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Racing History Minute - September 2, 1957

Stock Car Racing History

Tim - I hadn't heard the story before about Lee Petty not being there when qualifying opened - or that Bobby Myers qualified the 42. But that likely puts this photo in context for me. I found it months ago on some site call stockcar-world.com. Apparently the top 2 qualifiers had their photo made. But if I'm reading between the lines accurately, it sounds like Bobby was able to substitute the Petty Olds #4 for his 2nd starting spot as he gave Lee back his #42 where he raced it from his 8th starting spot.

Racing History Minute - September 2, 1957

Stock Car Racing History

Race program

Racing History Minute - September 2, 1957

Stock Car Racing History

Bobby Myers pre-race from Randy Myers collection

The front row from  Bill Rankin collection

Bobby Myers' car from Ron Wetzler 's collection

Fonty Flock's wrecked car owned by Herb Thomas from  Craig Bontrager's collection

updated by @tmc-chase: 09/02/17 10:31:41AM

Racing History Minute - September 2, 1957

Stock Car Racing History

The first third of this video is stuff like qualifying and other pre-race activities.

• The pace laps begin around 9:30 mark.
• Green flag drops around 11:40.
• The video shows Herb Thomas qualifying in a red-and-white #92. Later the 92 car is shown in all black, the narrator mentions Fonty Flock is behind the wheel. I'm thinking the Herb footage may have been from the spring race and just edited into the video without mention.
• The Flock-Myers-Goldsmith storyline begins around 14:10. Its interesting because Goldsmith's narration added later references "Billy" vs. Bobby.
• 19:45 Lee and Curtis get together.
• 22:40 Lee loses a right front, pops the fence and slides to the infield. From what is shown in the video, I couldn't tell anyone roughed up Lee, including Little Joe.

Other September 1 Southern 500 winners

Stock Car Racing History

I believe that was the curmudgeonly Super Tex, AJ Foyt. And thanks to a failed power steering belt or pump or something on Cale's Hardee's Ford, Awesome Bill became Million Dollar Bill.

As for forgetting, I probably should have added the disclaimer like Tim. He was cutting off the reviews as of 1983 - the final year for running the 500 on Labor Day. Elliott's win was indeed Sept 1 - but it was on Sunday vs. Labor Day Monday.

Still - some neat trivia to think a 4x Indy 500 winner, a Daytona 500 winner, a LeMans winner, and a master of many types of race cars still had to go through rookie orientation. Its also cool that AJ had enough respect for the track and tradition to go through with it vs. barking his way out of it.

Other September 1 Southern 500 winners

Stock Car Racing History

As referenced in Tim Leeming's post about the September 1, 1975, Southern 500 , four other 500s were held on September 1. Trying to squeeze in a few pics and other items before the clock strikes midnight in the CDT.

1952 - Fonty Flock

Video uploaded by RR's Russ Thompson

And some cool footage from collection of Lloyd Moore.

1958 - Fireball Roberts

The race featured the incredible wreck by Eddie Pagan. He tore down about 100' of guardrail, and the drivers were told to run low in that area the rest of the race. Fireball ran the line he wanted and won the race. (Pic from David Hawkins collection.)

1969 - Lee Roy Yarbrough (from Ray Lamm collection) - and one of my favorite victory lane photos

1980 - Terry Labonte ( Andy Towler collection)

Video of finish shared by RR's Jay Coker.

updated by @tmc-chase: 08/31/17 12:38:52PM

Racing History Minute - September 1, 1975 - Southern 500

Stock Car Racing History

I really wish I could land a better version of this photo. Really a great shot - and shows how much racing really captured the interest of kids back then.

Racing History Minute - September 1, 1975 - Southern 500

Stock Car Racing History

It was a day of relief drivers. Petty came out of the 43, and Dave Marcis climbed in. Benny Parsons needed help in his 72, and DW took over. And then DW managed to spin out and take out Marcis with him. Fortunately, the King got back in the car and recovered to finish 2nd.

But there was plenty of blame to go around from others involved in the scrum.

Source: Spartanburg Herald Journal

updated by @tmc-chase: 08/31/17 12:40:09PM

Racing History Minute - September 1, 1975 - Southern 500

Stock Car Racing History

Race program

Racing History Minute - September 1, 1975 - Southern 500

Stock Car Racing History

With heavy rains and a clogged drain, sounds like the track was on its ways to a Kyle Petty dream. He struggled at Darlington so badly that he wanted it flooded and stocked with bass.