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On This Day June 13, 1976 Riverside International Raceway

Stock Car Racing History

Richard Petty had an epic 1975 season with 13 wins in 30 races. The season ranks among his best along with 1967 and 1971. In 1976, his rivals took over the top rung on NASCARs ladder. Cale Yarborough notched 9 victories in 30 races and stacked up Top 5 finishes like cordwood 23 in all to claim his first of three championships. The seasons most dominant driver, however, was the Silver Fox. With a season that ranks right up there with some of the best ones by Petty, Cale, Waltrip and Gordon, David Pearson banked 10 wins in 22 starts with the Wood Brothers.

The Cup tour headed from east to west as it moved from the World 600 in Charlotte to the Riverside 400 on the legendary road course. For the first time in the tracks history, the 400 was to be measured in kilometers vs. miles. According to Greg Fielden in his book Forty Years of Stock Car Racing Vol 4 , the shortened race length was prompted by CBS television. The network filmed the race, edited it heavily Im sure, and aired it six days later. The editing-for-TV was going to happen regardless if the race was 500 miles or kilometers. Yet, the drivers seemed to appreciate the cut in distance. All future Riverside races were then measured as 500 and 400 km events. Motor Racing Programme Covers

The 21 Mercury was quickest from the time it crossed into PDT. Pearson was fastest in an abbreviated practice session, and he backed it up by winning the pole position in qualifying. Bobby Allison timed second. Benny Parsons, Buddy Baker and perennial Riverside competitor Jimmy Insolo rounded out the top 5 starters.

Pearson led the first few laps at the drop of the green. He then traded the lead with Allison and Yarborough until Cale took over for a 22 lap stint. Allison was able to regain the lead for 4 laps before Cale went back to the point for another 25-lap chunk.

With a third of the race to go, Pearson behind the wheel and the Woods in the pits knew it was go time. David put his Mercury in the wind, took over the lead from Cale, and led the remaining 36 laps to take his 5 ^th win of the season and 2 ^nd in a row having won the 600 in Charlotte.

Daniel Mensinger has some cool shots from the race on his [ Vintage Racing League ] page.

• The TV crew preparing for their filming session with broadcaster Ken Squire overseeing things.

• Bobby Allison's CAM2 Penske Mercury on the front row. Pearson's pole-winning 21 can barely be seen to Bobby's right.

• Benny Parsons and Buddy Baker on the starting grid.

• King Richard started 7 ^th alongside surprise qualifier Rusty Sanders in 8 ^th .

• Cale Yarborough started 6th in Junior Johnson's Holly Farms Chevy.

Richard Guido has a couple of good photos of King Richard from the race here at RR. Petty hung around the top 10 all day, but he was never a factor in the race.

Race report from Spartanburg Herald Journal

Pearson's win in Cup's 'first metric race' was featured in the November 1976 issue of Stock Car Racing magazine.

Fin	Driver	Car
1	David Pearson	Mercury
2	Bobby Allison	Mercury
3	Benny Parsons	Chevrolet
4	Ray Elder	Dodge
5	Buddy Baker	Ford
6	Darrell Waltrip	Chevrolet
7	Cale Yarborough	Chevrolet
8	Jimmy Insolo	Chevrolet
9	Richard Petty	Dodge
10	Dave Marcis	Dodge
11	Richard Childress	Chevrolet
12	Cecil Gordon	Chevrolet
13	Chuck Wahl	Chevrolet
14	J.D. McDuffie	Chevrolet
15	Eddie Bradshaw	Chevrolet
16	James Hylton	Chevrolet
17	Bill Polich	Chevrolet
18	Don Reynolds	Chevrolet
19	Chuck Bown	Chevrolet
20	Frank Warren	Dodge
21	Don Puskarich	Chevrolet
22	John Dineen	Ford
23	Gary Matthews	Chevrolet
24	Ed Negre	Dodge
25	Lennie Pond	Chevrolet
26	D.K. Ulrich	Chevrolet
27	Roy Smith	Chevrolet
28	Jim Danielson	Dodge
29	Neil Bonnett	Chevrolet
30	Hugh Pearson	Chevrolet
31	Rusty Sanders	Chevrolet
32	John Hamson	Chevrolet
33	Ernie Stierly	Chevrolet
34	Jim Thirkettle	Chevrolet
35	Ron Esau	Ford

updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

On This Day June 12, 1977 Riverside International Raceway

Stock Car Racing History

On This Day June 12, 1977 Riverside International Raceway

Stock Car Racing History

I originally blogged about the 1977 NAPA 400 at Riverside in 2012 here:

http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2012/06/june-12-this-day-in-petty-history.html

