How I found out about RacersReunion shortly after it started.
Stock Car Racing History
Oh my. Really hate to hear this.
http://www.wistv.com/story/24089472/sportscaster-jim-seay-dies
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November 28, 1982 - Bobby Allison Wins Out West
Stock Car Racing History
NASCAR's Winston West Series raced at Phoenix on November 28, 1982. The Cup season concluded at [ Riverside a week earlier ] with a Tim Richmond victory and Darrell Waltrip's 2nd championship. A few of the Cup regulars - Bobby Allison, Neil Bonnett, Joe Ruttman and King Richard - made the side trip to Phoenix for the Coors 250 as everyone else headed for home.
In his first race with the Ron Benfield, Levi Garrett team, Joe Ruttman put his Buddy Parrott-crewed #8 Buick on the pole. Ruttman started 1982 with Jim Stacy's team, later moved to Bob Rahilly and Butch Mock's Rahmoc team, and finished the season at Riverside in a second Harry Ranier car - an obvious effort to help Allison in his hopes to win the championship over Allison. For 1983, he was moving to the Levi Garrett team so I guess all parties decided to get a jump start on the relationship. The normal team number was 98. But driver John Kieper was already entered with #98 so the Benfield team likely just peeled the "9" from Rut's ride.
Bonnett qualified on the front row with Ruttman. Neil raced a #75 Mountain Dew Buick - a car that was likely sourced from and matched to Winston West regular Bill Schmitt's #73 Mountain Dew Buick. Allison and Canadian Roy Smith made up the 2nd row. Petty and Jim Reich timed 5th and 6th.
At the green, pole winner Ruttman jumped out front and paced the field for the first 18 laps. He led another 14-lap stint and ended up with a nice 4th place finish in the race. Except for a handful of laps led by others, the remainder of the 156-lap, 250-kilometer race was led by Allison and Bonnett. After starting 5th, Petty's engine failed and he was done at lap 42. Having won the race in 3 of the previous 4 years, Ol' Blue had to settle for 32nd in the 35-car field in 1982.
I found a small set of neat photos from the race by Jerry Pillarelli on PBase.
Neil Bonnett sporting the race sponsor's name on his hat.
King Richard with a dead reptile native to the Phoenix area on his hat.
The Petty STP 43 Pontiac on track before it lost an engine.
Joe Ruttman tangled with #82 Summer McKnight and another, unidentifiable driver - yet he avoided too much damage and soldiered on his 4th place finish.
Long-time racer Ron Esau making a pit stop.
Bobby Allison on his way to the win. I find it interesting Bobby raced a Chevy Monte Carlo in this race because he drove a Pontiac LeMans in the Riverside race - as did Ruttman as Allison's DiGard "teammate" in the race. Hauling multiple cars to the west coast seems a little out of character for that era.
One of more interesting looking cars at Phoenix might resonate with Dave Fulton. Driver Randy Olson made his debut in a prominent NASCAR series in a blue-and-yellow #3 Pontiac Grand Prix. From what I can tell, he bought the car from Richard Childress Racing and raced it pretty much "as is" with the notable exception of removing the Wrangler decals. Olson started 11 Winston West races beginning with the 82 Phoenix event. That's pretty much it - no Busch, Cup or even SuperTruck starts later on. The kid started 33rd and hung it there to finish 12th. Not a bad debut.
Source: StreetDreamer83 at Historical Stock Car Racing Forum
StreetDreamer also shared this photo of Bobby and Judy Allison in victory lane.
