Great stuff, Cody.
Thanks so much for posting.
Sure am glad you found a "#9" in your wanderings!
I saw the photo you posted for Legend. Did you tell him yet that he a also left pair of boots down there in 'Dega?
Sounds like the format for the old Dogwood 500 & Cardinal 500 Modified & Late Model Sportsman doubleheaders at Martinsville, when the stands were packed and busloads of fans came down from Canada, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Some of those qualifying races were absolutely awesome.
Jul 26, 7:00 PM EDT
NASCAR mulls eliminating top 35 qualifying rule
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- NASCAR qualifying could have a very different look next season.
Series officials are mulling the elimination of the top-35 rule to put the focus back on speed.
Vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said Thursday he's already discussed the possibility with some teams and that fans want to see the fastest cars start the race. Since 2005, the top 35 in points have been guaranteed provisional starting spots at the next race, which has sometimes eliminated faster cars from starting the race.
All that could change in 2013.
"The top 35 was a good rule when we had impound races and that stuff," Pemberton said. "But I think there's a lot of folks that like that speed gets you in."
The rule was designed to make sure full-time teams with big-name drivers and big sponsors did not miss the race.
But with series officials looking for ways to reinvigorate the fan base and end the decline in attendance, some believe that relying on pure speed rather than points could be part of the solution.
Still, Pemberton believes, there is precedent to keep some provisional starting spots.
"There's always a place for provisionals and there always has been for someone who's had a bad day," he said. "But you don't know where that will fall."
Another rule change could open the door to more testing.
Pemberton said teams are better positioned to test now than they were several years ago and they've been testing more often anyway, making it difficult for series officials to enforce the current rules.
The series eliminated testing at any tracks that hosted a NASCAR national event in 2008 to save money. But some teams maneuvered around the rule by testing at tracks that did not host series races.
What they're looking for now is a way to re-introduce sanctioned testing at a lower cost.
"They've been in places that I didn't know existed," he said, drawing laughter. "So it's up to them not to test at non-sanctioned tracks. It's something that is really to do, and teams need to test sometimes."
I just watched my local WSOC-TV Channel 9 here in Charlotte interview AJ Allmendinger's little lady business manager, surrounded by Shell & Pennzoil paraphernalia. She looked and acted like a deer staring into the headlights, making a series of "I don't know" statements.
There is a time to keep your mouth shut. I don't know where Allmendinger found this woman, but she couldn't possibly be helping AJ's cause with his sponsors, Penske or NASCAR with her stupid performance.
Better to just not keep commenting when you don't know what you're talking about. For gawd's sake don't do it surrounded by sponsor stuff.
What can she possibly be thinking?
Why would you even schedule such an interview? Stupid.
My comments have nothing to do with guilt, innocence, testing, recovery or anything except stupidity. For goodness sake, AJ, get a spokesperson who knows when NOT to speak.
Once upon a time I had a racing acquaintance in Greensboro named Lois Washburn. Lois was married to John Lewis who headed up SETN, a tv sports network that telecast races from Pocono and Martinsville in the 80s. Lois worked in Greensboro for Jim Wigglesworth sourcing all souvenir items for Richard Petty and Petty Enterprises.
She opened her own PR office and for a year had the CITGO racing account before Eddie Wood and Kyle Petty asked me if I'd take over the account for 1988.
Lois then hired on to represent Tim Richmond for 1988. She was blindsided and caught in the crossfire at Daytona when NASCAR went after Tim. Lois scheduled a press conference where suing NASCAR was discussed.
Rightly or wrongly, I don't recall what happened to Lois after that press conference. I don't recall ever seeing her around NASCAR again. Sometimes it's better to keep your mouth shut.
By the way, here's actual newspaper coverage of what I'm talking about in 1988 involving Lois. I think AJ's business manager could take a lesson. She is not helping him.
NASCAR's ruling against Richmond may spawn suit
ERIN POWERS Staff
SUN 02/14/1988
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The attorney for race driver Tim Richmond said Saturday his client is prepared to sue NASCAR for actions that led to Richmond's exclusion from the Daytona 500.
Barry Slotnick said negotiations between Richmond and NASCAR that would have allowed the racer to resume driving had reached a standstill.
