Forum Activity for @dave-fulton

Appreciate Dave Despain

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On Saturday night I watched 2 Dave Despain one hour specials on SPEED. These were reruns done in 2009 that I had not seen previously. One was on the construction of Talladega and events leading up to the first race and the other on the construction of and history of Bristol.

I really learned a lot from both shows, which were each outstanding. Really great interviews with all sorts of behind the scenes folk and really good driver interviews stuff from Richard Brickhouse, John Utsman and Paul Lewis.

I don't know how many shows Dave did in this series, but I hope to get a chance to see them all.

updated by @dave-fulton: 08/13/17 04:47:45AM

Marty Smith from ESPN remembers Neil Bonnett

Current NASCAR

Neil had a sense of humor that was unbelievable. One of the funniest days I ever spent was in Stuart, VA. at the Wood Brothers shop doing a CITGO press kit photo shoot with Neil.

First time I ever met Neil was enroute to Riverside in 1981 on a Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) shuttle bus going to the rental car lot and the driver couldn't find our cars. Neil's wife was with him and she was so quiet as Neil offered "suggestions" to the rental car lot shuttle bus driver. It was hard not to like Neil.

Neil Bonnett Describes Closest Finish in Richmond History as Elliott Edges Kulwicki by 18 Inches

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It was February 1992 at Richmond when Bill Elliott won the largest NASCAR short track First Place purse of nearly $300,000 beating Alan Kulwicki by just 18 inches after a thrilling side-by-side duel.

Little did we know they'd also finish in the same order at Atlanta in November, with Elliott again taking the win, but Kulwicki the championship.

I was standing on Richmond's pit road at the start/finish line when Elliott and Kulwicki came off turn 4 side by side heading to the checkers and thought Kulwicki would win, but Awesome Bill's Junior Johnson horsepower and torque off the corner barely prevailed.

The accepted opinion had been that Elliott couldn't get the job done on the short tracks. That opinion got thrown out the window at Richmond.

Those two guys raced each other so cleanly we couldn't believe it. We were used to seeing Dale and Darrell beat each other to death at Richmond. It was refreshing to watch side-by-side racing this clean.

I still get a little choked up hearing the late Neil Bonnett describe the action.

Don't tell me these weren't the good ole days.

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

Peace Haven, Dixie Classic Fairgrounds, Bowman Gray, V.I.R. - 1950s Color Footage

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We've had several very interesting old newspaper clips posted recently about Winston-Salem, NC's Peace Haven Speedway. Found this video of 1950s action at Winston-Salem's Peace Haven, Dixie Classic Fairgrounds and Bowman-Gray Stadium, as well as some sports cars at Virginia International Raceway in 1959.

Man, the Peace Haven stuff above is unbelievable. Running 3-wide in the corners, numerous rollovers and the ambulance getting a heck of a workout. They were also drawing big fields of cars and large numbers of fans.

They would definitely NOT qualify for the Willie Quattlebaum Award.

Great stuff above and below!

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

Video - A Day in the Life of Richard Petty - 1967 - Classic Racing on the Dirt at Richmond

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All of the dirt track racing on this segment is from the Richmond Fairgrounds 1/2-mile dirt track 1967 Capital City 300.

Dick Hutcherson (the #29 Ford) finished 2nd to Richard Petty, who also swept the spring Richmond 250. Richard, with 13 wins, remains the all-time Richmond winner.

Besides the side-by-side shots of Richard & Hutch, that's Wayne Smith in the #38 '66 Chevy and Clyde Lynn in the #20 '66 Ford.

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

Some Racing Sponsors Had Class

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

NASCAR Foundation HQ Bailing Out of Charlotte & Back to Daytona

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The City of Charlotte was responsible for the construction of the building and is the owner of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. However, it is operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.

NASCAR Foundation HQ Bailing Out of Charlotte & Back to Daytona

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Plenty of nuts here to go around. Yes, we have no bananas today.

NASCAR Foundation HQ Bailing Out of Charlotte & Back to Daytona

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Johnny, Mama is starting to make me hungry!

NASCAR Foundation HQ Bailing Out of Charlotte & Back to Daytona

General

Only the Tower owned by Trinity. City of Charlotte owns Hall of Fame building.