Forum Activity for @dennis-andrews

October 9 - King wins 1983 MIller 500

Stock Car Racing History

I saw this race and it looked like DW parked it in turn two. Once Petty went by he had no trouble staying in front of Benny. I thought at the time that something just wasn't right and when Junior's hauler almost ran me over trying to get to the gate on the back stretch I said to my friend that there was no way they had been through tech. in such a short period of time. We heard about the tires and big motor on the radio while driving home. First thing I said was, Jaws was big too.

Last Dirt Race

Stock Car Racing History

Sept. 30th marks the 41 anniversary of "The Last Grand National Race on Dirt" won by Richard Petty at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds half mile dirt track in Raleigh. Two other races occurred on dirt that year, both in Columbia, South Carolina. I know I join most RR members in wishing that Cup cars still ran a few races on dirt.

The Home State 200 was the last time the top division in NASCAR competed on dirt but it was not the last NASCAR dirt track event. In 1970 there were three touring divisions; Grand National, Grand American and Western Grand National. We have many RR members from the western United States so I will let them comment on the Western Grand National events and keep my discussion focused on GN and GA.

In 1970 the GA division ran at the NC Sate Fairgrounds track as well as the 1 mile Lakewood Speedway near Atlanta and the half mile tracks at Flemington, N.J., Tri-County Speedway in Cincinnati/Westchester, Ohio and Jacksonville, Florida.

1971 was the beginning of the end for the Grand American Challenge Series with a lot of tracks not inviting the Pony Cars back and the GN fields started to dwindle on short tracks because of low purses, limited appearance money and factory support going away. All of this led to six events on short tracks being combination events that included GN and GA cars. Three of these events were won by GA cars and three by GN cars. Three drivers won all six races, Bobby Allison, Richard Petty and Tiny Lund each won two races. None of these combination events were contested on dirt but the GA cars ran the half mile dirt Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, IL. and the one mile dirt Illinois State Fairgrounds track in Springfield, IL.. The race at Springfield was something to write about but not now.

The combination events of 1971 laid the foundation of the Grand National East division which held an event on the half mile dirt track at Jacksonville, Fla. in 1972. This was the last year for the Grand American division which only had five events, one being a combination event with SCCA.

In 1973 the Grand National East division held combination events with ARCA on the half mile dirt tracks at Selinsgrove, Pa. and Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa.. So the last Grand National race held on a dirt track could be said to be Lincoln Speedway in 1973.

updated by @dennis-andrews: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Trivia - NASCAR's Final Big Time Dirt Track Race had an all Ellerbe Front Row

General

Dave, John Sears led the first 10 laps in a 1969 Dodgebefore his engine blew on lap 16, he finished 23rd. Benny Parsons in L.G.'s 1969 Ford led 78 laps and had engine failure. Petty won by 2 laps over Neil "Soapy" Castles. The owner of the #43 was listed as Don Robertson who was also listed as the owner of the #25 driven to a 10th place finish by Jabe Thomas. Was this one of the times that Petty borrowed a car and won?

Richard Brickhouse

Stock Car Racing History

From August 1, 1969 NASCAR NEWSLETTER

Richard Brickhouse Striving For A Spot

In Chicago the name Brickhouse is associated with the Cubs, Wrigley Field, all that chewing gum and the outfield ivy that's murder on hay fever sufferers.

In the south or wherever you see a Grand National Plymouth bearing No. 03 on its side, Brickhouse is a young man trying hard to do something. He very well may.

The first Brickhouse is Jack - for 20 odd years the voice of the Cubs. The second is Richard - for one year a name among others on a race report. The two are not related.

A year ago in June Richard joined NASCAR just to see what he could do against the big boys. He had run for six years on independent tracks near his home in eastern North Carolina.

The race was the Carolina 500 at Rockingham, N.C. and when the race week began the red '67 Plymouth was one more rookie car taking up room in the garage area.

It turned out the 500 was to be a scorcher. The hot machinery became too hot and young Mr. Brickhouse came in fourth behind two Allisons and one Hylton.

"That was quite a baptism," said Brickhouse. " I had hoped to do well but not that well."

