Forum Activity for @dave-fulton

It's only 1.5 Million

General

The last time both NASCAR and Charlotte Motor Speedway were in severe trouble, the late and brilliant Richard Howard coerced a group of promoters into funding the Junior Johnson-built, Charlie Glotzbach-driven Chevy. I was at that May's World 600 and the attendance jump was amazing, as it was at the other tracks where the car appeared. Howard was listed as owner, but those other promoters each chipped in $10,000. Of course, Howard also saved the Atlanta track paying both the purse and the IRS who were ready to shut it down. Besides Raymond Parks, I think Howard might be the most overlooked figure in stock car racing. In my humble opinion, if any promoter deserves to be in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, it's Richard Howard. And don't forget he also gave us World Championship Slow Pitch Softball, Mom & Pop's Country Biscuits and Restaurants, Western Steer Steak Houses and his Howard's Furniture car sponsorships. If not for Howard stepping in when Bruton bailed out and left town, there would have been no CMS for Bruton Smith to reclaim. And no Atlanta for Bruton to later purchase and quite possibly no NASCAR the way attendance was going. I think Humpy deserves much credit for the CMS success, but without Howard saving the place, there'd be no CMS.

Petty Door Number Variations

General

Oh, I knew it wasn't "our' door... just another example of the variations.

Petty Door Number Variations

General

Was thinking about all the conversations regarding the Petty door # on the Billy Biscoe door American Pickers episode when I ran across this variation of the number 43 at the 1962 Nashville Fairgrounds NASHVILLE 500, shot by J.T. Phillips and published in The Tennessean .

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

ARE THEY GONNA BREAK OUT THE SOAP FOR MOUTHWASH???

Current NASCAR

Radio communication between driver and team should be private, period. Shouldn't be available to public OR NASCAR. Nobody's business but driver and team. Next thing, we'll have fans and NASCAR wanting to sit in on driver/team/sponsor contract negotiations. The line needs to be drawn somewhere. What do you think Richard said when David lifted in front of him at the close of that Daytona Firecracker 400 to set him up for the winning slingshot pass? Probably the same thing he said when he was bumping and framming thatroadhog on I-85 a few years back. BUT, his comments didn't need to be broadcast publicly.I particularly remember a 1982 Martinsville race when Bud Moore had cautioned Dale Earnhardt on the virtues of patience at Martinsville and how the race couldn't be won on the first lap. We were pitted on the backstretch to take advantage of Bud's superfast crew on yellow flag pit stops. By the time Dale got to the backstretch after taking the initial green flag and negotiating turns 1 and 2, his front bumber was a mess. What Bud yelled to Ironhead on the radio started with the word "Boy", but you couldn't print the rest of it. And nobody needed to hear it either. That was between Bud and Dale.

And the Lady in Black is up next---------wanna Boogie???

Current NASCAR

Definitely unpredictable. How about 1979 Southern 500? Jaws has big lead and hits wall. David Pearson, who parted ways with Wood Bros. at spring Darlington race, subs for injured Dale Earnhardt and wins in Osterlund car. Waltrip's crash ends up costing him the points championship to the King. This was one of the years when engine changes were legal. Junior's crew changed one for Cale in 19 minutes as he attempted his 5th Southern 500 win. I was sitting in one of the old backstretch boxes that day. When Waltrip hit the wall and Pearson took the lead, you could have heard the crowd roar all the way to Florence!!

Check out these two links:

Check out all time great announcer Ray Melton interviewing David in victory lane and catch just a glimpse of crew chief "Suitcase Jake" Elder during that interview. Also note the tremendous runs by rookies Bill Elliott and Terry Labonte.

The Other Side of NASCAR

General

Per Randy - Half the people on this list wouldn't know what a race car, much less a modified or sportsman, hobby stock or "bomber", is until it "hit em in the ass".

Randy, that might be just the solution to save NASCAR!!!

First Virginia NASCAR Race

General

My math is rusty - 11 year time difference between programs... oops, sorry again.

First Virginia NASCAR Race

General

This program photo with same sponsor as Billy Biscoe program 15 years later shows racing dating back at least to 1924 at the old Richmond Fairgrounds. Itis posted in the Brian Katen article, Roots of Oval Track Racing . By the way, Big Bill moved to Daytona from DC in Spring 1935.

First Virginia NASCAR Race

General

Billy, that is indeed AWESOME! The State Fairgrounds site of that event depicted in your program is the old fairgrounds on The Boulevard in Richmond, that later became home to Parker Field and The Diamond, homes of the late AAA Richmond Virginians and Richmond Braves baseball clubs and currently home to the AA Richmond Flying Squirrels. On that same property, the old original Arena building used to host high school and college basketball and for many years was home to the Southern Conference Basketball Tournament. What is particularly interesting about this race site is that Big Bill France, Sr. raced here out of Washington, DCin an open wheel car. Don't know if it was that particular Labor Day event, though. In fact, when Big Bill died, Bill France, Jr. discovered in his papers a series of letters from the Richmond promoter to Big Bill negotiating "Deal" money for Bill Sr. to race in Richmond. Bill, Jr. was kind enough to give these letters to the late Richmond promoter, Paul Sawyer as a token of the friendship between France, Sr. and Sawyer. I was working as Media Relations Coordinator at RIR at the time and saw those letters when Paul received them from Bill, Jr. They made fascinating reading. Billy, you have absolutely made my day by posting this program. Many thanks.

First Virginia NASCAR Race

General

That is the first Va. NASCAR race I was referring to - sorry.