Racing History Minute - February 11, 1973
Stock Car Racing History
Gaffney's Peachoid was built 8 years after Charlie Blanton's 1973 Daytona ARCA win.
Gaffney's Peachoid was built 8 years after Charlie Blanton's 1973 Daytona ARCA win.
1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year, Lennie Pond's funeral was Monday, February 15 - Valentine's Day...
Here's a link to a story titled, "Richard Petty, Others Remember Lennie Pond"
http://www.richmond.com/sports/auto-racing/article_f18639fa-c7b2-5fa9-9837-1a11ca95de94.html
Lennie Pond's obituary:
Obituaries & In Memoriam
POND, Lennie Wayne, 75, of Chester, Va., passed away on February 10, 2016. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ashton and Janie Pond; and wife, Jane Lindsey Pond. He is survived by his loving wife, Catherine Pond; children, Lindsey Pond, Kent Pond and Laura Pond; grandchildren, John and James Pond; brother, A. Wright Pond Sr. and wife, Cindy; nephews, Ashton Pond Jr. and wife, Leah, Dylan Thomas; nieces, LeeAnn Pond Wilson, Georgia Thomas; mother-in-law, Arlene Thomas and husband, Brent; father-in-law, David McLauchlin; brother-in-law, Kevin Thomas and wife, Dana; numerous extended family and friends. Lennie always loved to go fast and would race anything that had wheels on it. He was a five-time late model Sportsman State Champion. He was named NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year in 1973 and won the Talladega 500 in 1978. Lennie was a familiar face at Heritage Chevrolet in Chester, Va., where he worked for over 28 years. The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 14, 2016, at the Chester Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home, 3050 W. Hundred Rd., Chester, Va. 23831. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, February 15, 2016, at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park. Condolences may be registered online at www.jtmorriss.com .
Chase, regarding Richard Petty and Lennie Pond, here is a quote from Lennie's former car owner, Ronnie Elder inan updated Lennie Pond obituary feature by Randy Hallman:
Ronnie Elder said Mr. Ponds move from Late Model Sportsman to NASCARs top series, the Cup series, came after some friendly advice from NASCARs most famous driver.
We were buying parts from Richard Petty, Elder said. Lennie and I drove down to his shop in Randleman (N.C.) to pick something up. Richard was there and he said, You boys are pretty good why dont you move on up?
The photo above of Lennie & Richard pitting posted by Andy Towler is an ISC Archive photo.
RR members have posted (and reposted) several photos of Lennie & Richard, as well as Lennie and King's crew....
Photos by Donald Evans:
Posted by Ricky Poole, Jr:
Posted by J.C. Hayes:
Posted by Andy Towler:
Sad news that 1973 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year Lennie Pond has succumbed to cancer.
http://www.richmond.com/sports/auto-racing/article_c3296b46-bf18-52c1-a31d-46e6036b9edb.html
Rest in peace, Lennie. You were one of the good guys.
Condolences to family and friends.
Photos from Saturday, February 6, 2016 by RR member, Randy Hallman of Bobby Allison giving the command to start engines at the Arena Racing Lennie Pond tribute event in Richmond that featured Bobby's grandson - Davey Allison's son, Robbie. Special to the Richmond Times-Dispatch:
There's a good story inthe Richmond paper about Bobby Allison appearing at a Lennie Pond tribute and watching his grandson race in Ricky Dennis' Arena Racing Series.
Bobby at Richmond's Southside Speedway for His 1st Big NASCAR Win - 1960
It was interesting to hear Bobby say in the video interviewthat the first major win of his career came in Richmond at Southside Speedway in the season ending 1960 Virginia 400 NASCAR Modified race.
http://www.richmond.com/sports/auto-racing/article_9d0afcca-83f4-5cd9-a1ca-59470dab9a46.html