Racing History Minute - March 12, 1972
Stock Car Racing History
And although no one realized that this race would be Bobby's last win, it was also the last top-10 for Neil Castles.
Forum Activity for @alex-fl-racing-fan
Stock Car Racing History
Last Night's Radio Discussion- In Color
Stock Car Racing History
I had no plan of not finishing what I had started on last night's show. This graphic should help explain the series breakdown. Out of these series, the one's that were the "original" series for their type of car are Grand National/Cup (red), Late Model Sportsman/Busch Series (orange), Modified (green), and Grand American (black).
Series that share a color with these are series that came later and used the same rules. Example: Convertible and Short Track divisions used Grand National cars.
Thus, the Winston West Series (now K&N Pro Series West) used Grand National cars until 2003. Likewise, the Busch North Series (now K&N Pro Series East) used Busch Series cars until 2003. In 2003, the two series were combined into a single rules package which are the two blue bars you see on the right.
And the black and red hatching for the Grand National East Series is because that series accepted both the Grand American and the Grand National cars.
I was not going to drive myself crazy with the other series, and I should have extended it back to 1948 if I genuinely wanted modifieds on there.
updated by @alex-fl-racing-fan: 12/06/18 06:15:08PM
March 9, 1969: Confusion in Carolina 500
Stock Car Racing History
Well good.
I responded as I did to leave you room to determine if you were serious or tongue-in-cheek. Racing is the one sport that has it's own checks and balances that arise from physical uncertainties. Junior Johnson and his 150+ DNF's can attest to that!
But wouldn't it have been awesome if Big John did get that elusive win? He certainly had the talent.
March 9, 1969: Confusion in Carolina 500
Stock Car Racing History
"(I want to pause here to say Pearson's only Daytona 500 win in 1976 was the result of a simple, minor mistake by the King - not because he truly earned it.)"
Just be aware that when you make statements like this, you lose all credibility because this argument can be used all over the place in racing history. How about the day John Sears had a flat tire after lapping the field at Langley? I guess that means the driver (Richard Petty) who won that race didn't earn it?
Kurt Busch, NASCAR Whipping Boy
Current NASCAR
This is my take on the topic.
The term "Jap," in the minds of any Americans who are familiar with the history and American culture of WWII, is a term used specifically to refer to those who were our nation's enemy over in the Pacific Theater. We had a term for Japanese-Americans: Nisei, and they proved to be just as American as Teddy Roosevelt. For those who were raised in such culture, and the years that followed, there is no term "Japanese." Think Abraham Lincoln on Star Trek's "The Savage Curtain." It's a touchy situation, and such terms are better avoided, but I had to get a history lesson in there.
Now for the Kurt Busch drama... I wonder how much of this is actually NASCAR or our government's doing, trying to create a situation to get themselves in the news. Any judge with half a brain would know that both Busch and Driscoll were liars and that both are loony farm material. One of two things happened here: (1) the government interfered and told the judge that there would be large consequences if he didn't side with Driscoll (who I doubt is anything more than a person who fantasizes of being an assassin, because if he she was even the CIA wouldn't be able to keep quiet anymore), or (2) NASCAR told the judge to side with Driscoll. Why? To keep the story alive. If the judge threw it out like a smart man, the story would die right there. Now NASCAR has something to feed the media for a few months: the Kurt suspension, the filling of the #41 seat, the reinstatement process, the reinstatement itself, Kurt's first race back, how he does the rest of the season, the return to Dover in June and September, etc. I think NASCAR has Ed Koskey on their payroll .
February 20, 1959: Daytona's inaugural race
Stock Car Racing History
Bob Harkey...
After his brief (one start described here by Chase) NASCAR foray, Bob continued in racing NASCAR Midgets and worked his way to USAC, where he spent many years as a well-loved never-was. After two DNQ's, Bob qualified for his first USAC race on his 33rd birthday, June 23, 1963. Bob drove in that race at the legendary Langhorne Speedway to his first top-10 in his debut race! Fast forward 5 years to June 23, 1968. The USAC tour is again at Langhorne, and Bob qualifies for the race on his 38th birthday. This birthday didn't go so well.
