DOH! I know better than that. I'll leave "as is" though to fully cop to my mistake and to keep your reply relevant. I've had a couple of those lately. Need to do better job of proofreading before submitting. Need to eliminate incidents of being a...
Occoneechee? Or is it Orange?
Is it Hillsboro? Or is it Hillsborough?
Either way, young Richard Petty won his third career Grand National race on the western ...err, central North Carolina dirt track on September 18, 1960. I posted a blog entry a couple of years about the race that can still be read here:
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2011/09/september-18-this-day-in-petty-history.html
But I'll repeat a good bit of it here.
Richard Petty earns his third career victory by taking the pole, leading every lap, and winning the 110-lap race at Orange Speedway in Hillsboro, NC. Only 18 cars started the event.
Junior Johnson tried to give Richard a run. However, he ran off the track and his pursuit was done. Richard's father, three-time Grand National champion, and [ 1960 spring winner ] at Hillsboro, Lee Petty, settled in second place after Johnson was gone. But with less than 20 laps to go, Lee broke and ended up finishing 11th.
| Fin | Driver | Car |
| 1 | Richard Petty | '60 Plymouth |
| 2 | Ned Jarrett | '60 Ford |
| 3 | Rex White | '59 Chevrolet |
| 4 | Herman Beam | '60 Ford |
| 5 | Jimmy Pardue | '59 Dodge |
| 6 | Tommy Irwin | '59 T-Bird |
| 7 | L.D. Austin | '58 Chevrolet |
| 8 | Buck Baker | '60 Chevrolet |
| 9 | Roy Tyner | '59 Oldsmobile |
| 10 | Paul Lewis | '60 Chevrolet |
| 11 | Lee Petty | '60 Plymouth |
| 12 | Fred Harb | '58 Ford |
| 13 | Junior Johnson | '59 Chevrolet |
| 14 | Elmo Langley | '59 T-Bird |
| 15 | David Pearson | '59 Chevrolet |
| 16 | Doug Yates | '59 Plymouth |
| 17 | Curtis Crider | '59 Plymouth |
| 18 | Larry Frank | '59 T-Bird |
Just a few years ago, Nashville's historic fairgrounds speedway was on life support and essentially given last rites. But with a commitment from fans, residents, taxpayers ... and perhaps an effectively used legal loophole, it looks like the track and the larger fairgrounds property is going to stick around a while longer anyway.
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130918/NEWS01/309180120/Tennessee-State-Fairgrounds-appears-here-stay
I'm not naive enough to believe there has been a change of heart by the mayor or some local politicos who want to re-purpose the property. For now, however, it looks like that faction is backing away from their intent to shut it down.
This development is indeed good news for fans of local short-track racing here. I'd love nothing more to see the track become relevant enough again to be a feeder track to NASCAR's major series.
Looking back, I count myself privileged for having met J.D. briefly a few months earlier at Nashville. As a young teen, the June 1978 Music City 420 was my first Cup race. J.D. was one of a handful of drivers who autographed my program with a ballpoint stick pen.
J.D.'s pole winning effort at Dover also earned him a spot in the inaugural Busch Clash at Daytona in February 1979.
The starting positions for the Clash were determined by pulling a numbered beer can from an ice cold container. He was hoping to be up front or out back. Turns out he drew for 5th starting spot. The following article was written by Joe Biddle when he was a young sports reporter for the [ Daytona Beach Morning Journal ]. Soon afterwards, he moved to Nashville where he was a long-time reporter and columnist for the Nashville Banner and The Tennessean. Joe told me he didn't know much about motorsports. But his sports editor said "Go cover it." So he did. And the articles I've read by him from that magical February 1979 Speedweeks were all well done.
Some pics from the 1978 Delaware 500.
Race program
A couple of neat photo pages from inside it featuring The King, Benny Parsons, and Marty Robbins.
And several nice shots from Lee Greenawalt collection
Neil Bonnett in an Olds after Jim Stacy had to rent rides for him after his program started to belly up. This 442 actually lists Rod Osterland as the owner vs. Stacy.
Smut Means - a former track champion at Nashville's Fairgrounds Speedway
DW - another 2x champion from Nashville
Gary Myers
And in my best attempt at typing a track PA announcer...
Your pole winner ... from SANford North CaroLINa ... in his Bailey Excavating Chevrolet ... sporting McCreary tires: Jaayyy Dee McDufffieee
Ray Lamm has this 1961 Atlanta photo in his collection. It isn't identified as being from the spring race or the Dixie 400. However, I'm speculating it was taken early in the Dixie 400 based on Fireball Roberts and Nelson Stacy starting 1-2 in it.
George Alsobrook who started 18 races from 1958 through 1962. Started 31st and finished 34th after burning a piston in his Joe Jones owned Ford.
Race program and lineup sheet.
Well, looks like business as usual after all for the 2014 schedule at least as it pertains to Darlington and Atlanta.
http://www.darlingtonraceway.com/Tickets/Events/Bojangles-Southern-500.aspx
http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/events/
Was really hoping for the renewal of the Southern 500 around LD weekend.
