Shame

Stock Car Racing History

My computer screen is an awful mess right now.

Hall of Shame

Stock Car Racing History

Dave, you are correct, and I should be ashamed to have forgotten about Ray Hendrick. I am sure I missed many worth drivers, but I didn't go looking deep into things. This was just what I could write off the top of my head about folks. Among others I forgot Ray, Bugs Stevens, Red Farmer, Johnny Roberts, Rene Charland, and Mike Klapak... just to name a few.

Hall of Shame

Stock Car Racing History

How many of you saw this piece of rubbish?

http://nascartalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/22/poll-of-nascar-garage-and-media-reveals-who-should-be-in-next-hall-of-fame-class/

Consider the list of candidates with my nominees in yellow and my "Doesn't belong on this list"s in red:

Buddy Baker

Red Byron

Richard Childress

Jerry Cook

Ray Evernham

Ray Fox

Rick Hendrick

Harry Hyde

Bobby Isaac

Alan Kulwicki

Terry Labonte

Mark Martin

Hershel McGriff

Raymond Parks

Benny Parsons

Larry Phillips

O. Bruton Smith

Mike Stefanik

Curtis Turner

Robert Yates

Now every person on this list is Hall of Fame worthy, but for a poll of the garage to churn up Rick Hendrick, Alan Kulwicki, Benny Parsons, Buddy Baker, and Curtis Turner (in that order) is just pathetic. Excuse me while I clean off my computer screen.That said, I have the highest respect for the accomplishments of all the gentlemen on this list, but I have problems with them going in now. What follows are my comments on the list.Buddy Baker- There was a reason he was known as "Leadfoot." Few drivers knew how to grenade an engine like the fabulous Baker boys! His career included several impressive wins, including three wins in World 600, a Southern 500, a Daytona 500, 3 Winston 500s, and even two short track wins all while running only four full schedules in his career.Red Byron- As the first champion of both the Cup and Modified circuits, little else need be said.Richard Childress- And after cleaning my computer screen, I must comment that I am 100% against active participants being enshrined in the Hall of Fame.Jerry Cook- People forget that in the until the age of television, the Modified tour was considered just as important as the Cup circuit. He and Richie Evans put together a string of 15 straight titles, with Jerry winning 6 of those, good for 3rd in series history. And Jerry needs to get in while he's still alive.Ray Evernham- After cleaning the computer a second time, what is he even doing on here when Jake Elder, Harry Hyde, Jeff Hammond, Travis Carter, and Smokey Yunick aren't in yet?Ray Fox- Ray was an incredible man, but I just don't think the time is right yet.Rick Hendrick- After cleaning the computer yet again, I will let it suffice to say (a) still active, and (b) the New England Patriots are a bunch of Mother Theresa's compared to Rick and his organization.Harry Hyde- Legendary crew chief. I know little about the man himself, but he helped establish several teams in the sport while given little to work with at many points. I peg him for the Hall class after this one.Bobby Isaac- When you dominate the short tracks into extinction (OK, it was Winston's doing, but I can imagine, right?), how can you not be in already?; The best short tracker of his generation, and he could even win on the big tracks to boot. Some try to discredit his title because of the King's injury, but then again what about the rest of the competition's failure to keep up with him on the bullrings for those years?Alan Kulwicki- I love Alan's story. I read the biography by Fr. Dan Grubba, and I have a diecast of his on my shelf. He amazingly put together being mechanic, owner, and driver to win what will be the last upset title in history. But he is not ready to be on the list yet in spite of his title and amazing qualifying performances.Terry Labonte- He just retired for crying out loud...Mark Martin- See my response to TerryHershel McGriff- I am no longer bothering to clean my screen anymore. I'd have Ray Elder, Jack McCoy, Eddie Gray, and Lloyd Dane in first. While Hershel won more races than many of them, I feel he gets too much credit due to his longevity.Raymond Parks- THIS was the man who built NASCAR. Without Raymond, Big Bill wouldn't have had the foundation on which to build his empire.Benny Parsons- He was legendary as a driver and an announcer. He won a title against the odds, and he won a spot in the heart of all he met. Oh, BTW, he won 21 races as well despite not having a top-flight ride until the 1980s.Larry Phillips- 2016, my friends. 2016. Because Larry needs to be there, but the guys I have marked are ahead of him at this point. King of the short tracks for two generations, and it would have been three had his health not gone downhill.O. Bruton Smith- My poor, poor computer. Does being a guy who owns lots of tracks (and intentionally ruins every last one) make you Hall worthy? Ruined Charlotte, Atlanta, and Bristol. Texas and Kentucky were ruined from construction (though Bruton bought Kentucky later). And he bought North Wilkesboro and Rockingham so he could shut them down. Joe Littlejohn and Sam Nunis would have something to say here.Mike Stefanik- He is Hall worthy, but he too shall wait a little while longer. Winning the KNPE and NWMT titles in the same season twice is quite impressive.Curtis Turner- While he is defined by many as the best racer they have ever seen (including Big Bill, Marvin Panch, and Johnny Allen), I think Curtis should be in the 2016 class (or whatever is two classes from now) because some guys who should have been in years ago STILL aren't in.Robert Yates- I leave this up to you because I only know Robert Yates as a car owner...Who do I think should be on the list right now instead? I'd displace the red for Ray Elder, Jim Paschal, Fonty Flock, Travis Carter, Bob Welborn, and Ralph Moody.
updated by @alex-fl-racing-fan: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Racing History Minute - April 26, 1959

Stock Car Racing History

Compiling the S-T Division is not for the faint of heart, to say the least. However, my current project is investigating the possibility of lost GN results... this project is fascinating enough that even NASCAR itself is trying to help me on this.

Yes, Ed Otto was a very sneaky promoter. But he followed through on things without fail. He got big names and promoted the races as an appearance of said drivers, and if the drivers didn't show up he always got the reason and shared it with the public. Sneaky? Yes. Honest? Also yes.

Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Racing History Minute - April 26, 1959

Stock Car Racing History

TMC Chase,

Personal experience and familiarity with the method of compiling races, it is very possible that this was a Grand National and/or Short Track race. It is not proven, but it is belief held by others that we do not have the results of every Grand National race (meaning the 71 Ontario race might actually have been race #1000!).

Do you have the links to these races?