Some Different Ways NASCAR Could Penalize Errant Drivers
Current NASCAR
How about the driver be assigned a week of tagging RacersReunion photos? LOL
Forum Activity for @tmc-chase
Current NASCAR
Who watched closed circuit TV?
Stock Car Racing History
I remember flyers being distributed at Nashville Speedway promoting Evel Knievel's "jump" across the Snake River Canyon in his rocket vehicle. It was going to be telecast via closed circuit coverage at Nashville's Municipal Auditorium. I was excited and anxious and really wanted to go. But my folks said "Are you kidding? We're not going to go down there and pay money to watch TV."
I don't remember how much it was going to cost. But I'm sure it was $10-12 per person - about the price of a Grand National race ticket, and they didn't go for that back then either. I was crushed. Of course, it didn't take long to realize they made the right call. The whole event was a hype fail as Evel essentially bailed out from the get go and floated to the canyon bottom by parachute.
Golden Era of NASCAR videos
Stock Car Racing History
A well done trio of videos. You'll recognize a lot of familiar names, faces, and stories.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
March 6, 1955: Lee Petty wins at Oglethorpe
Stock Car Racing History
March 6, 1955: Papa Lee wins in Savannah, GA and Oglethorpe Speedway. And guess what - apparently he did so without controversy!
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2013/03/march-6-1955-lee-petty-savors-savannah.html
Oglethorpe only hosted two NASCAR Grand National races - but it remains in operation today.
updated by @tmc-chase: 03/05/17 08:33:35PM
Another Lee Petty win and another controversy
Stock Car Racing History
Speedy Thompson was livid with NASCAR's decision to overturn Pop's apparent victory. With Lee named as winner, Speedy was knocked down to third. He planned to let Bill France Sr. know his opinion and demand Turner be reinstated as the winner.
Let the record show Petty retained the win, Speedy ran an abbreviated schedule the next 2 years, and Big Bill France's decisions always stood.
Another Lee Petty win and another controversy
Stock Car Racing History
In what seems to have been a trend for many of Lee Petty's wins, he secured one on this date in 1958 through a bit of controversy. Actually, on March 2, 1958 folks left Concord Speedway thinking Lee had finished 2nd to Curtis Turner. Four days later, however, Lee was named the winner after he protested Turner's victory. Read on for more...
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2013/03/march-2-1958-lee-petty-challenges.html
updated by @tmc-chase: 05/10/19 01:10:50PM
Pre-Race Shows
Stock Car Racing History
A roommate of mine in college and for a couple of years after we graduated dogged me regularly for being a race fan. Some in good fun - other times in true mocking fashion. I challenged him each time to go to a race - and each time he declined. Finally in the late 1980s, he caught himself watching Daytona. He sheepishly admitted his eye caught on the Red Baron Pizza 90 car. He wasn't sure who drove it - but he thought the car looked really cool.
I finally convinced him to make the trek with me to the 1990 Firecracker race. He hauled his bulky VHS camcorder with him and sported a Schrader Kodiak hat. On the parade laps, he walked down near the fence coming out of turn 4 near the entrance to pit road and started recording (glad this experience wasn't last weekend).
As the cars made their 'slow' parade laps, he looked back at me and shrugged. I motioned for him to stay down there knowing what would happen after they took the green. Sure enough, they were off and running and slowly built up speed with the use of the plates. But when they came off turn 4 at 190+, the wind buffeted through the fence and took the Kodiak hat off his head. He got his hat, looked back up at us, grinned, and mouthed "I like this."
I won't say he is a diehard fan. But to this day, he is at least conversational about racing. And the tipping point for him was Junie Donlavey's #90 pizza box.
Finch Gives Allmendinger Ride for Phoenix with Phoenix
Current NASCAR
Not really. In the weeks leading up to the start of the season, Finch made it sound like he'd run them both off and on during the season. With Regan's commitment to JRM for wins and a championship on the Nationwide side, I'm guessing he couldn't (or didn't want to) make the full-time commitment to Finch anyway.
From Jayski 51 page:
2013 silly season notes for #51 Phoenix Racing : The team will run a few different drivers in 2013 with Regan Smith in the #51 Guy Roofing Chevy for the Daytona 500, A.J. Allmendinger in the four out of the next five races and Austin Dillon in the #51 Tag Heuer Eyewear Chevy at Las Vegas. After Martinsville a driver schedule has not been announced. Smith is expected to run 7-10 races in 2013 and Allmendinger is expected to run the car in some others. Team general manager Steve Barkdoll said that the team plans to field a Sprint Cup car for the entire season. See an image of the #51 Guy Roofing scheme on my #51 Team Schemes page . See more about other teams on my 2013 Team / Driver Silly Season Chart .(2-1-2013)
A conversation with Tiger Tom Pistone
Stock Car Racing History
Yesterday I blogged about Lee Petty's win in the inaugural Daytona 500. Of the top 10 finishers, only 2 remain with us: Jim Reed and Tiger Tom Pistone. Earlier this month, Chrissy Pistone helped arrange a few moments for me to chat by phone with Tom. I've tried my best to recap our conversation and frame it with some personal connections to his time.
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-conversation-with-tiger-tom-pistone.html
updated by @tmc-chase: 04/23/17 06:52:00PM
Today Kyle Petty Scored 1st Cup Win When Earnhardt Booted Waltrip at Richmond
Stock Car Racing History
The day:
And Kyle's trophy on display at the Petty Museum in Randleman:
updated by @tmc-chase: 02/22/18 04:24:27PM