August 12, 1956: Tim Flock
Stock Car Racing History
Race program from Thomas K. Craig collection
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August 12, 1956: Tim Flock
Stock Car Racing History
Today's Cup schedule includes 2 road courses: Sonoma and Watkins Glen. Most of us remember the days before Sonoma when the cars raced twice per year at Riverside - and even three times in 1981. Bridgehampton Raceway in New York hosted 4 roadies for the GN cars from 1958-1966.
But on August 12, 1956, the Grand National cars raced at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI. NASCAR has returned to Road America in recent years with the Nationwide series, and some have clamored for it to be added to the Cup schedule as a 3rd road course.
Race preview from Daytona Beach Morning Journal
And a preview from the Milwaukee Sentinel
Buck Baker and Marvin Panch won the front row. Junior Johnson and Bill Amick were on the 2nd row. Johnson, however, had clutch issues and was out after only 1 lap. Interestingly, Amick had a similar issue and joined Junior 9 laps later.
The race had a balance of leaders with laps spread amongst Baker, Panch, Speedy Thompson, and your eventual winner, Tim Flock.
From Bill Rankin collection
updated by @tmc-chase: 08/25/17 10:25:56AM
August 12, 1973: Score one for the underdog at Talladega
Stock Car Racing History
I either didn't know this future chapter of Dick Brooks - or had forgotten it. Either way, this info is not in the forefront of my racing memory. In August 1994, on the same weekend Wally Dallenbach, Jr. made his final start for Petty Enterprises, it was reported Brooks bought 50% of SABCO Racing's #40 team. At the time, the car was driven by Bobby Hamilton. From what I can tell, Felix Sabates did not sell any portion of the company pertaining to Kyle Petty's Mello Yello team.
Source: The Albany Herald
August 12, 1973: Score one for the underdog at Talladega
Stock Car Racing History
Not only did Dick Brooks win in a loaner car, but he also had a loaner crewman for part of the race. One of Joe Frasson's pit crew pitched in to help the 22 Plymouth get the win.
And even the ol' 20th Century Drifter, Marty Robbins, made the race. He had a great qualifying run and started 10th. But he finished 36th in the FIFTY car field.
August 12, 1973: Score one for the underdog at Talladega
Stock Car Racing History
The sidebar story of the sad day with Smith's accident and death.
Source: Hendersonville NC Times-News
And from Gadsden Times
August 12, 1973: Score one for the underdog at Talladega
Stock Car Racing History
Herb Nab replacing an engine in Cale Yarborough's car and the King going through tech.
August 12, 1973: Score one for the underdog at Talladega
Stock Car Racing History
Short track aces Jody Ridley and L.D. Ottinger were each making their second career Cup start.
Pre-race notes column from Gadsden Times
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August 12, 1973: Score one for the underdog at Talladega
Stock Car Racing History
Tim wrote about a memorable (yet surprising to me) race earlier today - the 1951 Motor City 250 in Detroit.
Also, I blogged about Jim Paschal's win at Asheville-Weaverville 11 years later. And a couple of years ago, I blogged about Richard Petty's [ win at Bowman Gray ] on August 12, 1967 that began a 10-race winning streak.
But August 12 is also the anniversary for several other racing memories. Seems a shame to stop at these three.
On August 12, 1973, a true feel-good story took place at Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega. Journeyman Dick Brooks pulled the upset and scored his one and only career Grand National / Cup victory in the Talladega 500. Driving Jimmy Crawford's Plymouth, Brooks' win was the final Cup victory for that Chrysler brand name.
From Ray Lamm collection:
The feel-good day for Brooks was tempered heavily, however, by the death of second-year driver Larry Smith. From Randy Simmons collection:
Also, this was the race where Bobby Isaac was spooked by what he called voices in his head. He pulled into the garage, told folks the 'why' and left Cup racing behind for the season. (He didn't leave Cup altogether though as is often implied in many articles. He raced again in a handful of Cup races in 1974 through 1976.)
I'll add comments as I find more content from this race.
updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM