1969 CITRUS 250
Stock Car Racing History
Just found this good article from RR member Don Smyle on NSSN's site re: 1969 Citrus 250.
http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/featured/recalling-the-1969-florida-citrus-250/
Forum Activity for @tmc-chase
Stock Car Racing History
From Baseball Park to Stock Car Track
Stock Car Racing History
About three decades later, Toronto did the opposite. Rather than convert a ballpark into a race track, they did their best ...er worst? ... to convert the Canadian National Exposition track into the first ballpark for the Toronto Bluejays.
(From my 2013 blog post .)
Before
After
April 5, 1971: Race report for Sumter Speedway season opener
Stock Car Racing History
Race report for the April 3, 1971 season opener at Sumter Speedway written by RR's Dargan Watts and published in the April 5, 1971 edition of Sumter SC's The Daily Item .
Racing is still held at [ Sumter Speedway ]. - Harvey Tollison
updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
Racing History Minute - April 5, 2014
Stock Car Racing History
It's been a fun ride the last year reading through the various posts. In many cases, it was easy to find articles, pictures, programs, etc. But for most, it was a bit of a challenge. It's well established I'm a Petty lifer, but I really enjoy all NASCAR history. I learned a tremendous amount with each post, and I've shared many of the posts here with others outside RR mainly via Twitter. I know a few folks who have signed up here likely because of following a tweeted link to one of the posts.
Thanks again to all those who have shared photos here over the relatively short history of this site. The collection here is generally where I searched first in an effort to tie an individual photo or two to a narrative to bring context to both. It's also why it's really important to tag those photos so all of us can quickly and accurately search for a race setting that interests each of us.
I don't have stats on how many members RR has - or what the participation level is. I have a gut feel based on scanning through site updates on the front page. But I hope others will continue to write about various races, heroes, more GN/Cup, other stock car divisons/series such as LMS, ARCA, USAC stockers, short trackers, convertibles, etc. Tim has gone to a scad of races, but we've likely all attended our share. Keep the Big Mo' rolling with those stories!
Baseball has probably done the best job of documenting its history. The NFL, NBA and NHL probably are clustered together well behind baseball. But NASCAR has done an average job - at best - of chronicling its history, particularly with its non-GN/Cup series. Sites like this are a great forum to cobble together multiple stories and sources - including personal experiences - to rebuild some of the lost history.
Racing HIstory Minute - April 4, 1959
Stock Car Racing History
Brief race preview - must have been a bit challenging for copy writers to train themselves in new habits by referring to "the Pettys" vs. just Lee.
Race report from Spartanburg Herald
Racing History Minute - April 3, 1955
Stock Car Racing History
A couple of other stock car racing features held on April 3, 1955:
Bill Champion wins a modified race at Wilson Speedway in NC.
And Cotton Owens wins what sounds like an exciting and wreck-filled race at Asheville-Weaverville. The race featured a driver whose name I hadn't heard before. But suddenly, his name may now be in my top 5 of racing nicknames: Termite Moose.
Racing History Minute - April 3, 1955
Stock Car Racing History
Yesterday, the story was about Cale's "win" being 3 inches based on his narrowly avoiding Curtis Turner's practice crash. Today, it's about Buck Baker's winning the race by 3 feet over Rathmann. - Spartanburg Herald
Many are familiar with father-son racing duos such as the Pettys, Bakers, Pearsons, Allisons, Earnhardts, etc. Here is Johnny Dodd Sr. and Jr. before the race.
Racing History Minute - April 2, 1967
Stock Car Racing History
The Golden Boy, Fast Freddy Lorenzen, crashed and matched his car number in the final finishing order: 28. He effectively retired after this race - his final one in the famed Holman & Moody 28 Ford. He returned to run the 28 a handful of times between 1970 and 72 for owners Richard Howard, Ray Fox and Hoss Ellington - but the H&M days for him ended at Atlanta.
Racing History Minute - April 2, 1967
Stock Car Racing History
Wouldn't be the first time I've been burned by photo captions at Getty Images. Sometimes I can quickly tell a photo is mis-captioned. Other times it's not as clear. I admit I gave the distance shot of the 43 on the scales a 2nd look because of all the trees. What I DIDN'T notice at the time - DOH! - was Pearson's 6 in the foreground that is clearly not from the same year. Unfortunately, I can't edit replies so my goof will be there for the eternity of RR. Ha.