Sitting in the pits most of the day was Richard Petty, who went out early. The week prior to the race he had sold Brickhouse the car. It was reported that Petty spent most of the afternoon mumbling to himself about selling the wrong car.

For Brickhouse the rest of the season was a learning process. "I wanted to try the big tracks, see what they were like and just in general find out what was going on." Brickhouse said.

While he was finding out in six more evnets, he earned $7,190 and posted another finish in the top 10.

Over the winter he worked on his 350-acre farm outside his home town, Rocky Point, ran his trucking business and fiddled with his light airplane. Brick and his mechanic, Ken Mercer, also prepared the car for the upcoming season.

"This is the year." said Brickhouse in February, "that I want to do something."

Through the first half of this year, he has done quite well. In 16 events, big and small, he's posted five finishes in the top 10 including a seventh in the Firecracker 400, and to date he's won more tham $13,000.

It's a long way from the first time he stepped into a stock car.

"Around home racing isn't organized very well, and we used to run anywhere there was a circle," he said smiling. "My first time out - I guess it was '62 or '63 - I was driving the worst looking 1939 Ford you ever saw.

"The track was back in the woods - actually carved out. I lasted a few laps and then a tire blew when it hit a tree stump."

For a few years, he campaigned a Chevelle at independent tracks and then "the urge just hit me to try Grand National. I don't know what it was. I guess anybody who races stock cars wants to do it one time or other.

"I had the money saved and we knew that Petty had a car for sale. You can"t do better than the best, so we went to Randleman and bought it."

This year Brickhouse has achieved the reputation as one of the good young independent drivers in the GN division. Also, he is a person who sets a goal and goes after it.

"I'm not here just for the fun of it," he said. "When I started in this league I made a commitment to myself, and I'm working on it all the time.

"I enjoy racing and I want to do my best. It's a little like any other sport. You be good at it and it'll be good to you."

The Cubs aren't doing too badly this year, either.

The rest is as they say "History". Richard would drive the #99 Dodge Daytona to victory in the inaugural Tallagega 500 earning him that spot in history.

updated by @dennis-andrews: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Will the two "new" rules end two-car tandems at Talladega & Daytona???

General

I have come to the conclusion that NO driver likes PLATE racing. No matter how they tweak itmost will not like it. Even if they took away all the rules that are aimed at providing close racing and let them go as fast as they can (and stay out of the grandstand) the fans of today would raise a ruckus as soon as someone got hooked up and lapped the field.

I got an idea. Make them run the raod courses at the Big D and Dega. Nothing buches up cars like a hairpin!

Jeff & Dustin - We all need HELP! Liked the old "black" background better than the new "gray"

General

Thought I had screwed something up on my end, glad it was not just me, cause I have trouble reading the colors as well.

Tell Me About Yourself

General

First and worst son born to Wayne and Pat Andrews.

Race fan all my life.

RR member since Spring 2009. RR is the only place where my name and Famous are on the same page. LOL

Sinner Saved BY Grace!

Competition Proven

Trivia

You and Mark are right, Blane. Race #45 was the Georgia 500 held on Nov. 7,1971 at Middle Goergia Raceway, Macon, Ga.. Bobby won it in a H-M '71 Torino. The article I read stated it was the last win for H-M. As has been noted in these post itwas not the last win for a H-M built car, but the last win for a house car.It was the 5th of 6 combination events that allowed the Grand American cars to run with the Grand Nationals that year. The result would be the Grand National East division in 1972 and 1973. Interesting note, the little cars won 3 of those races and the GN cars the other 3. Bobby won 2 (1 in a Mustang and this 1), Richard Petty won 2 and Tiny Lund won 2 in a Camaro.

Competition Proven

Trivia

Thank you Robin, I could not remember how the linkage was done. Mr. Stanley was one smart man.

Competition Proven

Trivia

Great info Dave, I remember Him saying that figuring out the linkage where it would not be seen was a challenge. He was a little older when I met him but he still wore the same uniform. I wish someone had written a book about him. If I only knew a tenth of what he knew!