Forum Activity for @dave-fulton

Junior Johnson is Moving WHERE??? FORE!!!!

Stock Car Racing History

I somehow never pictured Junior Johnson moving from Wilkes County to the posh SouthPark area of south Charlotte... namely the Quail Hollow Country Club Golf Course to a big ole house near Felix Sabates and Rick Hendrick.

For those of you not watching the Talladega races this weekend, that little millionaires' only golf club is the site of this weekend's PGA Wells Fargo Championship ( Tiger didn't make the cut ).

I have never met Lisa - the current Ms. Johnson, but I can't picture Flossie ever telling Junior he couldn't wear his bib overalls. And if Junior thiks the Quail Hollow HOA is gonna let him have that tomato patch he is planning, he has been drinking too much Mountain Dew.

Do the Rules of Engagement permit me to use the phrase "Social Climbing Gold Digger" so long as I don't use it to characterize a particular individual? Too late. I've already used it.

I once worked for a company that had a pretty nasty relationship with Junior, but somehow I feel very sad for him right now. This doesn't sound like his idea.

Anyhow, I hope Junior tells Tiger hello for us. Bubba skipped the tournament for some family time to stay with his newly adopted child. I do have to disclose that my younger daughter went out to the course Thursday for the Pro Am and saw Denny Hamlin.

Maybe Bopper can send Junior one of those big Lemon Meringue pies now that he has joined the wine and cheese set and abandoned we common race folk!

NASCAR legend moving to Quail Hollow
By TOM HIGGINS - Correspondent

The Charlotte Observer
Friday, May. 04, 2012

Quail Hollow, site of this weeks Wells Fargo Championship golf tournament, is getting a famous new resident.

Junior Johnson, the NASCAR legend and Hall of Famer, plans to leave his native Brushy Mountains for a mid-June move to Charlottes upscale neighborhood.

Yeah, my wife Lisa and I have bought a home at Quail Hollow and look forward to living there, Johnson, resting on a sofa at his farm shop in Yadkin County, told The Observer on Friday.

Johnson scotched rumors that his farmland and expansive home atop a hill had been bought by the nearby Raffaldini Winery. Its still for sale, he said.

Johnson never lived far from where he was born 80 years ago in Ronda, in Wilkes County.

A stretch of the U.S. 421 that runs through his property between Winston-Salem and North Wilkesboro is officially named The Junior Johnson Highway. Thats ironic, because it was on old Highway 421 that Johnson made many runs in a souped-up car loaded with moonshine in the late1940s and 50s.

That ability to drive fast on the highway led Johnson to NASCAR. His stock car racing career produced 50 victories as a driver and 132 more, plus six championships in what is now the Sprint Cup Series, as a team owner.

The move to Quail Hollow comes as Johnson recovers from a life-threatening staph infection he contracted after back surgery at Duke University Medical Center in March.

The infection almost got me. I came close to not making it, Johnson said. For 35 minutes or so I was essentially dead. The doctors worked desperately with me and finally I came back around.

Johnson was isolated in the hospitals intensive care unit for five weeks. He was released two weeks ago.

Im still pretty weak and I cant walk very far right now, Johnson said. But I seem to be getting a little bit better each day.

Johnson re-injured his back several months ago while working with a fork lift on his cattle farm. Hed undergone two previous surgeries on his spine.

Im staying off those things from now on, Johnson said jokingly. I doubt they would let me keep one at Quail Hollow anyway.

Among Johnsons new neighbors will be two NASCAR team owners, Rick Hendrick and Felix Sabates.

Johnson said many factors played into the decision to leave the farm he loved.

Working the farm and cattle had just got to be too much for me, he said. It was a 24-hour-a-day job.

I will miss having the big breakfasts here at the shop five days a week with my friends and farmhands, but at the same time I look forward to all the things that will be available to me and Lisa in Charlotte. For example, were really looking forward to going to the Panthers games.

Since boyhood Johnson always has maintained a vegetable garden at his homes. Will he do so at ritzy Quail Hollow?

Ive already picked out a spot for my tomato patch, Johnson said.

And will he wear overalls, his favorite attire?

Lisa told me that I was going to have to throw them away, answered Johnson. But that aint going to happen.

Read more here: http://www.thatsracin.com/2012/05/04/86120/nascar-legend-moving-to-quail.html#storylink=cpy

updated by @dave-fulton: 04/21/17 02:11:44AM

THANK YOU ALEX WHITT, BOBBY ALEXANDER AND STEPHANIE DeLORENZO

Administrative

What a wonderful thing. Those good folks deserve an extra pat on the back.

Charles & Babe Ride Their Motorcycle to Talladega

General

By the way.... Brother Dave supposedly died in 1983 at age 57 of a heart attack in MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina.

I'm not so sure of that, though.

Been listening to this Reverend Stagger down that way who sure sounds kinda like ole Brother Dave!!

Charles & Babe Ride Their Motorcycle to Talladega

General

Actually, the late Brother Dave Gardner released his Motorcycle comedy piece in 1959, ten years before the opening of Talladega.

BUT , Chuck ( Charles ) was a South Alabama boy on the recording. Had he survived, he might well of been heading on his motorsickle to Talladega in 1969.

By the way, Brother Dave played a southern preacher in the 1978 film Big Bob Johnson's Fantastic Speed Circus ... back before the "Smokin' Hot Wife" Nashville preacher came along!

If you have about 5 minutes on your hands, enjoy a little southern levity and want to hear a piece that took southern radio stations by storm in 1959, here is Brother Dave Gardner and his Motorcycle piece from Rejoice Dear Hearts :

updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

Southern All Stars Dirt Series Sold - Purses to be Lowered to Draw Local Drivers

Local and Regional Short Track Racing

Here's an interesting approach... lower your purse to keep away the big stars and draw local drivers. Have to see how that works. Will the fans come out for the local talent only?

Huntsville native Matt Wagner buys Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series
Published: Wednesday, May 02, 2012, 6:31 PM
Doug Demmons - The Birmingham News By Doug Demmons

Huntsville native Matt Wagner has bought the Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series from owner Charles Roberts of Knoxville.

"We have had many offers over the year to buy the series but Matt is the first one who wanted to bring the series back to its home state of Alabama where it all started," Roberts said in a statement.

The SAS Dirt Racing Series was started by Alabama promoter B.J. Parker, who died last year after a long fight with cancer.

Roberts, who bought the series from Parker eight years ago, said that "Matt is a close personal friend to the Parker family and B.J.'s wife Gail and currently works with her on the Southern Superstars Short Track Series, which is the asphalt series that was operated by B.J. Parker till he passed away."

"We are also pleased that Wagner will keep Lynn Acklin and the rest of the current staff and they will continue to work on adding races to the schedule as well as working on sponsorships and contingencies programs for the remaining 2012 season. Also the new staff will work with track owners and promoters to help the Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series continue it's long history in the racing industry."

Acklin said he and Wagner plan to "rebuild the series" after some hard times brought on by the economic recession. The plan is to lower purses and lower ticket prices to help out track promoters.

Lowering purses, he explained, means fewer of the big names in dirt racing compete, which means more local drivers are willing to show up.

The SAS Dirt Racing Series will be at Talladega Short Track this Saturday for a $3,500 to win late model race. All supporting divisions will also be racing, including crate late models, thundercars, hot shots, sportsman and street stocks.

On Friday, TST will host a 40-lap super late model race. Grandstand gates open at 3 p.m. Saturday with a drivers meeting at 5:45 p.m. and hot laps at 6 p.m. On Friday grandstands open at 3 p.m. with racing starting at 7 p.m.

updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:09:31PM

What Worries Johanna Long? Not Danica nor Travis nor Talladega SuperSpeedway; It's Red Farmer at Talladega Short Track!

Current NASCAR

Maybe she'll take an intentional walk!

What Worries Johanna Long? Not Danica nor Travis nor Talladega SuperSpeedway; It's Red Farmer at Talladega Short Track!

Current NASCAR

I don't suspect our Phoenix babe will become Dusty Danica this weekend, either.

From this account in the Birmingham News, sounds like she'll be too busy trying to figure out the big track's infield from the outfield:

RICHMOND, Va. -- Danica Patrick was a little confused.

Following her 21st-place finish in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway last Friday she was asked about her plans for her first race at Talladega Superspeedway.

Patrick, who will race at Talladega for the first time this Saturday in the Aaron's 312, said she might just have to make an undercover trip through the infield to get the flavor of the place.

"Infield, outfield, whatever it is," she said.

She has much to learn about NASCAR's biggest track and she's about to get her first lesson.

Too bad some years back that ISC banned all those "Show us your - - - - " signs that used to proliferate in the infield. She'd have gotten a real Talladega education!

What Worries Johanna Long? Not Danica nor Travis nor Talladega SuperSpeedway; It's Red Farmer at Talladega Short Track!

Current NASCAR

The more I read about Johanna Long, the more I want to pull for her to succeed. She just sounds like "our kinda folks."

Johanna Long prepares for a big weekend at Talladega
Thursday, May 03, 2012, 9:00 AM
The Birmingham News By Doug Demmons

Johanna Long watches from atop her hauler at Richmond International Raceway as her crew gets her car ready for practice. (The Birmingham News/Doug Demmons)

RICHMOND, Va. - Johanna Long has had a case of nerves lately.

The NASCAR Nationwide Series driver from Pensacola raced at Richmond International Raceway for the first time last Friday and finished ahead of two drivers with much higher profiles - Danica Patrick and Travis Pastrana. But that wasn't making her nervous.

And this week she will drive a Nationwide series car for the first time at Talladega Superspeedway, but that's not the cause of all the worry either.

The worry comes from the possibility that she'll get to race across the highway from the superspeedway at Talladega Short Track.

She'd only have one driver to beat, but he's not just any driver. He's Alabama Gang legend Red Farmer, who has been racing on dirt almost as long as there has been dirt.

The short track likes to stage match races between Farmer, who still races even though he is nearly 80 years old, and NASCAR drivers whenever the Sprint Cup Series is in town.

"I'm worried. I'm not going to lie," Long said. "I'm kind of worried about that."

