SURVEY RESULTS FOR CONTINUATION OF LEGENDTORIALS
Administrative
HA HA HA..
You sure fooled me, but this is one time I am glad to be fooled!
Forum Activity for @dave-fulton
Administrative
SURVEY RESULTS FOR CONTINUATION OF LEGENDTORIALS
Administrative
WHAT?????
Did you count my 182 YES responses here??? We can vote multiple times, right?
DO NOT STOP THE LEGENDTORIALS - THAT IS AN ORDER!!!
All in favor, vote yes, right here....
Planting the Racing Seeds as Bopper and Legend Have Described
Stock Car Racing History
I really enjoyed this past Tuesday night's Racing Through History broadcast, especially all the wonderful descriptions of the amazing event staged at Shelby.
Particularly gratifying to me was the observation of the numbers of youngsters on hand and how they were tutored and enjoyed the old-time atmosphere.
It was so neat last night to hear Bobby Williamson talk about the 11 year old who accompanies his #300 Bell & Bell Modified to the races, actually backing the car off the trailer. We all agreed on how important it is to plant the seeds while these youngsters are so impressionable.
I thought last night of how much I enjoyed hearing and reading of Tim Leeming's grandsons' experiences when he took them to Charlotte last year. I also thought of how much my own grandson enjoyed trips to the weekly tracks at Concord and Lancaster - good exposure to both asphalt and dirt! And, how much my now 11 year old grandson enjoyed Occoneechee last November.
The more I thought of all these things, the more I thought of a news release I wrote for the Richmond track 13 years ago in April 1999. I was media relations director there for 10 seasons from 1990-1999. I have written hundreds (if not thousands) of news releases over the years, but I've never been tempted to bore the RR family with one. I am going to make an exception to my own rule and share just this one old news release because it captures, I think, the essence of what we were discussing last night.
Upfront, let me set the stage by saying that the late and legendary Richmond promoter, Paul Sawyer was partial to modifieds and children. His grandstands were always open free of charge for all practice sessions and children under age 12 were always admitted free of charge to all non-Winston Cup events at his track.
I hope you might enjoy this old release. It received widespread publication at the time and many nice comments. I treasure the thoughts it embodies even more now that I am a grandpa.
I'm going to highlight the release in a different color for visibility. Thanks for letting me reminisce.
RICHMOND, VA (April 13, 1999) - The senior citizen and the preschooler walked hand in hand from the pickup truck toward the main entrance of Richmond International Raceway. The elderly gentleman sported a ball cap emblazoned in two colors electric blue and Day-Glo red. A stylized #43 adorned the front of his cap. The young boy wore a spiffy, brand new cap. It was colored like a rainbow shining in the afternoon sun, following a brief thunderstorm. It, too, had a stylized number on the front and sides - #24, as well as the words Rainbow Warriors embroidered across the back.
Approaching the grandstand gate, the pair stopped in their tracks as the crisp morning air was pierced by a rumbling, thundering sound similar to no other. Wow! Lets hurry grandpa, exclaimed the youngster. Hold on one second, son, the grandfather requested, savoring the full-blown roar of two NASCAR Featherlite Modifieds reverberating off 94,030 high rise aluminum seats and then resounding through the gate opening just ahead of the pair. Listen to that music just a minute, begged grandpa, even as his step hastened.
As the two fans born generations apart squint in the sun, a jet black and radiant yellow tornado roars off the fourth turn. The velocity is so great it feels as if the pairs jackets will be pulled into the maelstrom. Observers note a tight grip maintained on grandpas hand.
The black and yellow tornado rushes into the shade toward turn one before it is suddenly apparent that the heart throbbing commotion is being caused by not one, but two NASCAR Featherlite Modifieds. Jockeyed by two New Yorkers at that, the name on the black #7 Chevy is Tom Baldwin, while Tim Connolly is neatly lettered on the #4 Dodge. Both the drivers and the cars are familiar (and famous) to fans of the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series. Baldwin hails from Bellport, while Connolly claims Endicott as home. The two Yankees are at the Sawyer familys Richmond International Raceway today testing tires for Goodyear tires theyll use when the entire Modified brigade returns to this bastion of southern culture the night of May 13 for the SAFETY-KLEEN 150, the Thursday opener for NASCARs 3-night RIR engagement.
Did Jeff Gordon drive Modifieds, grandpa? How about Ward Burton? I bet they were good NASCAR Modified drivers, exclaims the youngster just a hint of question in his tone.
A gentle Nope from grandpa leaves a puzzled look on the youngsters face. The look turns to a beam, though, as grandpa says, Jeffs crew chief, Ray Evernham drove em and worked on em before he moved south. And, Wards crew chief learned all about racecars working on NASCAR Modifieds for his dad. Look, there goes Tommy Baldwin, Juniors dad again right now, grandpa shouts as Tiger Tom Baldwin puts his RIR-sponsored mount through its quick paces.