The race winner Bobby Allison and Winston West champion Roy Smith (from David Allio archives )
Race report from Schenectady Gazette
| Fin | Driver | Sponsor / Owner | Car |
| 1 | Bobby Allison | Gatorade (DiGard) | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Neil Bonnett | Mountain Dew | Buick |
| 3 | Hershel McGriff | Matson Graphics (Gary Smith) | Buick |
| 4 | Joe Ruttman | Levi Garrett Chewing Tobacco | Buick |
| 5 | Jim Robinson | Hammer Security (Lois Williams) | Oldsmobile |
| 6 | Roy Smith | J.R. Edgett Excavating (John Edgett) | Buick |
| 7 | Bill Schmitt | Mountain Dew (Bill Schmitt) | Buick |
| 8 | John Kieper | Wholesale Truck Parts (John Kieper) | Oldsmobile |
| 9 | Rick McCray | Coors / Mark C. Bloome (Rick McCray) | Pontiac |
| 10 | Don Waterman | St. John's Auto Parts (Don Waterman) | Buick |
| 11 | Clark Dwyer | Hamby Racing | Pontiac |
| 12 | Randy Olson | RAO Construction (Rich Olson) | Pontiac |
| 13 | Bob Kennedy | Erlich Motors (Phil Kord) | Chevrolet |
| 14 | Derrike Cope | Jefferson Racing (George Jefferson) | Ford |
| 15 | Trevor Boys | Buddie Boys Racing (Trevor Boys) | Pontiac |
| 16 | Glenn Francis | American Cam Grinding (Trent Francis) | Pontiac |
| 17 | Ron Esau | Lee's Iron / Ash Engines (Jack Lee) | Buick |
| 18 | Sumner McKnight | Aero Wash (Sumner McKnight) | Buick |
| 19 | Steve Pfeifer | KRAK Radio | Pontiac |
| 20 | Jim Reich | Ivan Baldwin Engineering (Ivan Baldwin) | Chevrolet |
| 21 | John Krebs | Fred Correa, D.D.S. (Fred Correa) | Pontiac |
| 22 | Jim Bown | Rose City Auto Wrecking (Dick Bown) | Buick |
| 23 | Ron Eaton | Bondo Auto Products (Ron Eaton) | Buick |
| 24 | Pat Mintey | Grimes & Son Grading (Pat Mintey) | Chevrolet |
| 25 | Earle Canavan | Wyandotte / JOB | Buick |
| 26 | Steve Kosiski | Palatine Auto Parts | Buick |
| 27 | Kevin Terris | West Coast RV | Buick |
| 28 | Randy Becker | Herborn's Brake Serivce (Robert Palmer) | Chrysler |
| 29 | Harry Goularte | Go-En Racing (Harry Goularte) | Buick |
| 30 | Gene Thonesen | Thonesen Racing (Gene Thonesen) | Buick |
| 31 | Mark Stahl | Mark Stahl Race Prep (Mark Stahl) | Ford |
| 32 | Richard Petty | STP | Pontiac |
| 33 | Clive Skilton | Bauer Buick | Buick |
| 34 | Al Vanderbyl | Don Walters Construction | Buick |
| 35 | Dennis DeVea | UNO | Buick |
updated by @tmc-chase: 11/27/17 01:25:42PM
Racing History Minute - November 27, 2013
Stock Car Racing History
The inaugural Winston West race at Phoenix International Raceway was held on November 27, 1977. Following the Cup season finale at Ontario, Cup regulars Cale Yarborough, Neil Bonnett and Bobby Allison joined the WW regulars. Not surprisingly, the Cup guys prevailed in the race much like the "Buschwhackers" in more recent years. Cale didn't race a Holly Farms / Junior Johnson #11 Chevy. Instead, he raced a #6 Jim Stacy-owned, Harry Hyde-prepared Dodge Charger as a teammate to Neil Bonnett.
The twin Dodges took the front row starting spots. Whoever was assigned by the AP to cover the race either had no idea about the participants or was a poor typist or had a poor editor. TIM Stacy? Chuck BOWEN? Longtime rivals Cale and Neil? Source: AP wire story in St. Joseph News-Press
Neil and Cale dominated the race. Neil led 99 of the race's 156 laps. But Cale traded the lead with him, pushed Bonnett's 5 car all day, and finally got past him for good with 19 laps to go. Allison finished 3rd but led no laps. Total domination by the Stacy Dodges. From Gadsden Times
Richard Petty had great success in the Winston West races at Phoenix from 1978 through 1981; however, he did not participate in the 1977 race. BUT, a Petty-built car DID race in the event. Bobby Fisher finished 9th in the Stroh's Beer #74 Petty Enterprises-built Dodge Charger. The car was originally built by PE for his brother Woody who then promptly went to Daytona and won the 1977 ARCA 200. Later in the season, the car somehow made its way into Bobby's hands. Bobby raced it to an 11th place finish in the October 1977 World Service Life 300 late model sportsman race at Charlotte (pic shown here), a 2nd place finish in the Warner Hodgdon 200 LMS at Ontario as a prelim event to the season-ending Cup race, and P9 in the Phoenix Winston West race.
