Forum Activity for @tmc-chase

Cale's Riverside Romp in 1974

Stock Car Racing History

Today is the anniversary of NASCAR Hall of Fame member Cale Yarborough's win in the 1974 Winston Western 500 at Riverside International Raceway in California. He qualified 2nd to Pearson - but then spun out on lap 1 when the race started on January 20th. He gathered up the car and rejoined the field.

Shortly afterwards, rains moved in and postponed the race six days to January 26th. When the race resumed, Cale moved quickly back to the front and was pretty much unchallenged the rest of the way.

Today, I posted a blog about the race - including some photos and a meaningful after-story involving David Pearson, the Wood Bros., Darlington and the NASCAR HOF. Read on!

http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2013/01/january-26-rookie-and-riverside-romp.html

updated by @tmc-chase: 01/26/19 01:33:45PM

Other Petty Enterprises Drivers Clip

Stock Car Racing History

That was indeed one rough tumble. Needless to say, that Petty car was not victorious in Riverside that day. I continue to be stunned as I view more and more old school video clips on YouTube. The sport - stock cars and open wheelers - certainly lost a number of drivers in the 50s and 60s. But man oh man, there were some vicious flips and wrecks in which drivers simply walked away.

Dictators Separated at Birth?

General

Wow. That is uncanny. So NASCAR has the young'un. And Korea has the Jong-un. How 'bout that.

Ricky Stenhouse Spinning Out Jeff Gilder? Danica Robbing Cradle?

Current NASCAR

I'm TooMuchCountry but I'm NotEnoughStupid to waddle into the middle of a Mississippi-Alabama discussion.

The Things We Did for Earnhardt & Childress to Keep Them Going

Stock Car Racing History

Unsure of that deal - but interested in learning. But not the first time that kind of deal happened. In the 1979 Daytona 125 qualifier, Bobby Fisher raced DK's #40 Buick but crashed. The car made the show anyway, but DK raced a repaired car to a 13th place finish.

Qualifier results:

http://www.racing-reference.info/race/1979-01/Q

D500 results:

http://www.racing-reference.info/race/1979_Daytona_500/W

The Things We Did for Earnhardt & Childress to Keep Them Going

Stock Car Racing History

Kings don't come cheap. But doesn't he look hip in his crown?

The Things We Did for Earnhardt & Childress to Keep Them Going

Stock Car Racing History

Doesn't that pic belong under the Danica - Stenhouse post? Oh wait, maybe I'm thinking of a cougar instead of a puma. Hmm...

The Things We Did for Earnhardt & Childress to Keep Them Going

Stock Car Racing History

Wellllll, there mighta been this too:

The Things We Did for Earnhardt & Childress to Keep Them Going

Stock Car Racing History

That was some pretty amazing support Wrangler had for Dale. I know he was ROTY and a 2nd year Cup champ. But with only a handful of races with him as Wrangler's "face" in 1981, that could have been (and maybe was) considered as a pretty big risk for the business. So props for standing behind him.

As a 43 fan, I only wish Petty Enterprises could have had the support of a company or two to solidly back them during the 60s and 70s.

Oh. Wait. Nevermind.

The Things We Did for Earnhardt & Childress to Keep Them Going

Stock Car Racing History

Whitlock: "It was a pretty gutless decision to give Stacy Winner's Circle status..."

Wow. Strong words. Almost the end of an era with a driver, owner, sponsor, PR rep, etc. candidly calling out NASCAR like that in a public forum.