I wanted to include it here as part of the on-going series on Riverside's 400 miles/kilometers summer races.

Continuing his good fortunes from a win in the World 600 two weeks earlier, Richard Petty wins the pole, leads 71 of 95 laps and wins the NAPA 400 at Riverside International Raceway for his 184th career victory on June 12, 1977. - Motor Racing Programme Covers

Petty often said he didn't consider himself a good qualifier. Yet, his top run at Riverside was his 120th of 123 career pole runs. The King hustled his Dodge Charger around the track quicker than anyone in a car that hadn't been raced since the 1977 season opener at Riverside. Having a dedicated road course car was a true rarity in those days. Teams often raced their Riverside car at other tracks including Nashville and Dover.

The STP Dodge stayed right with Waltrip, however, and the two swapped the lead a few times over the next 12 laps along with Cale Yarborough and David Pearson. From there though, the King took over and settled into a comfortable lead. He paced the field around the serpentine track for the final 63 laps to clinch what seemed to be an easy victory. - Credit:  Rickysuave44

The King leading The Silver Fox, David Pearson, through turn 8.

Petty pulling Darrell Waltrip through turn 6. After leading the first 20 laps, Waltrip eventually developed transmission problems in his DiGard Gatorade Monte Carlo and faded to 26th.

When the checkers fell, the 43 again took its rightful place in victory lane.

And Richard's reward: squeezing the girls for the 184th time... - Credit: Petersen Automotive Museum and  Riverside International Automotive Museum

Pearson's second place finish to King's win was the 63rd and final time the two rivals finished 1-2 in a GN / Cup race dating back to 1963. Although Pearson edged Petty in wins in those 1-2 finishes 33 to 30, the King did get the upper hand the final three times in 1977 at Atlanta, Charlotte and Riverside.

The winner's trophy as seen on display by TMC at the Richard Petty Museum in Randleman, NC in 2012:

West coast favorite Jimmy Insolo had a solid weekend at Riverside. He dueled with the ageless competitor Hershel McGriff during much of the Black Gold 200 modified sportsman preliminary race on Saturday, and he eventually bested Hersh by a comfortable margin. On Sunday, he finished a solid 4th in the Cup race. - Gadsden Times

The September 1977 issue of Stock Car Racing magazine included three in-depth features on the King. Included with the three was a feature on his win in the June 1977 Riverside road course.

The RacersReunion platform won't allow the PDF of the article to be embedded here. But you can read it at [ my blog post here ].

Race report courtesy of Jerry Bushmire

Fin	Driver	Car
1	Richard Petty	Dodge
2	David Pearson	Mercury
3	Cale Yarborough	Chevrolet
4	Jimmy Insolo	Ford
5	Buddy Baker	Ford
6	Norm Palmer	Dodge
7	Sonny Easley	Ford
8	Richard Childress	Chevrolet
9	Cecil Gordon	Chevrolet
10	Skip Manning	Chevrolet
11	D.K. Ulrich	Chevrolet
12	Dick Brooks	Ford
13	John Dineen	Ford
14	James Hylton	Chevrolet
15	Frank Warren	Dodge
16	Bill Baker	Chevrolet
17	Bobby Allison	Matador
18	Chuck Wahl	Chevrolet
19	Buddy Arrington	Dodge
20	Ernie Stierly	Chevrolet
21	Harry Goularte	Chevrolet
22	Richard White	Chevrolet
23	Roy Smith	Chevrolet
24	Jim Thirkettle	Chevrolet
25	Chuck Bown	Chevrolet
26	Darrell Waltrip	Chevrolet
27	Benny Parsons	Chevrolet
28	Don Puskarich	Chevrolet
29	Gary Johnson	Chevrolet
30	Bill Schmitt	Chevrolet
31	Sumner McKnight	Chevrolet
32	Ray Elder	Plymouth
33	J.D. McDuffie	Chevrolet
34	Hershel McGriff	Chevrolet
35	Don Noel	Chevrolet