RR member Bill Rossi now has part of the rusted yet identifiable sheet metal from this car.
updated by @tmc-chase: 05/15/18 11:37:58AM
Days till 2014 Daytona 500
Stock Car Racing History
With William involved and Burger King as the sponsor, I wonder if Pond and Testa said to him about the body work "OK William, you can... "
Days till 2014 Daytona 500
Stock Car Racing History
This version from the NHOF burns me. Has the 1972 thru late 70s era Winston Cup Grand National Drivers decal on it - even though this car is from 69-70. GRRR! Bah HallBUG! Ha.
Days till 2014 Daytona 500
Stock Car Racing History
Can I double-up on a day? Woody Fisher in the Petty-built ARCA Charger.
Days till 2014 Daytona 500
Stock Car Racing History
Now this could be neat thread to maintain through next Feb - daily countdown with pic of car number matching the days.
Looking for some Yuletide NASCAR laughs?
Current NASCAR
These well-done photoshopped images continue to make me laugh. I've revisited the pages time after time. Most funny - maybe a couple of them are disturbing. Ha. But I'm willing to bet most you will laugh your ho-ho-head off.
Drivers and their ugly Christmas sweaters
http://www.teamjimmyjoe.com/2011/12/nascar-drivers-and-their-ugly-christmas-sweaters/
Drivers - and a few others - sitting on Santa's lap
http://www.teamjimmyjoe.com/2012/12/nascar-drivers-sitting-on-santas-lap/
updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM
November 26, 1967 - Petty Wins Montgomery
Stock Car Racing History
I originally blogged about this race in 2011 here as part of my Richard Petty 200 Wins series:
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2011/11/november-26-this-day-in-petty-history.html
Richard Petty wins the pole and the 100-mile race at Alabama's Montgomery Speedway on November 26, 1967. Though the race was held in November 1967, it was scheduled by NASCAR as the second event of the 1968 Grand National season.
He leads 154 of the 200 laps to earn his 76th career win. Emerging rival Bobby Allison leads the remaining 46 laps and finishes 2nd as the only other car on the lead lap. Petty's win also ended a little hot streak by Allison who had paired with Fred Lorenzen as his crew chief in a Holman and Moody Ford. The duo won 3 consecutive races headed into the Montgomery event - [ Rockingham ], [ Asheville-Weaverville ] and Middle Georgia Raceway. (Petty finished 2nd to Allison at A-W and Middle Georgia.)
RR's Tiger Tom Pistone and Paul Lewis finished 4th and 5th, respectively. Lewis made the 1st of his 4 starts for owner J.D. Bracken - an owner whose 7 GN wins all came with Allison behind the wheel of his Chevrolet.
According to Greg Fielden in his book, Forty Years of Stock Car Racing - Volume 3 , Petty had not originally intended to participate in this race.
Petty showed up only after he received a sizable amount of "show money" from the promoters. Allison is one of the promoters at the half-mile paved track ... Petty and Allison, who have been involved in a few fender benders in recent weeks, met in victory circle. "Let's say we get along fine on the track," said Petty. "I'm not so sure about off the track, but its a thing of the past." - pp 166-167
Its interesting to read that at the time Petty thought the run-ins with Allison were over and done with. Instead, they continued off and on for another five seasons - culminating with their slam-bang affair at North Wilkesboro in October 1972.
| Fin | Driver | Sponsor / Owner | Car |
| 1 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | '67 Plymouth |
| 2 | Bobby Allison | Holman-Moody | '67 Ford |
| 3 | Bobby Isaac | K & K Insurance (Nord Krauskopf) | '67 Dodge |
| 4 | Tom Pistone | Turkey Minton | '67 Chevrolet |
| 5 | Paul Lewis | J.D. Bracken | '65 Chevrolet |
| 6 | Neil Castles | Neil Castles | '65 Dodge |
| 7 | Friday Hassler | Red Sharp | '66 Chevrolet |
| 8 | Buck Baker | Buck Baker | '66 Ford |
| 9 | Clyde Lynn | Clyde Lynn | '66 Ford |
| 10 | Jabe Thomas | Don Robertson | '67 Ford |
| 11 | Wendell Scott | Wendell Scott | '66 Ford |
| 12 | Elmo Langley | Elmo Langley / Henry Woodfield | '66 Ford |
| 13 | Henley Gray | Henley Gray | '66 Ford |
| 14 | E.J. Trivette | '66 Ford | |
| 15 | Phil Wendt | Ken Watter | '66 Chevrolet |
| 16 | Bill Vanderhoff | Truett Rodgers | '66 Chevrolet |
| 17 | Bill Ervin | Ralph Murphy | '66 Ford |
| 18 | Roy Tyner | Roy Tyner | '66 Pontiac |
| 19 | Don Biederman | Ron Stotten | '66 Chevrolet |
| 20 | LeeRoy Yarbrough | Junior Johnson | '67 Ford |
| 21 | Bill Seifert | Bill Seifert | '66 Ford |
| 22 | David Pearson | Holman-Moody | '67 Ford |
| 23 | John Sears | L.G. DeWitt | '66 Ford |
| 24 | Ben Arnold | Don Culpepper | '66 Ford |
| 25 | Bosco Lowe | Clyde Lynn | '67 Ford |
| 26 | Dub Simpson | Buck Baker | '67 Oldsmobile |
| 27 | Bob Cooper | Bob Cooper | '66 Chevrolet |
| 28 | Paul Dean Holt | Dennis Holt | '67 Ford |
| 29 | Red Farmer | Red Farmer | '67 Ford |
| 30 | Walson Gardner | Walson Gardner | '67 Ford |
updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
November 26, 1978 - The desert ends the drought
Stock Car Racing History
On the way back from Ontario, Richard Petty and a few other Cup regulars elected to participate in the Arizona NAPA 250 Winston West event at Phoenix International Raceway as some had done the year before.
In his first time on the track, Petty won the pole. Fellow Cup ringers Neil Bonnett and Bobby Allison started second and third. Winston West regular Bill Schmitt timed 4th in his Old Milwaukee Oldsmobile.
When the green flag flew, Petty began his domination of the race. He led the first 36 laps, the final 25 circuits, and 48 others in the middle for a total of 109 of the race's 156-laps, 250 kilometers distance.
Though the victory was scored as a Winston West (now K&N Pro Series West) series race and not included as part of Petty's record 200 Cup / GN wins, at least the King's year-and-a-half long losing streak was over. A win - any win - helps raise the spirits and morale of a team.
Read on for more:
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-26-1978-desert-ends-drought.html
| Fin | Driver | Sponsor / Owner | Car |
| 1 | Richard Petty | STP | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Jimmy Insolo | Lake's Drywall (Gerald Craker) | Pontiac |
| 3 | Bobby Allison | Summit Transport | Matador |
| 4 | Neil Bonnett | Armor All | Chevrolet |
| 5 | Bill Schmitt | Old Milwaukee (Bill Schmitt) | Oldsmobile |
| 6 | Harry Goularte | Summit (Harry Goularte) | Pontiac |
| 7 | Ray Elder | Midland Motor Homes (Dave Hill) | Dodge |
| 8 | Gary Johnson | Armstrong Electric | Pontiac |
| 9 | Roy Smith | Tropical Rent-a-Car (Dick Midgley) | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Tim Williamson | Plamer Glass (Tim Williamson) | Chevrolet |
| 11 | Ernie Stierly | Allied Plating (Ernie Stierly) | Chevrolet |
| 12 | Richard White | Boulevard Automotive | Oldsmobile |
| 13 | Hal Callentine | Cal-Four | Chevrolet |
| 14 | Dick Whalen | Dean Enterprises | Chevrolet |
| 15 | Pat Mintey | Stick Only (Pat Mintey) | Chevrolet |
| 16 | Earle Canavan | Pepsi-Cola | Dodge |
| 17 | Rusty Sanders | Puskarich Racing | Chevrolet |
| 18 | Don Graham | City Tow | Buick |
| 19 | Jim Bown | Rose Auto Wrecking | Plymouth |
| 20 | John Krebs | Tom's Union 76 (John Krebs) | Chevrolet |
| 21 | Duke Hoenshell | Wertz Furniture | Pontiac |
| 22 | David Pearson | G&W | Ford |
| 23 | Ronnie Thomas | Louise Smith | Chevrolet |
| 24 | John Borneman | Borneman Plastering (Arthur Godfrey) | Pontiac |
| 25 | Jim Robinson | Hammer Security (Jim Robinson) | Chevrolet |
| 26 | Mel Larson | Riviera Whirlpool | Oldsmobile |
| 27 | Rick McCray | Action Engineering (Rick McCray) | Pontiac |
| 28 | Wally Lambert | Old Milwaukee | Pontiac |
| 29 | Marc Vogel | V&W | Dodge |
| 30 | Billy Clarkson | City Tow | Chevrolet |
updated by @tmc-chase: 11/26/17 10:41:19AM