Racing History Minute - September 4, 1950
Stock Car Racing History
Your top 3 finishers: Fireball (2nd), Red Byron (3rd), Johnny Mantz (1st).
From American Racing Classics book, Vol 1, Number 1.
Forum Activity for @tmc-chase
Stock Car Racing History
Other September 3 Southern 500 winners
Stock Car Racing History
For the 1956 Southern 500, I found this starting line-up in the September 2 Wilmington Star News . Looks like Lee Petty DID qualify his Dodge in the 9th row. Glen Wood had to draw for position and was slated to start in 23rd row - almost out back. But clearly something happened between Saturday and Monday for LP to abandon his Dodge and climb aboard the Ford.
Other September 3 Southern 500 winners
Stock Car Racing History
Other Labor Day Southern 500 winners on September 3rd.
1951 - Herb Thomas
1956 - Curtis Turner
- For reasons I don't yet know, Lee Petty didn't race his traditional #42 Plymouth. Instead he raced a #35 Ford - apparently entered originally for Glen Wood and owned by Fred Frazier. Lee started 68th in the 70 car field and finished 17th.
- Perhaps one of the funniest race stories I've ever heard is captured in this photo shared by Dargan Watts . "Dink Widenhouse was involved in a wreck during the running of the 1956 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. and when he started to climb out of his car, his legs became tangled in his lap belt and he also realized that he had a cut on his arm, which startled him so badly that he fainted and ended up in the position shown in the picture."
1973 - Cale Yarborough
from Motor Racing Programme Covers
from Woody Delbridge collection
1979 - David Pearson
Pre-race activities
Race day! (part 1)
Part 2
From Ray Lamm collection
From Ray Lamm collection
2nd place finisher Bill Elliott - From Ray Lamm collection
updated by @tmc-chase: 09/02/17 09:19:52PM
Racing History Minute - September 3, 1962
Stock Car Racing History
A couple of still photos from Johnny Allen's accident.
His spin starts things...
...and the inferno finishes it off.
updated by @tmc-chase: 09/02/17 09:38:13PM
Racing History Minute - September 3, 1962
Stock Car Racing History
Larry Frank pictured with some of his trophies including the 1962 Southern 500 winner's trophy and the Dixie Cup trophy. Source: American Racing Classics book, Vol 1, Number 4.
Racing History Minute - September 3, 1962
Stock Car Racing History
Some video.
A couple of clips of Johnny Allen's scary accident.
Full ABC Wide World of Sports condensed coverage of the race. Funny how Jim McKay adds at the end how Frank won the race as if the decision was made immediately.
Racing History Minute - September 3, 1962
Stock Car Racing History
Humorous yet genuine follow-up story about Frank's win. Love the part where he is calling to folks to explain his win and reconciling his job by tying it to their meeting the Pettys and Junior Johnson.
Source: News And Courier
Racing History Minute - September 3, 1962
Stock Car Racing History
The trophy for Larry Frank's win as shared last December by PTK. Patsy - Where did the trophy end up after all the discussion?
Last December, there was also a good discussion about the Dixie Cup trophy that was first presented at the 1962 Southern 500. Dennis Garret kicked off the discussion along with pics [ here ].
updated by @tmc-chase: 09/02/17 09:37:55PM
Racing History Minute - September 3, 1962
Stock Car Racing History
Saw comment on racing-reference.info and had to prove it to myself. Sure nuff, Larry Frank's win in car #66 is the only GN/Cup win by that car number ever (667 starts though September 1, 2013).
Also Frank had a bit of good fortune to have the protest go his way for the win. But while he waiting out the news, some ne'er-do-wells broke into his go-kart shop. (Source: Wilmington Star-News )
