Of course, turnabout has always been considered fair play in NASCAR.
Remember the Folgers Coffee sponsorship that once adorned the Hendrick Motorsports #25 of Tim Richmond
later appeared on the Roush Racing #6 of Mark Martin.
And, I'm not sure my calculator can add up all the drivers and teams who've carried Budweiser sponsorship.
The #24 has carried some interesting sponsors in NASCAR, though not always the Gordon/Hendrick #24:
Sometimes those big sponsor changes stay with the same manufacturer... aka STP from Ray Nichels/Fred Lorenzen to Petty Enterprises/Richard Petty for the 1972 season, both Chrysler teams.
Methinks Chase is the kind of guy who'd have had Tommy Houston getting in thorny situations when he drove for Roses ,
but rising to the occasion when driving for Southern Biscuit Flour !
Ya got yer vertical and horizontal hold controls on yer crystal ball working overtime, Chase!
Over the years, Rick Hendrick has proven a master at stealing both sponsors and drivers from Ford. It started when he hired Ken Schrader. Ford thought they had the youngster safely parked in Elmo Langley's #64 for seasoning back around 1984 before getting him in a competitive Winston Cup Ford the next year. But, along came Rick Hendrick and snatched him away right out from under Ford's eyes.
And while Ford was reveling in the success of young Jeff Gordon in the Bill Davis Ford Busch car, the brain trust in Dearborn let him slip into Hendrick's hands for a Cup ride.
Now, thanks again to Rick Hendrick, I guess "The Biff" and "The Cat in the Hat " will be looking for an alternate brand of tape besides Scotch when they buy their upcoming school supplies!
If this were a ball game, the score on Ford's side of the board against Hendrick would be goose eggs!
With the racing media and the national media always living and reporting in the here and now and with the headlines of Tony Stewart and Kevin Ward, Jr. dominating the news, it's doubtful this obituary I spotted in this morning's Charlotte Observer will garner much attention outside family and immediate friends.
However, with our mission to honor the past, I think it is highly significant to note the passing of Donald E. Wade , former Office Manager for DePaolo Engineering Ford Motor Company Stock Car Racing Division and later Holman & Moody .
A Wadesboro, NC native and member of the "Greatest Generation" - serving aboard the U.S.S. Chincoteague in the South Pacific during WWII , Mr. Wade made his home in Charlotte.
While I didn't know Mr. Wade, there may be RR members who did. Another link to racing's golden era has now been broken. Prayers to family and friends of Mr. Wade
Donald E. Wade
Donald E. Wade CHARLOTTE - Mr. Wade, 87, of Charlotte, passed away Saturday morning, the 9th of August, 2014, at The Crossings at Steele Creek surrounded by his two sons.
He was born Saturday, the 4th of September, 1926, in Wadesboro, one of ten children, to the late Ernest E. Wade and Iowa Sigmon Wade.
A 1944 graduate of Central High School, Charlotte, he entered The United States Navy on June 26, 1944, where he proudly served during World War II aboard the USS Chincoteague in the Pacific Theatre off the coast of China.
After returning from war he attended Carolina Business School and worked several years in public accounting.
In 1957 he joined DePaolo Engineering Ford Motor Company Stock Car Racing Division, later Holman & Moody Racing, where he served as office manager for six interesting years.
Mr. Wade founded Southern Office Supply (SOS) of Charlotte in 1967 and spent the remainder of his life working for the firm which has remained a family business today.
In his younger years he enjoyed gardening, boating, water skiing and motor home traveling and took great pride in his lawn which he loved to landscape.
The Wade family will greet friends from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM, Wednesday, the 13th of August, 2014, at Ellington Funeral Services. The funeral cortege will then process to Sharon Memorial Park with a graveside service with military honors at 2:30 PM. Don was a loving husband and father, and his two granddaughters were a great joy to him.
He loved to tell exciting stories to his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Carolina Wade; his two sons: Mark Wade and wife, Tammy Wade and Lance Wade and wife, Marie Wade; two granddaughters: Callie Mae Wade and Natalie Elaine Wade; and one sister-in-law, Virginia Wade; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his five sisters: Evelyn, Olivia, Jeanette, Theresa and Norma Jean; and four brothers: E.E. Wade Jr. "Bus," Ralph, Burle and Bernard.
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at the beautiful new assisted living facility "The Crossings at Steele Creek" who helped make his last few weeks comfortable and cheerful. Also, thanks goes out to Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte Region.
Memorials may be made to the donor's choosing. Notes of encouragement and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.ellingtonfuneralservices.com . The Wade family is being served by Ellington Funeral Services, "The Historic Morehead St. Chapel," 727 E. Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28202. 704.334.6700.
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/charlotte/obituary.aspx?n=donald-e-wade&pid=172049115&fhid=18573#sthash.LvJMh2RM.dpuf
Tragic... and no amount of 2nd guessing will undo the tragedy.
I'm wondering if Smithfield Foods is contributing product to the North Carolina Education Lottery, judging from the NC Lottery's current television commercial?
