Forum Activity for @tmc-chase

A Racing History Minute-April 15, 1951

Stock Car Racing History

Your recap Tim (with an assist from Greg Fielden) is more extensive than what was reported in The News and Courier of Charleston, SC.

NRA at Texas ,I will start it off.

Current NASCAR

I've also read - though I'm not sure how absolutely true this is - that the NRA paid SMI and Eddie Gossage for the naming rights. But they did NOT pay FOX extra for "drops" and really didn't expect them. They paid for and got local coverage, signage, fan attention, etc. without paying extra to play to a larger audience.

I think the deal with the TV networks and NASCAR is the 1x/hour mention. Best I recall, this negotiated provision was the result of an event waaaay back in 2001 - the first year of the FOX-TNT-NBC deal. Cracker Barrel sponsored the spring Atlanta race - Harvick's 1st win - but didn't pay FOX anything extra. As a result, FOX gave ZERO mentions to CB to the race and even signed their own title sponsor so to speak who dominated the commercial breaks. CB, Atlanta, and NASCAR were all bent.

I wonder if the uproar would have been as great if an individual gunmaker would have been the sponsor vs. NRA. The Ruger, Remington, Smith & Wesson, etc. 500 may not have stirred the pot near as much as the broader NRA. Not sure. But, it is a joke how off the rails folks have gone with this thing.

A UK paper is already politicizing the sad incident of the guy doing himself in with this inflammatory headline.

Hornaday Penalties After Bubba Rock Truck Hook Under Yellow?

Current NASCAR

Bubba was a class act in the post-race interview after getting deliberately taken out by Hornaday. He raced Ron hard and took him up a lane. But he didn't fence him. Hornaday didn't like being raced that way and punted Wallace under the caution.

Twitter went crazy saying Ron should be parked like NASCAR did Kyle Busch at Texas a couple of years ago. But with the wreck happening only 2-3 laps from the end, NASCAR chose to put Hornaday at the end of the longest line vs. parking him.

I get why folks say NASCAR was inconsistent. But hey, this just in. IT AIN'T THE FIRST TIME - AND IT WON'T BE THE LAST.

Hornaday was clearly in the wrong. But his post-race interview cracked me up anyway. Wallace's interview was smooth and even included a plug for Coke and a swig. Ron played the doofus saying he felt like an idiot for taking him out. But then he blamed Wallace for perhaps brake checking in an unemotional yet direct way. Was completely a veteran interview. He did what he wanted to do on the track and left it there. Gave nothing to Speed pit reporter - and didn't "battle" it out on Twitter. He was wrong - but his interview was so right and old school.

Hornaday Penalties After Bubba Rock Truck Hook Under Yellow?

Current NASCAR

A couple of my Schaefer Hall of Fame brethren made a commitment in the off season to attend - and they did. They extended the offer to me too. But for only a truck race, I couldn't burn the marital capital here in Tennessee for a multi-day trip.

They texted to say they had a great time. They also crossed paths with Andy Hillenberg who shook their hands and genuinely thanked them for attending. Here are a few photos they sent me.

and a special treat was seeing the restored #72 L.G. DeWitt Chevy driven by Benny Parsons back in 1973.

It looked a whole lot better than it did when Benny pulled a rabbit out a hat and somehow held on to win the championship in '73 driving THIS.

Not racing - but sho nuff moment of pride

General

My son completed his board of review in January for the rank of Eagle Scout. But he wasn't officially awarded his medal until yesterday. Had a great court of honor ceremony, and it was a prideful moment as a parent. I'm not sure he yet fully recognizes the elite group of which he is now a member. In time, though, I think he will.

updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

A Racing History Minute - April 14, 1957

Stock Car Racing History

And here is a bit more on Fireball's Langhorne win.

Randy Myers - Note Billy's solid 4th place finish.

Source: Daytona Beach Morning Journal

A Racing History Minute - April 14, 1957

Stock Car Racing History

On the same day Weatherly won at Wilson in the ragtop series, Fireball burned 'em on the 1-mile dirt circle at Langhorne, PA with the Grand National crowd.

Source: Lexington Dispatch

A Racing History Minute - April 13, 1962

Stock Car Racing History

Here is the story as reported in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal .

I Attended FT. Worth, TX Race Planning Session 12 Years Before TMS 1st Cup Race

Stock Car Racing History

Yeah, I've heard about your redneck yacht.

I Attended FT. Worth, TX Race Planning Session 12 Years Before TMS 1st Cup Race

Stock Car Racing History

Despite your description, its still tough to visualize a 'yacht club' anywhere in Texas.

In the mid 90s, I traveled for work to Brownwood, TX. Not BrownsVILLE down near the border with Matamoros, Mexico. BrownWOOD - right in the crosshairs of the state. Had to fly to Houston - THEN to Waco - and then DRIVE to Brownwood. Way out of the way.

For such a small town, the place seemed to have a lot of restaurants (all of which served either brisket and/or chicken friend steak). Puzzled, we asked how so many food joints could stay in business. We were told Brownwood was a big deer huntin' destination.

Deer hunting? All we saw coming in was a bunch of scraggly trees amidst some open fields. How in the world could one hunt? How could you stay hidden in a tree stand? Wouldn't the deer be easily spooked by high visibility?

Easy we were told. During the year, hunters just bait the deer with salt licks. Then when hunting season arrives, they already know where to visit and its pretty easy to get your limit.

I'm not an avid hunter - but even I called BS on that one. I thought "yep, everything is bigger in Texas - including their shortcuts."