Forum Activity for @tmc-chase

June 29: This day in Petty AND Rex White history

Stock Car Racing History


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

Return of relief drivers this weekend?

Stock Car Racing History

Soooo...

This

Plus this

Equals this?

Huh, well I'll be dawged. Go figure. Hey, I'm purty good at this math stuff ain't I?

Return of relief drivers this weekend?

Stock Car Racing History

Hearing whispers that one of the teams may try to slip this aero package past Robin Pemberton's inspectors:

Return of relief drivers this weekend?

Stock Car Racing History

The weekend forecast in Sparta KY shows 101 for highs on Friday and Saturday. That seems chilly compared to our middle TN forecast of 107. And I'm sure our folks in Georgia, Texas and elsewhere may get blasted hotter than that.

We really haven't seen many relief drivers used the last 15-20 years. Power steering, advances in car set-ups, improved cool suits/helmets, and better driver conditioning all gratefully contributed towards that.

But with these brutal temps, I wonder if we may see a start and park driver get a shot at running more laps Saturday night. The upside is the Cup race will run after the sun goes down. It won't be the same as Daytona at 10AM on Independence Day, the Talladega 500 in August, the Southern 500 on Labor Day, the Lone Star 500 in College Station, or the Dixie 500 in July.

With daytime practice and qualifying and responsibilities with fans, media, and hospitality, some drivers (or crewmen) could be wiped out by race time.

If my trivia mind is accurate, I'm pretty sure the last relief driver to win a race was at Talladega in 1977. Darrell Waltrip took over in relief for Donnie Allison and won the Talladega 500. The irony of course is that 1 year earlier DW was hired by DiGard to replace the fired Donnie.

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

June 26: Good things come in threes...

Stock Car Racing History

...except for those who don't like Earnhardt. (ha - sorry, couldn't resist)

The King notched not just one - not just two - but THREE wins on June 26.

1964 - Spartanburg SC
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2012/06/june-26-this-day-in-petty-history-part.html

1970 - Kingsport TN
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2012/06/june-26-this-day-in-petty-history-part_26.html

1971 - Greenville SC
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2012/06/june-26-this-day-in-petty-history-part_311.html

updated by @tmc-chase: 06/26/18 01:02:55PM

Johnny Rutherford-Smokey Yunick

Stock Car Racing History

Brutally hot. 1992 was the last of my 4 year string of hitting the 400. I'm sure the Secret Service actions rubbed folks the wrong way. But with their charge, I'm sure they don't care.

What I remember is us laughing at that loaded-down, tinted-window, Suburban running on the track apron. The driver was doing all he could to keep up with the pace car. Bill France Jr was driving & GHWB was riding shotgun. I'm sure more agents were jostled around in the back - along with who knows how much armament.

Even with the relative 'slow' speed of pace laps, that Suburban was lumbering along. They were about as effective as moviemaker Michael Moore trying to run a 10K race.

Johnny Rutherford-Smokey Yunick

Stock Car Racing History

And Johnny Russell! There is a good video of his version on YT. I just can't get to it at moment. Its an iPod playlist staple when our crew gathers at the track!

Johnny Rutherford-Smokey Yunick

Stock Car Racing History

This may take the Rutherford theme totally off the rails, but I'd be remiss if I didn't close the Bierschwale discussion by looping it back to the Pettys.

Eddie Bierschwale relieved Richard Petty in his final Daytona race - the 1992 Pepsi 400. The poor man stood smiling in the morning heat in his driver uni as all sorts of awards were presented & dignitaries spoke including President Bush. Once the race began, he was good for a handful of laps and then was done.

And when Kyle Petty failed to qualify for the 1989 Daytona 500 in his debut start with SABCO Racing, whose ride did Felix buy so Kyle could race? Yep, Eddie B's #23. Eddie started the race and got the points. Then Kyle took over the rest of the way.

Johnny Rutherford-Smokey Yunick

Stock Car Racing History

Dunno re: Lone Star distribution. When I went to Pabst's HQ in San Antonio a couple of years ago (yep), the woman told me Lone Star was among 5 brands the new ownership group really planned to grow. She said they could easily expand their market share just within the borders of Texas. I've had it in recent years outside of TX. But I think your hunch is right - likely very limited distribution - which may explain no interest from them in sponsoring Rutherford at a Florida race.

And for the record...

Johnny Rutherford-Smokey Yunick

Stock Car Racing History

Sticking with the Rutherford theme - but branching off the Smokey portion, JR got the nod to race Don Bierschwale's #61 Chevy. You may recall in my blog entry several days ago about Richard Petty's win in the 1972 Lone Star 500, Clarence Lovell piloted the #61 with Lone Star beer sponsorship. Lovell was killed in a car accident a few days after the 73 Talladega 500, and Bierschwale hired JR to replace him for 1 race at Rockingham in 1973 and the 2 Daytona races in 1974.

What is interesting to me is Rutherford drove the 61 WITHOUT the continuing sponsorship of Lone Star beer. Its a reminder of how different product marketing, sponsorships and race economics were back then. From my perspective, that would have been a perfect driver/product match.

From Robbie Solesbee's photo collection here:

In the Firecracker 400, Rutherford wrecked. Apparently he lost his mind and tried to levitate from the roof of the car afterwards.