updated by @tmc-chase: 01/06/17 12:02:14PM

On this day June 12, 1988 Riverside International Raceway

Stock Car Racing History

Qualifying report from Ocala Star Banner

Drivers and owners bemoan the loss of the raceway from Spartanburg Herald Journal

Race report from Free Lance Star

On this day June 12, 1988 Riverside International Raceway

Stock Car Racing History

A 30 minute recap of the race. The full race is also on YouTube in 12 segments - so jump over there and search for it if you choose.

On this day June 12, 1988 Riverside International Raceway

Stock Car Racing History

Russ Thompson shared this cover of the June 15, 1988 issue of National Speed Sport News with me.

CLEARING THE AIR ON SOMETHING -- I THINK,--MAYBE NOT

Trivia

Best I can do so far is a screen cap of Hedlesky from the NBC telecast.

CLEARING THE AIR ON SOMETHING -- I THINK,--MAYBE NOT

Trivia

Yes, good memory. Jason Hedlesky started 41st and finished dead last in 43rd in the 2002 UAW-GM Quality 500 at Charlotte. He drove a Lucas Oil sponsored, Junie Donlavey owned #90 Ford. This was the same race where the surprise winner was Jamie McMurray in a sub role for Sterling Marlin. Haven't found a pic of Hedlesky's car yet - but I'll keep looking.

Extending Junie's involvement in racing as a car owner, Hedlesky also started several ARCA races for Donlavey including 4 in 2003. The last was at Talladega on September 23 - nearly a year after Junie's final Cup start as an owner.

Here is Mast in Junie's car at Martinsville in April 2002. - Motorsport.com

And again you are correct. Junie attempted the 2003 Daytona 500 with Kirk Shelmerdine as the driver. Kirk finished 22nd in his qualifying twin and did not transfer to the 500. - from Richmond Times Dispatch

Hillenburg also went with Junie to 2004 Speedweeks in an unsponsored Ford. As Kirk did the year before, Andy finished 22nd in his twin and didn't transfer. - Motorsport.com

On This Day June 11, 1978 Riverside International Raceway

Stock Car Racing History

Rick Marshall (aka rickysuave44) has a few good photos in his Photobucket collection. He allowed me to include a couple from the 1977 Riverside race that Petty won in my blog post. In looking through them, I then found these gems from the 1978 race.

http://s210.photobucket.com/user/Rickysuave44/library/1978%20Napa%20400-%20Riverside?sort=2&page=1

Pole winner Pearson

King Richard's Magnum

Lennie Pond in a Henley Gray Chevy - though entered with Harry Ranier as car owner

5th place finisher Cale Yarborough

Bill Schmitt (73) and Dave Marcis in the Rod Osterland #2. Marcis started 3rd and finished 4th. A year later, rookie Dale Earnhardt won the pole in likely the same car.

Hershel McGriff in what looks to be a James Hylton Chevy though McGriff supposedly fielded in under his name as owner.

updated by @tmc-chase: 06/10/18 03:33:48PM

On This Day June 11, 1978 Riverside International Raceway

Stock Car Racing History

A week after I saw my first live Cup race, the Music City 420 at Nashville, the Cup series headed west young man to again race the road course of Riverside International Raceway. The NAPA 400 was run on June 11, 1978. - Motor Racing Programme Covers

To save costs and perhaps manage through internal team issues, Benny Parsons' team was pitted by Cale Yarborough's Junior Johnson team. The two teams shared a common sponsor - First National City Travelers Checks - but had nothing else in common.

It really is amazing to think a team would be willing to pit a legit competitor - and to think a crew would have to perform twice the number of stops ... in 90+ degree heat. What a great era of racing.

