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September 20, 1959: Lee Petty Hauls in Hillsboro

Stock Car Racing History

Starting seventh in his #42 Plymouth, Lee Petty wins a 100-mile, 110-lap race on the .9 mile dirt Orange Speedway in Hillsboro, NC. Richard helped make it a good time for the Level Cross team with a third place finish in his #43 Plymouth (albeit with a wounded car).

Lee finished one lap ahead of second place Cotton Owens. Junior Johnson was originally flagged as the third place finisher but was subsequently disqualified to 22nd and last place. Richard, who limped home on a bum rear axle, was elevated from 4th to 3rd.

Jack Smith and the future King started on the front row. Junior Johnson arrived to the track late, and he had to start out back in the 22-car field. NASCAR would later reunite him with his starting spot in the race's final, official rundown.

Read on for more.

https://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2013/09/september-20-1959-lee-petty-hauls-in.html

Fin	Driver	Car
1	Lee Petty	'59 Plymouth
2	Cotton Owens	'59 T-Bird
3	Richard Petty	'59 Plymouth
4	Larry Frank	'57 Chevrolet
5	Roy Tyner	'57 Chevrolet
6	Herman Beam	'57 Chevrolet
7	R.L. Combs	'57 Ford
8	G.C. Spencer	'57 Chevrolet
9	Bill Scott	'57 Chevrolet
10	Tom Pistone	'59 T-Bird
11	Shep Langdon	'58 Ford
12	Buck Baker	'59 Chevrolet
13	Fred Harb	'57 Ford
14	George Green	'57 Chevrolet
15	Buck Brigance	'57 Chevrolet
16	Jack Smith	'59 Chevrolet
17	Rex White	'58 Ford
18	Speedy Thompson	'58 Pontiac
19	Ned Jarrett	'57 Ford
20	Bobby Keck	'57 Chevrolet
21	E.J. Trivette	'57 Plymouth
22	Junior Johnson	'59 Dodge

updated by @tmc-chase: 09/20/20 07:55:17PM

Racing History Minute - September 20, 1964

Stock Car Racing History

Game was Sept 20 not 21. Once again I got in too much of a hurry. I went to Sept 21 news archives to find articles and pics for stuff that happened the day before.

Racing History Minute - September 20, 1964

Stock Car Racing History

Though this site is dedicated to the preservation of stock car racing's history, we occasionally draw in historical or trivia nuggets from "outside the track".

September 21, 1964 is also the date the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the New York Giants and their legendary but aged quarterback, Y.A. Tittle. Morris Berman of the Pittsburgh Post captured one of the most famous sports photos of all time of the battered and beaten QB who was at the end of his rope professionally.

But at just about the same time, a second photographer captured a similar image - though not distributed nearly as much as Berman's photo. The photographer of this 2nd photo was a young guy from Atlanta named ... Dozier Mobley. In the years to come, Mobley had a great career capturing many memorable photos from NASCAR events.

Read on for more:

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/one-moment-two-photographs-different-tales/nQZPM/

updated by @tmc-chase: 09/19/17 04:49:35PM

Racing History Minute - September 20, 1964

Stock Car Racing History

Race Report from Spartanburg Herald.

NAPA Leaving MWR

Current NASCAR

In reviewing tweets this morning and trading texts and emails with friends, a theme is beginning to surface. What if NAPA invoked their conduct clause as one of convenience? Sure, the backdrop of Richmond could perhaps be legally used as a way to exit their relationship. But what if a parallel effort is underway to have them sign with NASCAR as the middle series title sponsor with Nationwide stepping away after 2014?

I've read NW's deal with NASCAR was about $8M per year. A Cup deal for one team probably cost them at least 2x that. Perhaps they're prepared to take on the full series, not tie their full commitment to one team, cut the spend and increase their return.

No way do they exit NASCAR altogether - at least not for any great length of time. Auto parts and NASCAR fans go together like peanut butter and jelly.

But if this situation plays out, it wouldn't be the first time NASCAR has nabbed a team sponsor for their own benefit.

NAPA Leaving MWR

Current NASCAR

I'm not happy about the whole Richmond deal. But this is a complete overreaction by NAPA. They could've rolled with their tersely worded press release. Perhaps have some shouting matches behind closed doors - which probably happened. Maybe even ding MWR some financial support that wasn't made public. But to ditch the team completely is ludicrous. NO ONE is going to think less of NAPA as a chain because of what Truex's teammates did.

Poor ol' Truex keeps getting knuckle rapped in his C.O. Jones.

If the Chase had been in the 1960s

Current NASCAR

updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM

September 18, 1965: Capital City 300 at Richmond

Stock Car Racing History

Earlier today, Tim Leeming posted about a [ September 18, 1964 race in Manassas, VA ]. Exactly one year later, the teams were back in the commonwealth of Virginia - except they were in Richmond.

For more than half the 1965 season, the GN fields were void of Dodges and Plymouths because of the Chrysler boycott of NASCAR racing. Once a compromise was reached between the two parties, the factory-backed Mopars were allowed back on the circuit. They were allowed to run all but the big tracks. Teams such as Cotton Owens with David Pearson and the Petty Enterprises teams did not run two of the big races down the stretch - the Southern 500 or the National 400.

But when the Dodges and Plymouths DID race, they were awfully quick - just as they were in 1964. At Richmond, the Blue Oval still kept its pride for a while in qualifying as Dick Hutcherson nabbed the pole in a Holman-Moody Ford. Pearson timed his Owens' Dodge right beside him. Fords and one Mercury took 6 of the remaining 8 spots of the top 10 starting spots.