On Feb. 4, Richmond failed a random drug test mandated by NASCAR's new substance abuse policy. In the past 10 days, he has since passed a second test but NASCAR officials, who waited until Thursday to announce that, want more.
"It comes down to them wanting his past medical records," Richmond's manager, Lois Washburn, said Saturday.
In 1986, Richmond led all NASCAR racers with seven wins, but was ill much of last year with pneumonia and related complications.
All the while, the flamboyant driver was hounded by drug and AIDS rumors, both of which Richmond denied in recent months.
"There was a concerted effort to defame Mr. Richmond," said attorney Barry Slotnick. "The release of information that Tim had flunked a urine test and had narcotics in his system was utterly false and vicious."
Slotnick went on to say that NASCAR was behind the "leaks."
"While all NASCAR officials that I have discussed this matter agree that Tim is one of the most talented drivers of today, they are chagrined with his rough and tumble lifestyle," Slotnick said.
"Well," the attorney continued, "I have a message for those that have orchestrated this smear on him: Tim has every intention to see you in court."
NASCAR officials, specifically Daytona track doctor Ronald Hinebaugh, have demanded Richmond's past medical records before they would reissue his license.
"This situation," Washburn said, "is ludicrous. I must point out that Tim ran (eight) races last year and this (the pneumonia records) was never a factor."
Richmond, meanwhile, said Saturday that his main goal is to "clear my family name."
After coming to Daytona a week ago to attempt to qualify, Richmond has stayed in town as the negotiations continued between his attorneys and NASCAR.
Slotnick said he has offered NASCAR officials a letter from Richmond's personal doctor, David Dodson, that outlines the driver's current physical condition.
NASCAR spokesman Chip Williams confirmed Saturday that Dodson's letter indicated that Richmond "has not been treated for drugs and is not a drug abuser."
On Thursday, NASCAR officials announced that the "prohibited substance" found in Richmond's system had been, in fact, one common in cold medicine - pseudophedrine.
Great photos, Chase.
The paint color is right, the car number is right, but somehow it still gives me a queazy feeling to see those 1969 Ford photos sandwiched between the 1968 and 1970 Plymouth years.
Since it is fall Dover weekend, here's a little reprise from 38 years ago at a pre-monster, pre-concrete Dover Downs (pre-International Speedway, too) in September of 1976, featuring our RR member, Will Cronkrite and a pre-Danica Janet Guthrie. Though green, the Ralph Moody assisted Kelly Girl ride didn't put your eyes out like the GoGirl green entry.
Hard to believe, but the GoGirl wouldn't even be born until 6 1/2 years after the footage above. Races at Dover were also 500 miles, not 400. The race distance didn't bother tough guy winner Cale Yarborough (sometimes called "NoNeck" by other competitors) in Junior Johnson's #11 Holly Farms Chevy.
Reckon she taught Darrel that move to use at the first Winston?
Yeah, every once and awhile I see a thin guy who looks like me, too!
Hope you enjoyed that. Can 35 years have possibly slipped by that quickly?
I believe I am seeing our RR member, Will Cronkrite in action at Dover in 1976 with the Janet Guthrie entry.
The guy with the perfectly sculpted facial hair (even during pit stops) is you isn't it , Will?
With Ralph Moody & Janet. I believe I spot David Ifft in the crew shots, also?
Might even be The Legend in the 10-gallon hat standing on the motor home in the infield!
And the tall, lean guy at the back of the pits in the blue denim sporty car pre-Dick Berggren cap is the late Gene Granger of Spartanburg, SC - motorsports writer extraordinaire and an old friend - R.I.P., Gene.
And yes, newcomers, before there was concrete there was asphalt at Dover and it was named Dover Downs 'cause the ponies raced there, too.
A pretty good little film here:
One other thought.
We have all had our favorite Camaros at the race track. Hard to beat the one that Robert Gee brought to Wilson County Speedway wheeled by Dale Earnhardt and put a whipping on our regulars in the big money Southern Late Model 200.
However, if I could never see him again in a coupe, here's the Camaro I'd most want to see just one more time before I pass. It would be the Jack Tant / Clayton Mitchell NASCAR Late Model Modified version fielded out of Littleton, NC and driven by Richmond's Ray Hendrick. Unbeatable.