A rock got kicked up somewhere along the line, and Bob got his face smashed on the 88th of 150 laps, finishing 13th. Poor Bob.
But Bob does have the honorary distinction of being one of a small handful living USAC drivers who raced a roadster at the Indianapolis 500!
A Wonderful Day in Daytona
Vintage Oval and Road Course Racing
Well, I promised Tim I would write a summary of Monday's events.
To start, my father and I had a 75 minute drive from our home to Daytona. That is nothing special... except we passed a truck with a fifth-wheel RV. The driver of the truck was shaving with a regular razor and shaving cream! Talk about dangerous and dumb. But I digress...
The beginning of the show was as expected. The people who were arriving early were those who wanted to get their old cars parked, and the rest arrived as the day went on. But people don't just leave. Once they're there, they're staying until the end. Well, except for the younger people. I was happy to see that this year I wasn't the only person under 35 years old who didn't work the temporary meal shack brought in for the day. Nevertheless, such people clearly had no idea who the old NASCAR drivers were, and they stayed at the back with the classic cars. Those who came to the classic RACE cars only looked at the car itself, not the race car. THESE did leave early; none of them lasted more than an hour or two. Such is the state of historic car shows at the moment, but I will share positive news further down the line.
One of the first "legends" to arrive was 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Rex White, and about the same time Marvin Panch arrived. If you want to talk to two guys born before 1930 and still sharp as tacks on matters, then look no further. Frances Flock, Margaret Sue Turner Wright, Brownie King, and Chocolate Myers finished off the contingent of "early birds." Frances is herself as always; bright, cheery, and more than happy to speak to you as both a fan or as the husband of the great Tim Flock. Margaret Sue is more outgoing, walking all over the field seeking those people she already knows. Both ladies are a ray of sunshine on an already sunny day! And Chocolate Myers is the perfect example of a guy who looks tough on the outside but is a teddy bear on the inside; he doesn't need to tell the stories of his father... he has a trailer with the walls lined with the exploits of the younger 1st generation Myers brother (because all three generations have racing brothers!).
Now maybe I can have some confirmation on this from someone else, but I was notified by Gary Potter's wife (I can't remember her name) that Paul Lewis is unable to come to Florida anymore due to health issues. Anyway, Paul, I know you're on this site, and this here's a shout-out from a young fan who strongly admires the odds you overcame in your career, and I pray you get well soon!
And in the space of about five minutes, I was treated to getting to meet three of RR's own: Tim Leeming, Jimmy Johnson, and Ray Lamm. Maybe it's from many months of listening to The Goat Rodeo, but when I met these men, it felt like it was reunion more than a first encounter. It was truly a special moment that I won't forget, and I look forward to all my future times spent with these men, but from then on the rest of the day was a similar pattern: The Legend, my father, and I floating from place-to-place causing trouble for folks like Rex White, Greg Fielden, Marvin Panch, and Johnny Allen, to name a few.
Talk about a fun time! Watching Tim, Jimmy, and Chocolate take part in the video for the Michael Sykes Fund was awesome. From there it was a succession of talking to various drivers and figures about current racing and racing history. It was great getting to learn from those who lived it! Lots of memories were made on Monday for many people at that show, and most of them were none the wiser of who they were speaking to.
I also give a shoutout to Logan, Dave Dion's grandson. This kid is just 16, but he has the passion racing needs to continue the legacy. He's not the type that goes out of his way to read all about racing history, but he's got the proper respect for the history that is needed amongst younger people. Folks like he, Cody Dinsmore, and I are needed.
Here's until the next time I'm at one of these shows!
updated by @alex-fl-racing-fan: 12/05/16 04:07:53PM
And Then the Legend Got Upstaged
Vintage Oval and Road Course Racing
This photo is from the Daytona Beach News-Journal: http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20150216/NEWS/150219555/1040?Title=Living-Legends-parade-shows-off-classic-cars-in-Daytona-Beach-Shores
Yes, that is me riding shotgun in a Model A.
What a fun day.
updated by @alex-fl-racing-fan: 12/05/16 04:07:53PM
Happy Birthday
General
Happy Birthday to our own Legend's favorite person, Darrell Waltrip!
updated by @alex-fl-racing-fan: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM