I vaguely remember the Penney's sponsorship for LSJ car. And made sense - as did the deal between Wrangler and Penney's on the apparel side. But the Auto Center line? I still have zero recall on that operation.
Race report from August 26 paper
And follow-up column from August 27 - Click article to open larger version in new tab.
Another race preview from August 24 Tennessean - Click to open larger version in new tab.
Ad for the Friday night Cup qualifying and local races. One of the track promotions then was a bicycle giveaway. I LIVED for those give-aways throughout the rest of the 1970s never winning once. I have to concede I was pretty bitter and sore loser when a good friend of mine DID win one of them. It was his first time at the track too. Someone I thought my 'veteran status' as a fan at the track merited me that bike. A true life lesson.
Qualifying report for Cale's pole-winning effort.- Click to open larger version in new tab.
Coverage of the race from The Tennessean. Clarity isn't as up-to-par as I'd like. Improvised at library by taking photos of microfilm screen with my iPad.
Race preview from August 22.
When I started going to races in the mid 70s at Nashville, I had more interest in watching the local guys race rather than the national Cup series. I kept an eye on who won the Cup events each week, but I read all I could on the regulars in Nashville's mini-stock, limited sportsman, and late model divisions. And The Tennessean helped by having good coverage of those races - even when the Cup guys came to town.
From August 23rd Tennessean
Darrell Waltrip was in unique position of competing on both sides of the garage. He was still a Fairgrounds regular and headed for his 2nd track championship in 1973. But he was also beginning to have opportunities at the Cup level as well.
From August 23rd Tennessean
DW even made a pre-race promo appearance at the JC Penney! My dad was a Sears guy for tires and DieHard batteries. I don't recall even seeing a JC Penney auto center.
A few more photos:
Seems like there is universal disdain for restrictor plates at Daytona and Talladega. Yet, they've been wrestling with the problem as far back as 1970. Here is Mario Rossi looking at the for Bobby Allison's Coke Machine.
Pete taking the checkers.
Apparently the trophy girl didn't get the memo that she was supposed to smile despite the sweat and grime.
OK, now that's better.
August 23, 1970: Starting fourth in the #40 Petty Plymouth Superbird, Pete Hamilton puts a whoopin' on the field in the Talladega 500. Hamilton led 153 of 188 laps. The remaining laps were sprinkled amongst Bobby Isaac (12), Charlie Glotzbach (6),and six others with five or less laps on point. Hamilton's Petty Enterprises teammate, King Richard, had a pedestrian day in his Bird. He started fifth and finished seventh but with but didn't lead a lap.
Fifty cars started the race. The front row was comprised of Bobby Isaac in the #71 Harry Hyde-prepared winged Dodge Charger and David Pearson in his Holman-Moody Ford. The second row included Charlie Glotzbach and Hamilton.
Read on for more:
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2013/08/august-23-1970-pete-doubles-up-at-dega.html
Finishing Order:
| Fin | Driver | Sponsor / Owner | Car |
| 1 | Pete Hamilton | 7-Up The Uncola (Petty Enterprises) | Plymouth |
| 2 | Bobby Isaac | K & K Insurance (Nord Krauskopf) | Dodge |
| 3 | Charlie Glotzbach | Dow Chemicals (Ray Nichels) | Dodge |
| 4 | David Pearson | Holman-Moody | Ford |
| 5 | Buddy Baker | Cotton Owens | Dodge |
| 6 | Cale Yarborough | TelePromTer / 60 Minute Cleaners (Wood Brothers) | Mercury |
| 7 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Plymouth |
| 8 | Ramo Stott | Ramo Stott | Plymouth |
| 9 | Jim Vandiver | O.L. Nixon | Dodge |
| 10 | James Hylton | Hylton Engineering (James Hylton) | Ford |
| 11 | Joe Frasson | Mario Frasson Cement Co. (Joe Frasson) | Dodge |
| 12 | Elmo Langley | Elmo Langley | Mercury |
| 13 | Bobby Allison | Coca-Cola (Mario Rossi) | Dodge |
| 14 | Coo Coo Marlin | Cunningham-Kelley (H.B. Cunningham) | Chevrolet |
| 15 | Friday Hassler | James Hanley | Chevrolet |
| 16 | Jabe Thomas | Don Robertson | Plymouth |
| 17 | Bill Champion | Bill Champion | Ford |
| 18 | John Sears | John Sears | Dodge |
| 19 | Ben Arnold | Ben Arnold | Ford |
| 20 | Johnny Halford | Ervin Pruitt | Dodge |
| 21 | Cecil Gordon | Cecil Gordon | Ford |
| 22 | Wendell Scott | Don Robertson | Plymouth |
| 23 | Frog Fagan | Giachetti Brothers (Richard Giachetti) | Chevrolet |
| 24 | Frank Warren | Frank Warren | Plymouth |
| 25 | Henley Gray | Henley Gray | Ford |
| 26 | Earl Brooks | Earl Brooks | Ford |
| 27 | Bill Dennis | Cecil Gordon | Ford |
| 28 | Joe Phipps | Joe Phipps | Chevrolet |
| 29 | Larry Baumel | Auto Lad (Allan Schlauer) | Ford |
| 30 | Lee Roy Carrigg | John Pemberton | Ford |
| 31 | Ron Keselowski | Kaye Engineering (John Keselowski) | Dodge |
| 32 | Dave Marcis | Dave Marcis | Dodge |
| 33 | Ken Meisenhelder | Ken Meisenhelder | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Roy Mayne | Tom Hunter | Chevrolet |
| 35 | Benny Parsons | L.G. DeWitt | Ford |
| 36 | Raymond Williams | Bill Seifert | Ford |
| 37 | Ken Spikes | Ken Spikes | Chevrolet |
| 38 | Wayne Smith | Wayne Smith | Chevrolet |
| 39 | Tiny Lund | John McConnell | Dodge |
| 40 | Dick Brooks | Dick Brooks | Plymouth |
| 41 | J.D. McDuffie | J.D. McDuffie | Mercury |
| 42 | Buddy Arrington | Buddy Arrington | Dodge |
| 43 | Charlie Roberts | Charlie Roberts | Dodge |
| 44 | Bill Shirey | Bill Shirey | Plymouth |
| 45 | Ed Negre | Ed Negre | Ford |
| 46 | Don Tarr | Don Tarr | Dodge |
| 47 | Bill Seifert | Bill Seifert | Ford |
| 48 | Richard Brickhouse | Tom Pistone | Ford |
| 49 | Fred Lorenzen | Ray Fox | Dodge |
| 50 | Neil Castles | Neil Castles | Dodge |
You covered more details about the race than the Associated Press.
Tim - I borrowed liberally from your text to craft a blog post re: Welborn's win.
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2015/08/august-23-1958-bob-welborn-wins-myrtle.html