Know how you love to watch Mr. Excitement? Well, Jimmy Spencer was a two-time NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series champion. And, Dale Earnhardts Winston Cup driver, Steve Park won 16 Modified races before he joined Dale. Thats the same number of Modified wins that Mike McLaughlin got before he started driving in the Busch Series. But, Jeff Fuller won 31 NASCAR Featherlite Modified races. Only two Modified drivers have more wins than that.
Well get to see Reggie Ruggiero (38 NASCAR Featherlite Modified wins) here with his Modified in May. And well see the all-time NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series winner in September, when Mike Stefanik (58 NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series wins) brings his new NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series ride to Richmond. Ken Bouchard was the 1988 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year after driving on the Featherlite Tour and Brett Bodine won three tour races.
Son, I can remember when those last two guys I named had brothers driving NASCAR Modifieds before they started in Winston Cup. Im talking about Ron Bouchard and Geoff Bodine. But, that was in the days before the touring Featherlite Modified Series started in 1985, grandpa patiently explains. When we come back in May, those two fellows on the track will be the ones to watch, along with Reggie and Mike Ewanitsko and Chris Kopec. I even hear Rick Fuller will be back. He won the first Featherlite Modified Series race at RIR in 1990 before you were born, laughs grandpa.
Grandpa, are you gonna talk again tonight about the good old days and Joe Weatherly, Ray Hendrick, Eddie Crouse, Sonny Hutchins, Runt Harris, Ted Hairfield and Bill Dennis in Modifieds here on the dirt track? Are you gonna tell me how Junie Donlavey had his #90 Ford Modifieds here before they ever built that first NASCAR superspeedway in Darlington in 1950 and how he took Bob Apperson and Runt Harris down there for the first Southern 500?
Are you gonna tell me about the Woodchopper Glen Wood and his #21 Ford Modified winning here on the dirt, too? Are you gonna tell me how Paul Sawyer started out owning NASCAR Modifieds? Are you gonna tell me again about how Eddie Flemke, Juniors daddy came to Richmond with Denny Zimmerman, Rene Charland and Red Foote in Modifieds and yall called them the Yankee Bandits?" quizzed the youngster.
Nope, fibbed grandpa, telling a small white mistruth. Im gonna think of which of these NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series drivers will be NASCARs next superstars.
Good, said the youngster. And, Im gonna pull for that yellow Dodge of Tim Connollys when we come back for the SAFETY-KLEEN 150. Its the only Dodge body in the Series.
One more thing, son did I ever tell you about Red Byron winning the first-ever NASCAR race in Virginia right here at Richmond in 1948 in a NASCAR Modified and how he was the first NASCAR Modified champion and then won the very first NASCAR Winston Cup championship in 1949? He was the first NASCAR Modified driver to make it big in Winston Cup, grandpa continued to the yawning youngster.
# # #
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/16/16 07:54:05AM
April 25, 1971: A controversial win for Richard Petty
Stock Car Racing History
Sports anchor copy for Roanoke, Virginia's WSLS-TV Monday news report on the race:
And here's a link to a pre-race WSLS-TV video feature interview with a very long haired Fred Lorenzen discussing his return to stock car racing at Martinsville and rumors of cheating by Richard Petty:
http://search.lib.virginia.edu/catalog/uva-lib:2254637
And, here's a link to a pre-race interview with the winner:
Tenn. State Champ Monteith Enters Hamlin's Richmond Short Track Showdown Thurs. Night
Local and Regional Short Track Racing
Richmond, VA Here is the Invitee List for the 2012 Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown to be held on April 26th at the Richmond International Raceway.
1 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Champion,
5 Top Finishers in NWAAS National Points
5 Top State/Providence Champions
5 Virginia Track Champion (Includes Southside Speedway)
5 Top Finishers in Virginia State Points
1 Past NWAAS National Champion
5 Top finishing LMSC drivers from previous years DHSTS
5 Top finishers in Martinsville Fall LMSC race
15 DHF Invitees consisting of remaining LMSC drivers that made the race field for the previous years event and other declared Wild Card Invites and 12 NASCAR National Series competitors or Celebrities (these drivers to be released via a PR release from RIR and DHF).
1. A1 Travis Braden 2011 NWAAS State Champion
2. 01 Richard Boswell Qualified for 2011 DHSTS
3. 04 Ryan Reed DHF Wild Card
4. 05 Doug Godsey Qualified for 2011 DHSTS
5. 06 Davin Scites DHF Wild Card
6. 07 Clint King Qualified for 2011 DHSTS
7. 08 Deac McCaskill DHF Wild Card
8. 2 Matt Waltz Qualified for 2011 DHSTS
9. 3 Burt Myers 2011 NWAAS NORTH CAROLINA Champion
10. 5 Frank Deiny Jr. 4th 2011 NWAAS VIRGINIA State Points
11. 5 Dexter Canipe Jr. 5th Martinsville Speedway Fall Race
12. 9 Ben Rhodes DHF Wild Card
13. 10 Brandon Davis 5th 2011 NWAAS NATIONAL Points
14. 10 Nick Smith Qualified for 2011 DHSTS
15. 16 Jeff Oakley 2011 Southside Speedway Track Champion
16. 16 Ryan Preece 7th 2011 NWAAS NATIONAL Points
17. 17 Stacey Puryear 3rd 2011 Martinsville Fall Race
18. 26 Phillip Morris 2011 NWAAS NATIONAL CHAMPION
19. 27 Jeb Burton 8th 2011 Martinsville Fall Race
20. 28 Bill Leighton Jr. 6th 2011 NWAAS National Points
21. 29 Brandon Butler 2nd 2011 Martinsville Fall Race
22. 32 Kyle Grissom Qualified for 2011 DHSTS
23. 33 David Polenz 2011 Old Dominion Speedway Track Champion
24. 34 Greg Edwards 2nd 2011 NWAAS Langley Speedway
25. 40 CE Falk III 2011 Langley Speedway Track Champion
26. 44 Nate Monteith 2011 NWAAS TENNESEE State Champion
27. 44 Dylon Lupton DHF Wild Card
28. 51 Matt McCall Qualified for 2011 DHSTS/2011 Pole Winner
29. 57 Eddie Johnson Qualified for 2011 DHSTS
30. 58 Scott Turlington Qualified for 2011 DHSTS
31. 59 Coleman Pressley DHF Wild Card
32. 66 Steve Carlson Past NWAAS National Champion
33. 72 Josh Berry 9th 2011 NWAAS VIRGINIA State Points
34. 77 Timothy Peters,DHF Wild Card
35. 77 Clint Mills Qualified for 2011 DHSTS
36. 80 Justin T. Johnson 11th 2011 NWAAS VIRGINIA State Points
37. 80 Kris Bowen 2nd 2011 NWAAS Motormile Speedway
38. 81 Ryan Robertson Qualified for 2011 DHSTS
39. 82 J Herbst 2011 NWAAS WISCONSIN State Champion
40. 82 Paddy Rodenbeck Qualified for 2011 DHSTS Race
41. 83 Matt Bowling 12th 2011 NWAAS VIRGINIA State Points
42. 88 Keith Rocco 2nd 2011 NWAAS National Points
43. 89 Adam Royle 2011 NWAAS MINNESOTA State Champion
44. 90 Pietro Fittipaldi DHF Wild Card
45. 94 Natalie Sather 2nd 2011 NWAAS South Boston Speedway
46. 99 Brandon Dean Qualified for 2011 DHSTS
47. 99 Peyton Sellers Qualified for 2011 DHSTS
Twelve NASCAR stars, past and present, will run the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model division race at Richmond International Raceway on Thursday, April 26. Joining the best local Late Model Stock Car drivers for the race are:
Denny Hamlin
Tony Stewart
Kyle Busch
Jeff Burton
Michael Waltrip
Joey Logano
Aric Almirola
Jason White
Timothy Peters
Chase Elliott
Darrell Wallace Jr.
Curtis Markham
Tenn. State Champ Monteith Enters Hamlin's Richmond Short Track Showdown Thurs. Night
Local and Regional Short Track Racing
Today brings news that Tennessee state NASCAR champ Nate Monteith has been invited to run Denny Hamlin's Short Track Showdown Thursday night in Richmond.
The complete story is posted on our RR homepage at this link:
http://racersreunion.com/monteith-excited-about-running-denny-hamlin-short-track-showdown-at-richmond-international-raceway/
By the way, if Nate wins, thanking his car sponsors will be a mouthful!
Check this out...
He will drive the
True Line Construction Co./KBM Commercial Properties/BSA Security Co./PerformanceCenter Racing Warehouse/Charlie Long Race Engines/Griffin Radiators/Circle Racing Wheels/Pro Fabrication Exhaust/Hayworth Racing Brakes/Amsoil/Brown & Miller Racing Solutions/Five Star Race Car Bodies/ProParts Engineering Performance/The Joie of Seating/Sherwin-Williams/Primetime Designs Race Decals/WD Performance/Marlowe Racing Chassis / No 44 Ford Fusion!!!!!
Who says you can't find sponsors?
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:09:31PM
R.I.P. James Jones - Wilson County Speedway Promoter & Carolinas Dirt Track Racer
Stock Car Racing History
The 1975 photo of Roger Matthews below was taken by Tim Hamm at Wilson:
R.I.P. James Jones - Wilson County Speedway Promoter & Carolinas Dirt Track Racer
Stock Car Racing History
If you click on the link below, it will take you to the pictures posted on this site by RR member Tim Hamm of Elm City, NC. Many of the photos were taken at Wilson County. Happy to have you on our RR site. We often refer to Wilson County Speedway as the "Gem of the East." Sure do miss her.
http://stockcar.racersreunion.com/photo/photo/listForContributor?sc...