The Silver Fox, David Pearson, won the pole in the Wood Brothers Mercury. Cale Yarborough qualified on the front row with him. Dave Marcis, Benny Parsons and Bobby Allison rounded out the top 5 starters.

Pearson wasn't much of a factor in the race. He didn't lead any laps, broke a valve after 66 laps, and finished 27th in the 35-car field. Marcis had a solid day finishing 4th after starting 3rd in car number 2. How's THAT for some racing numerology.

Cale was the rabbit in the first half of the race. He led 47 of the first 54 laps. After losing a tire, pitting and surrendering the lead, however, he was never able to get back to the front. When the checkers fell, he had to settle for 5th.

The remaining laps were led by Richard Petty, Bobby Allison and Benny Parsons. After Petty and Allison made their final stops of the day, they went searching for Parsons who had inherited the lead again. But Benny had built a sizable lead and used the accelerator as if it had an egg under it in an effort to extend his fuel mileage.

Sure enough with about a 30 second lead over the King, Benny was able to creep across the finish line with barely enough gas left in the tank. In today's racing, perhaps NASCAR would argue the 72 wasn't maintaining race speed. But in that era, the L.G. DeWitt team and Junior Johnson crew played the rules and strategy perfectly to stretch the tank of gas as far as it would go - all the way to victory lane.

Benny going through the Esses - from Richard Guido

Finishing a mildly surprising second was King Richard. I say mildly surprising for a couple of reasons:

• He hadn't won in almost one year
• His stomach ulcers gave him fits as they would continue to do so the rest of the season
• He was making his one and only start at Riverside in the ill-fated Dodge Magnum. (The team raced the fabulous Dodge Charger in the season-opener at Riverside.) Though the car was often un-competitive in many races, Petty did manage a 3rd place finish on Nashville's half-mile followed a 2nd place finish at Riverside. Go figure.

Victory celebration - Sumter Daily Item

Race report from Times-News

Interestingly, just a couple of weeks earlier Benny was talking about a pinched nerve in his neck and a couple of messed up vertebrae that were giving him fits. Facing possible surgery, he manged his way through the discomfort the rest of the season. I have to believe the back-and-forth steering needed at Riverside didn't do his neck any favors. Yet the win likely soothed him a bit for at least a day or two. - Spartanburg Herald Journal

As it turns out, the Riverside victory was Benny's final win of the 1978 season. Faced with the on-going health issues plus internal management issues with the DeWitt team, Benny chose to part ways with the organization at the end of the season. The race also turned out to be the final one EVER for the DeWitt team. Despite a promising fresh start with Joe Millikan in 1979, the 1973 championship winning team ran out of money and was shuttered after only a few races into 1980. - Spartanburg Herald Journal

Fin	Driver	Car
1	Benny Parsons	Chevrolet
2	Richard Petty	Dodge
3	Bobby Allison	Ford
4	Dave Marcis	Chevrolet
5	Cale Yarborough	Oldsmobile
6	Ray Elder	Dodge
7	Lennie Pond	Chevrolet
8	Bill Schmitt	Oldsmobile
9	Jim Thirkettle	Buick
10	Neil Bonnett	Dodge
11	Tighe Scott	Chevrolet
12	Cecil Gordon	Chevrolet
13	Rick McCray	Chevrolet
14	D.K. Ulrich	Chevrolet
15	Richard Childress	Oldsmobile
16	Darrell Waltrip	Chevrolet
17	Hershel McGriff	Chevrolet
18	Buddy Arrington	Ford
19	Richard White	Chevrolet
20	Harry Goularte	Chevrolet
21	Dick May	Chevrolet
22	Don Graham	Chevrolet
23	John Borneman	Chevrolet
24	J.D. McDuffie	Chevrolet
25	Ronnie Thomas	Chevrolet
26	Dick Brooks	Ford
27	David Pearson	Mercury
28	Chuck Wahl	Chevrolet
29	Frank Warren	Dodge
30	Rocky Moran	Buick
31	Ernie Stierly	Chevrolet
32	Jimmy Insolo	Oldsmobile
33	Don Noel	Chevrolet
34	Bill Baker	Buick
35	Norm Palmer	Dodge

updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM