Forum Activity for @tmc-chase

1978 Henley Gray - Petty connection? Need some assistance

Stock Car Racing History

[ Donald Evans ] posted this unique looking Petty car about a year ago. Its from the 1978 fall race at Dover. It was only the 5th start for The King after changing from Dodge to Chevy.

I knew then it was a unique paint design. But I hadn't given it a lot more thought. Figured PE was just experimenting with how the new manufacturer cars should look. Until now that is...

Last night, a friend emailed me a link to this pic. As best I can tell, its from the 1978 Mason-Dixon 500 - the SPRING Dover race.

#10 Winston Cup 1978" height="267" width="400"> The race rundown shows Elmo Langley drove this car for Henley Gray. But a couple of things jump out at me. The rookie stripe - Elmo was no rookie in 1978. And the Petty blue and yellow paint are other clues. I've tried making out the name on the door, and I THINK it says Fisher - as in maybe Woody Fisher?

You may recall Petty Enterprises built a Dodge Charger for Woody Fisher in the mid 70s - and it was later renumbered and raced by his brother, Bobby Fisher.

The yellow design on the Charger matches the yellow on Henley/Elmo's 10 car. And the design on the blue/yellow Monte Carlo match the pattern on the King's blue/STP red Monte.

My hunch is Woody paid to have the 10 car painted by PE for the spring race with the colors he raced on the Dodge. But for a reason I don't yet know, it looks like Woody didn't actually qualify or race the car - Elmo did. So maybe his lap times were poor, maybe he didn't bring a race sponsor with him (notice the 10 car has zero sponsor decals), or who knows. But it looks like Elmo was given the car over Fisher. Woody did make 3 Cup starts in 1978 - all in #19 Chevys fielded by Henley. (Dick May raced Henley's 19 car in that spring Dover race.)

The next hunch is PE must have bought the car from Henley, masked it, and painted over the yellow with STP red to run the fall Delaware 500.

Anyone with any insight as to how all this went down? Am I even in the ball park?

updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Racing History Minute - August 2, 1959

Stock Car Racing History

And this was the quickly scheduled and promoted sequel to the previous week's Charlotte race. Or as I've dubbed it, the "Charlotte Chequel". Tim Leeming covered that race here:

http://racersreunion.com/community/forum/stock-car-racing-history/25706/racing-history-minute-july-26-1959

updated by @tmc-chase: 08/02/17 09:55:25AM

Racing History Minute - August 2, 1959

Stock Car Racing History

In reflection, Ned's story about the floating check, the "all-in" risk he took to cover it, the tenacity shown by him to race hard and through pain, etc. seems to be the storyline of the two races in two days pairing. At the time, however, the story line for Charlotte was anticipated retribution by Lee Petty against Junior Johnson from a previous dust-up between the 2 at Charlotte.

Source: Spartanburg Herald Journal

As expected, the two of them went toe to toe for the lead - but with the different twist with Junior driving in relief for Weatherly who had been driving in relief for Ned. But of all the things to fail, Lee's radiator cap blew off while battling for the top spot with Junior. From there, Junior rolled on to victory in Ned's car. Just remarkable to think of not one but TWO driver changes - and Ned's car still won. Guess it didn't take much back then to quickly unlatch a lap belt and open the door to make the swap.

Source: Spartanburg Herald Journal

updated by @tmc-chase: 08/02/17 09:54:40AM

Racing History Minute - August 1, 1959

Stock Car Racing History

A photo of Bill Poor and his wife was published in the July 25, 1958 issue of the Rochester Democrat Chronicle. It was to promote that night's 100-mile GN race that was won by Cotton Owens.

Racing History Minute - August 1, 1959

Stock Car Racing History

Don't know anything about him either. But would be cool if he had a brother name Richie.

Racing History Minute - August 1, 1959

Stock Car Racing History

Interesting you have Paschal listed as being in the "Paschal Chevrolet". Racing-Reference has him in a #48 Julian Petty Chevrolet for a 4-race stretch of 1959 races: Rambi, Charlotte, Bowman Gray, and Greenville Pickens. Its possible R-R could be incorrect. And its certainly suspect because of the use of 48 - a number Julian didn't run that often. He did frequently run a #44 car, and Bob Welborn often used #49 whether he drove for Julian or himself.

In checking owner stats, R-R does show Julian fielding a #48 Chevy in 1958-1959 for drivers Possum Jones, Tiny Lund, Paschal and yes even Banjo Matthews. Now if only I could triangulate the truth by finding info on those cars... Hmm.

Racing History Minute - August 1, 1959

Stock Car Racing History

Haven't yet found a news clipping from 1959. But I did find this column from 1992 in The Item where Ned elaborates a bit on the financial gamble he took that weekend.

July 31, 1959: Petty Picks Greenville-Pickens' Green

Stock Car Racing History

What are his feelings on these? Ha ha

July 31, 1959: Petty Picks Greenville-Pickens' Green

Stock Car Racing History

Hmm, a new book about Greenville-Pickens soon to be released? Wonder if it'll have any pics from the 1959 race.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/greenville-pickens-speedway-south-carolina-scott-keepfer/1116088745?ean=9781467110990&isbn=9781467110990

July 31, 1959: Petty Picks Greenville-Pickens' Green

Stock Car Racing History

July 31, 1959: Lee Petty wins his second and final career NASCAR Convertible Series race in a 200-lap, 100-mile race at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in South Carolina. Lee's win in his familiar #42 Plymouth came in his 28th and final start in the Convertible Series over a three-year period. Son Richard Petty struggled mightily in the race and finished 19th in the 22-car field.

Read on for more:

http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2013/07/july-31-1959-petty-picks-greenville.html

updated by @tmc-chase: 07/31/18 01:45:45PM