It's not definite that the match race will actually happen. But if it does - Friday at 9 p.m -- it will pit the 19-year-old Long against a driver old enough to be her great grandfather.

The advantage will be with Farmer, who just last October beat Sprint Cup veteran and accomplished dirt racer Kasey Kahne in a match race.

"If I do it'll be my first dirt race," she said. "I think I'll be more nervous about my first dirt race than I am about going to the big track."

Her trip to the big track will be her second. In October she competed in the Truck Series race, finishing 16th for her family's Panhandle Motorsports team.

This season she is driving for ML Motorsports, a one-car Nationwide Series team owned by Mary Louise Miller. It will be the sixth of 21 Nationwide races on her schedule this year.

Her best finish so far has been 19th at Las Vegas, but she doesn't consider a rough start to the year.

"It hasn't been rough," she said. "We've learned a lot. I feel like it's been a lot better than my truck season the year before. So I feel like I've learned a lot and gained a lot of experience at a lot of tracks."

She's not exactly a raw rookie though. Her racing resume already includes a win in one of the most prestigious short-track races in the country - the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola.

That was in 2010. Last December she was out of the race early with mechanical problems and finished last.

"I think I'm the first one who won a race the year before and then finished dead last," she said. "It wasn't very fun."

Talladega, however, is another story.

"It's only two hours away from my home and a lot of my family will be there," she said. "So it's going to be a fun time."

During her truck race at Talladega, Long was the fastest qualifier among those drivers who had to qualify o speed rather than having an automatic qualifying spot. She stayed in the top 10 for most of the race before she got shuffled to the back in the draft and ended up finishing 16th.

So this time she's looking at "redeeming myself a little bit."

"It's all about surviving there and good drafting and having a good partner and staying out of trouble," she said.

And when the season is, she said, it will be a success if she piles up some top 15s, "being competitive, running top 20s, top 15s, maybe a top 10. I feel like that'll be a big season for me."

But first there's that date with Farmer.

"He's an awesome person," she said. "I met him in Daytona. He has a lot of information and it was really cool to pick his brain and learn from him and hopefully I'll get to race with him."

updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM

Our Hall of Fame Could Use This Money

General

While our NASCAR Hall of Fame struggles with attendance and budget and staffing cuts, our local Charlotte media has uncovered more dastardly goings on within the organization charged with operating the Hall. This is no reflection on the efforts with the Hall of Fame onsite team, but rather a stinging expose of the lengths to which our government hacks will go to assure themselves of continued paydays.

The continued money being paid to the former Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority head is sinful. No wonder the Authority tried to keep it a secret.

Our Hall of Fame needs this money. Will our government administrators go to no length to stay in the pockets of the public?

Newman collects pay after leaving CRVA
By Steve Harrison
sharrison@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Thursday, May. 03, 2012

Former Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority chief executive Tim Newman is still collecting his regular salary, including a car allowance, more than two months after he left the tourism authority.

The payments apparently reflect a severance agreement, though the CRVA has said any separation agreement is not a public record .

Newman had been moved into an executive sales position in December when the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority board hired Tom Murray to replace him. In late February, Murray announced that Newman was leaving, saying they both came to a decision that he would move on.

Murray declined at the time to discuss any severance Newman would receive.

N.C. public records law, however, requires public agencies to disclose all money paid to employees.

Newman received $28,905 in accrued vacation on March 3, according to the CRVA.

He has since received four bi-weekly paychecks for $9,461.54 each. He has also been paid two monthly car allowances of $694.58, in March and April.

CRVA attorney Cameron Furr declined to say how long the payments would continue . The checks were first reported by WSOC-TV.

The changes at the CRVA came after a year of controversy.

Newman had come under intense criticism from Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx and some City Council members. They were upset about inflated attendance projections for the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which Newmans CRVA managed . Newman had said 800,000 people would come in the first year but only 272,000 showed up.

He had also been criticized for his management style, including using his personal spending account on expensive dinners for himself and local business leaders, as well as lavish gifts like New York Yankees baseball tickets.

Newmans total compensation in 2010 was a little more than $300,000, including a bonus. He didnt receive a bonus in his last year, and it doesnt appear he is being paid a bonus after he left the tourism authority.

The CRVA receives about 1/3 of its funding from two hospitality taxes. One is a tax on hotel/motel room occupancy and the other is a 1 percent tax on prepared food and beverages, which is essentially a restaurant bar/tax.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/03/3214253/newman-collects-pay-after-leaving.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

You Might Be a Rodeo Goat if...

General

In the early 70s my wife was nearly decapitated when a tow truck stretched a cable across a back country road and tied it around a tree in an effort to winch a tractor trailer out of the mud on a farm.

It was twilight when my wife rounded the curve heading from Wilson to Rocky Mount, NC and had the roof of her car neatly peeled off beginning at the top of the windshield. She should of been killed. She refused to let us sue the towing company. She told me I had a mean streak and they meant no harm.

My wife was voted the "Sweetest Girl" in her senior class. I am still Oscar the Grouch. Opposites attract. We should have owned the towing company.