Forum Activity for @tmc-chase

Racing History Minute - September 29, 1963

Stock Car Racing History

Coincidentally, today is also the anniversary of the final North Wilkesboro Cup race: September 29, 1996.

September 27, 1981 - Waltrip Wins Old Dominion 500

Stock Car Racing History

What? Who - me?! I got no idea whut ya talkin' about.

September 27, 1981 - Waltrip Wins Old Dominion 500

Stock Car Racing History

For the 1981 Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville, Ol' DW won the pole and the race in his Mountain Dew Buick. He didn't dominate the race as he had others, but he led his share. Relative Cup newcomer, Harry Gant, was on point for most of the race. He qualified third and led half the race in his 1st year team's Skoal Bandit Pontiac.

Race program from Motor Racing Programme Covers

Several good photos from this race have been shared here at RR. Here are a few:

The cars are rolled out and drivers are buckled in to begin the race. Jimmy Hensley drove Cecil Gordon's traditional #24. And Tommy Houston was in Roger Hamby's traditional #17. From  Greg Minter collection.

Pace lap with Waltrip on the pole, Ricky Rudd in the DiGard 88 flanking him, the Bandit and Benny Parsons in Bud Moore's Ford on the 2nd row, and newcomer Mark Martin starting 5th. It was only the 5th Cup race for Martin - and he hung in there all day to finish 3rd. From  Greg Minter collection.

Great shot of The King at speed captured by Greg Minter .

The Pettys didn't have much success in their twin Buicks that fall day in 1981. Richard finished 18th and Kyle finished 19th - both with DNFs. Both were bested by a journeyman Virginian in a Dodge who was SPONSORED by Kyle Petty - Buddy Arrington.

Your race winner. From  Greg Minter collection.

Tommy Ellis (55) spins and gets tagged by The King. I think that may be Joe Millikan in Cliff Stewart's 5 Pontiac behind Richard. If so, he dodged the accident and finished a commendable 5th. Geoff Bodine, wearing a full face helmet, is spun to the inside in Emanuel Zervakis' Buick.

Race report from Hendersonville NC Times-News (click to make larger)

Fin	Driver	Car
1	Darrell Waltrip	Buick
2	Harry Gant	Pontiac
3	Mark Martin	Pontiac
4	Neil Bonnett	Ford
5	Joe Millikan	Pontiac
6	Ron Bouchard	Buick
7	Jimmy Hensley	Buick
8	Ricky Rudd	Chevrolet
9	Terry Labonte	Buick
10	Bobby Allison	Buick
11	Buddy Arrington	Dodge
12	Tommy Houston	Chevrolet
13	Tommy Gale	Ford
14	Dave Marcis	Chevrolet
15	Jimmy Means	Pontiac
16	Bob McElee	Buick
17	Joe Ruttman	Buick
18	Richard Petty	Buick
19	Kyle Petty	Buick
20	Tim Richmond	Buick
21	Jody Ridley	Ford
22	Lake Speed	Buick
23	Geoffrey Bodine	Buick
24	Benny Parsons	Ford
25	Lennie Pond	Buick
26	Dale Earnhardt	Pontiac
27	Ronnie Thomas	Pontiac
28	Morgan Shepherd	Pontiac
29	Buddy Baker	Buick
30	Tommy Ellis	Chevrolet

updated by @tmc-chase: 09/26/17 11:53:05AM

Racing History Minute - September 28, 1958

Stock Car Racing History

I believe this is Eubanks racing Junior Johnson at Hillsboro in that 1958 race. From Getty Images.

Racing History Minute - September 28, 1958

Stock Car Racing History

AP wire copy race report from Spartanburg Herald

Racing History Minute - September 28, 1958

Stock Car Racing History

Very neat you ran into Fielden. Glad to know he is feeling much better and getting out to events like these. I don't think I'd recognize him in public. Glad you had chance to meet and chat with him.

Racing History Minute - September 27, 1959

Stock Car Racing History

Rex's victory didn't come without some more controversy from NASCAR officials and scoring. From the sound of things, looks like scoring missed a lap for Rex during a pit stop sequence. They had him pinned down a lap behind Glen Wood. The fans left the tracking thinking the #21 driver from Stuart, VA had won. Instead, a scoring record recheck revealed Rex had NOT lost a lap and had indeed won the race.

Source: Fredericksburg VA Free Lance Star

Also, the Old Dominion 500 turned into the Oh Dear! 500 for some including Fireball Roberts (88) and Cotton Owens (6). Front-row starter Tommy Owen (38) also spun. But as Tim noted above, he rallied for a top 5 finish. Looks like R.L. Combs (63) made it through the narrow passage as well; however, he still struggled throughout the race and finished 27th.

updated by @tmc-chase: 09/26/17 11:53:37AM

Top 5: Over-The-Hill NASCAR Champions

General

Good trivia about how tough it is to not only race past age 40 - but also be a championship contender.

But are you talking about just Winston Cup champs vs. GN too? Lee Petty started racing GN when he was 35 and that was in 1949. So he would have been 45+ when he won his 3rd title in 1959.

Wondering about guys like Herb Thomas and Buck Baker too.

49 Years Ago - September 26, 1964 - Richard Petty Wins QUALIFYING Race to Make Martinsville Old Dominion 500

Stock Car Racing History

Race report from Sept 27, 1964 Spartanburg Herald

49 Years Ago - September 26, 1964 - Richard Petty Wins QUALIFYING Race to Make Martinsville Old Dominion 500

Stock Car Racing History

Petty made the most of a challenging situation that weekend. Raced in the "hooligan" event to make the main event. Then he finished 2nd in the Old Dominion 500. And with that finish, he locked up the 1st of his 7 GN/Cup series titles.