Prayers for Jim Massey
Stock Car Racing History
Certainly hope for a quick recovery.
Forum Activity for @dave-fulton
Buddy Baker
General
As reported in today's Charlotte Observer, a nice mix of "old" and "new" NASCAR were on hand in Charlotte yesterday afternoon as Buddy Baker was laid to rest. Baker's old #15 car owner, Bud Moore was on hand and pallbearers Don Miller, Ryan Newman, Bobby Allison and motorsports writer, Tom Higgins are all visible in the photo below.
Friends, family say farewell to former NASCAR star Buddy Baker
Funeral for Baker, who died Aug. 10, was Tuesday
Baker won 19 races, was first to break 200-mph barrier
NASCAR officials, former rivals in attendance
By David Scott
A church full of Buddy Bakers family and friends gathered Tuesday afternoon to say goodbye to Baker, one of NASCARs fastest and most fearless drivers.
Baker, who grew up in Charlotte and graduated from Garinger High, died Aug. 10 at the age of 74. He won 19 races over his 33-year career including five times at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and four at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and was also the first stock-car driver to eclipse the 200-mph barrier during a test at Talladega in 1970.
Buddy said the most important thing for him was to be with family, said pastor John Earl, who officiated Bakers funeral at Avondale Presbyterian Church in Charlotte. Family and friends are here to be with and for each other.
NASCAR was represented at the funeral by chairman Brian France and president Mike Helton. Former rivals Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett and Bobby Allison attended. Ryan Newman, who drives on the Sprint Cup Series and counted Baker as a mentor, served as a pallbearer with Allison. Bud Moore and Waddell Wilson, two of Bakers crew chiefs, were also in attendance.
H.A. Humpy Wheeler, Bakers longtime friend and former president of Charlotte Motor Speedway, spoke at the service. Wheeler said there was so much more to Baker than just being a driver and broadcaster (he was co-host of a satellite radio show when he was diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this year).
Wheeler talked about a time recently that Baker talked a young man out of committing suicide. When Baker won at Talladega in 1975, Wheeler said Baker told him he didnt feel like a winner because a friend, fellow driver Tiny Lund, died in the race.
Buddy was a ferocious driver, said Wheeler. He wasnt afraid of anything on the race track. He also wasnt afraid to kneel down and say a prayer.
David Scott: 704-358-5889, @davidscott14
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nascar-auto-racing/thatsrac...
Racing History Minute - August 14, 1960
Stock Car Racing History
Especially love the photo illustrations in this report.
Racing History Minute - August 14, 1955
Stock Car Racing History
Here's what the main grandstand at Memphis-Arkansas Speedway looked like in 1955 when the GN clan returned to Lehi, Arkansas for an event on October 9, 1955. 
PENNSBORO SPEEDWAY (Almost Heaven West Virginia)
Administrative
Whenever I hear of Pennsboro, I think of a young blue-eyed lady named Lynn who we called "The Mud Puppy." She was from Alabama where both of her parents were professors at the University of Alabama - Birmingham. She'd moved to Charlotte and in the very early 80s was writing and photographing for the little racing paper Ernie Elkins had in Mt. Holly, NC. I don't think she ever missed an event at Pennsboro and talked about it all the time. She was the person who encouraged me to go to my first (and only) NDRA race - the big $100,000 event in 1981 at Satch Worley's Log Cabin Raceway on Martinsville's September weekend. That was weird, because JD Stacy, who we'd just dropped with Earnhardt and Wrangler in Cup had a car there and acted like my best friend. I wish I could remember Lynn's last name and have often wondered what became of her. I bet if she hears things are happening at Pennsboro, though, that she'll be there.
Racing History Minute - August 7, 1949
Stock Car Racing History
Terrific research on this, Chase. I hope LaVerne Zachary is reading.
Ruby Again!
General
Well, our RR goat mascot, Ruby is at it again. We Charlotte taxpayers have it tough, what with having to pay for the cost overruns and make up the deficits at the you know what and rounding up all the stray goats on I-85. Goodness knows what it will cost us to ship Ruby back to Myrtle Beach this time!.
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
BLUE HEN 200 August 9, 1970
Stock Car Racing History
Tim, the "Delaware Blue Hen" - a cockfighting bird - is the state bird of Delaware and the mascot of the University of Delaware. Don't know how it would fare vs. a South Carolina Gamecock, though!
Just down the road from the Dover track stood the Blue Hen Mall.