Four drivers split the lap leads fairly evenly. Darel Dieringer in Bud Moore's Mercury led 72 laps, Ned Jarrett led 58, and pole-winner Hutcherson led 47. (Junior Johnson also led a single lap). But Pearson led a chunk of 80 laps early, led a few more during the race, and then went out front for good with 19 laps to go to claim the win.

Dodge was represented by 4 drivers - Pearson, the 2 Buddys - Baker and Arrington, and Gene Hobby. Plymouth had one car in the show - the familiar 43 Petty blue Plymouth from Level Cross, NC. Most fans didn't expect the car to make the show because Richard Petty was still fulfilling drag racing match race contract obligations even after the Chrysler boycott was lifted. Yet Ol' Blue rolled into Richmond's fairgrounds. But the driver had folks scratching their heads.

In a [ August 2012 post ] I submitted about Curtis Turner's (almost) return in a #43 Petty Plymouth, Dave Fulton recalled this memory about another driver who was unexpectedly behind the wheel of the 43.

Funny how the deal with Richard's 1965 obligations following the return of Chrysler from their boycott affected who appeared in the #43 when and where.

I was sitting in the bleachers at the half-mile Richmond dirt track on Sunday, September 18, 1965 and the Petty car wasn't expected to run. Just before qualifying, low and behold, the #43 suddenly appeared coming into the backstretch gate on a trailer towed by the Petty bob truck.

The entire facility shook with the fans roaring their approval. Funny thing, though - turned out to be LeeRoy Yarbrough who'd wheel the Petty blue #43 at Richmond that day, finishing 34th after crashing out.

I learned a couple of years ago that Lee Roy drove the car - and wrecked it. But I STILL don't know what led to his getting the call from Lee, Richard and the guys to make the deal happen. Two drivers who'd previously driven for the Pettys - Buck Baker and Jim Paschal - already had rides for the Richmond race. But I'm still unsure how Yarbrough got the nod. For that matter, I'm rather surprised the Pettys sent a car to the track at all - other than the Petty bunch had a great relationship with track promoter Paul Sawyer.

The teams did race the night before in Manassas, and the future King won the event. I suppose since the GN team was already in the state that they decided to haul the car to Richmond and race it. Meanwhile, Richard must have headed for an airport to fulfill his drag racing commitment.

At that time the half-mile track still had its dirt surface. A hard rain shower earlier in the day muddied up the track and pit area. After Yarbrough pitted, he slid in the mud and whacked a light pole head-on.

Four laps later, Tiny Lund also slid in the mud coming off pit road and hit the same light pole tearing the driver's door right off his Ford.

A couple of articles about Pearson's win. One from the  Spartanburg Herald and the other from the Free Lance-Star .

Fin	Driver	Sponsor / Owner	Car
1	David Pearson	Cotton Owens	'65 Dodge
2	Darel Dieringer	Bud Moore	'64 Mercury
3	Junior Johnson	Junior Johnson	'65 Ford
4	J.T. Putney	Herman Beam	'65 Chevrolet
5	Neil Castles	Buck Baker	'65 Oldsmobile
6	Bert Robbins	Emory Gilliam	'64 Ford
7	Wendell Scott	Wendell Scott	'63 Ford
8	E.J. Trivette	Jess Potter	'63 Chevrolet
9	Lionel Johnson	Clay Eastridge	'64 Ford
10	Bob Derrington	Bob Derrington	'63 Ford
11	Clyde Lynn	Clyde Lynn	'64 Ford
12	Elmo Langley	Elmo Langley	'64 Ford
13	Gene Hobby	Gene Hobby	'64 Dodge
14	Henley Gray	Gene Cline	'64 Ford
15	Paul Lewis	Paul Lewis	'64 Ford
16	Buddy Baker	Buck Baker	'64 Dodge
17	Jimmy Helms	David Warren	'63 Ford
18	Doug Cooper	Bob Cooper	'65 Chevrolet
19	Ned Jarrett	Bondy Long	'65 Ford
20	Jim Paschal	Tom Friedkin	'65 Chevrolet
21	Roy Mayne	Tom Hunter	'65 Chevrolet
22	Buddy Arrington	Buddy Arrington	'64 Dodge
23	G.C. Spencer	G.C. Spencer	'64 Ford
24	Buck Baker	Buck Baker	'65 Chevrolet
25	Dick Hutcherson	Holman-Moody	'65 Ford
26	Gene Black	C.L. Crawford	'64 Ford
27	Red Foote	Larry Manning	'64 Chevrolet
28	Sonny Hutchins	Junie Donlavey	'64 Ford
29	Stick Elliott	Toy Bolton	'65 Chevrolet
30	Roy Tyner	Roy Tyner	'65 Chevrolet
31	Worth McMillion	Allen McMillion	'64 Pontiac
32	Wayne Smith	Archie Smith	'65 Chevrolet
33	Tiny Lund	Lyle Stelter	'64 Ford
34	LeeRoy Yarbrough	Petty Enterprises	'65 Plymouth
35	Tom Pistone	Glen Sweet	'64 Ford
36	Curtis Turner	Junior Johnson	'65 Ford
37	Cale Yarborough	Kenny Myler	'64 Ford

updated by @tmc-chase: 03/08/17 09:20:52PM

September 18, 1960: Richard wins his 3rd race

Stock Car Racing History

I'll be in Music City on the 28th and packing for a trip to Phoenix. AFTER the 28th, perhaps the story can be shared here.

September 18, 1960: Richard wins his 3rd race

Stock Car Racing History

My sense of humor is wide ranging from thought provoking wit to juvenile um err "pass gas" jokes. I enjoy hefty portions of cheesy jokes - and have plenty to share.