Don Miller's accident was the pre-cursor of even worse events at Talladega a year later in 1975.
On May 4, 1975 - 364 days later - Richard Petty's crewman, Randy Owen, was killed during a pit stop. Randy was Lynda Petty's brother and Kyle's uncle.
Marvin Panch's son, Richie, was still a bit wet behind the ears in his GN/Cup career. Making only his 14th career Cup start, Richie started and qualified deep in the field in his #98 Tracmaster Ford.
Before the race, he consulted with his pop who knew a thing or two about the superspeedways...
... and he got some coaching from veteran driver Bobby Allison. (Source: Gadsden Times )
A couple of years ago, we had Cup fields comprised of at least 15% start-and-park field fillers with one or two that went home. NASCAR did away with the top 35 rule and pushed away some of the S&Ps. The trade-off, however, is generally ONLY enough cars show to qualify for the 43 available spots. These conditions - most of them economically-driven, I get it - are a far cry from the 74 Dega race when 50 cars were expected to show up to qualify. All of them made the shows! Source: Lewiston Morning Tribune ... of Lewiston, IDAHO!
The 1973 Winston 500 pole winner, Buddy Baker, was expected to challenge for the pole again in 1974. But he dumped his Harry Hyde-prepared, K&K Insurance #71 Dodge in practice and had to call for a backup car from NC to use in qualifying negating his pole run possibility. The whole weekend turned miserable for him as he qualified 39th and finished 33rd. (Source: The Times-News of Hendersonville, NC)
The race results as reported by the AP and included in The Telegraph-Herald ... of Dubuque, IOWA!
And while the following photo was taken at the 1974 Daytona 500, Hershel McGriff's 04 Petty Dodge also looked like this in the Talladega race. Thanks to Smyle Media for allowing me use of the photo.
Program cover (source: Motor Racing Programme Covers )
Ticket stub - thanks ebay!
And he may getting his bread buttered by Red Bull and Cold Bud. He joined the Dega fans for a bit of fun after the NW race last night. Love this guy's enthusiasm.
*bump*
Would be great if we could land a photo, program cover, article, personal memory, etc. for this race.
The subject of Fast Freddy came up in an email exchange with a friend of mine today. He had a neat insight. Its hard to compare drivers of different eras - a given. But he wondered who Lorenzen might drive for today if he were driving. He was always a Ford guy. But with his command of the wheel, a Midwesterner, and a handsome chap, my friend suggested he'd be entrenched in a Hendrick Chevy pitching product on a daily basis. I tend to think he is right.
In the Daytona paper on the morning of the race, the line-up shows Paschal in the 42 and Herk in the 41. But I can't find any text referencing the change. I guess it may just been team owner's option. In 1979, D.K. Ulrich fielded a Buick for Bobby Fisher. Fisher wrecked, but apparently the car made the race (on owner's points presumably). In the 500, D.K. took the repaired Buick for himself. Doesn't happen often - but maybe drivers can be swapped at will. I guess its still an option today because of injuries, failed drug tests, etc.
