Never, Ever, doubt the impact of RR on NASCAR or the popularity of TMC Chase
Administrative
Thanks, Will. Great to see your "smile" around this morning. Hope all is well with you.
Forum Activity for @tim-leeming
Administrative
Never, Ever, doubt the impact of RR on NASCAR or the popularity of TMC Chase
Administrative
I watched the first few laps of the races before heading out to my church for a special presentation honoring the Wounded Warriors. It was an amazing presentation and we got to sing all the good old patriot songs as well as hear from many members of the Armed Forces, including a female Army Officer who was severely wounder in Iraq and was told she wouldn't walk again. She walks, and she talks with compassion and authority that demands your attention. Didn't mean to get sidetracked there, but it was a track well worth taking.
The real purpose of this post is this; they announced the grandstands at Phoenix were sold out. And they looked pretty full. I attribute that reprieve for NASCAR to the announcement earlier in the week by our own TMC Chase, a member in very good standing here on RacersReunion, stating he would appear in Phoenix for the race. Based on that one announcement, Phoenix was able to sell out the stands. If Chase plays his cards right, he can probably be Grand Marshall at the Daytona 500.
Congratulations Chase. Hope you and your friends had a great time in Phoenix. For the record, you were missed here!!!!!
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:02:57PM
NOW WHERE DID HE COME FROM
Current NASCAR
It was laughable to me that NASCAR threw that last caution for TAPE OFF SPARKLE PONY'Scar which was even out of the groove. An attempt to bunch up the field for an exciting finish. Or was it an attempt to ensure Edwards didn't run out of gas? Or an attempt to move Kenseth up a few spots in the finish? Or an attempt to give Sparkle Pony a "wave around" so she could finish 9 laps back instead of 10? Didn't really have to be any of those reasons, but you can guess it was a fabricated caution to manipulate the finish. Come on NASCAR, a piece of tape lying out of the groove. What gives with that. Oh, and while we are on the subject of manipulating finishes, what about the last lap of the Nationwide when a back marked spun on the last lap and there was NO CAUTION even though there were oncoming cars behind the spinner? What's up with that? Why Talladega and not Phoenix?
You know it gets really bad when the television commentators are talking about the late race caution sure to be thrown as if they, too, know of your B.S. Perhaps, as much as I hate to suggest this, you, NASCAR, should give half of the fine you assessed MWR back to whiney Mikey. At least the 5-Hour Spinergy Team made the manipulation look a little more believeable than a caution flag for rolled up tape up out of the groove.
I am writing David Letterman to tell him the biggest laugh he may get all season is simply to walk out for his monologue and say "NASCAR is a legitimate sport:". That should bring down the house.
NOW WHERE DID HE COME FROM
Current NASCAR
It can still be done Johnny. Remember last year when JJ had a terrible run at Homestead? I am so hoping that Jap Trap from JGR has another bad day in South Florida next Sunday. As for Edwards running out of gas, the look on Jack's face made my day!
A Day for Veterans
General
Brought tears to my eyes last year Dave, and again today. Thanks, my friend.
#43 Picked from 137 Million Smithsonian Objects in 19 Museums as One of Top 101 Iconic American Items
General
Thanks, Andy. Just wondering what other sports oriented material was included.
Dave, thanks for the heads up on the upcoming television special on this.
#43 Picked from 137 Million Smithsonian Objects in 19 Museums as One of Top 101 Iconic American Items
General
And to think I got that Dude's first autographs as a race driver!!!! Guess I need to get him to autograph a check for me next time. Thanks for posting this Dave. It is absolutely amazing that Richard and his car are so much a part of each other. Are there any NFL helmets or jerseys in the 101? How about NBA shoes? Just curious.
Racing History Minute - November 10, 1963
Stock Car Racing History
Yes it does Jack. Speak softly and carry a big wrench in your back pocket. Oh wait. That was some presidential dude talking about a big stick. Oh well.
Racing History Minute - November 10, 1963
Stock Car Racing History
The 1964 NASCAR Grand National season, which would see a huge dispute arise between NASCAR, Ford and Chrysler over the use of Chrysler's power Hemi engine, actually stated on this date, 1963, on a half-mile dirt track locted in Concord, NC. The "Textile 250" was 125 miles to be contested between 26 competitors.
David Pearson put a 1963 Cotton Owens Dodge on the pole with a speed of 69.257 mph. Junior Johnson in the Holly Farms Chevrolet would start second, Ned Jarrett in the Burton-Robinson Ford third, Richard Petty in the Petty Engineering Plymouth fourth and Jack Smith in his Plymouth fifth.
David Pearson led the first 39 laps before Ned Jarrett took over. Ned led through lap 133 before Joe Weatherly moved his Bud Moore Pontiac out front for two laps. Richard Petty then led laps 136-148. Lil Joe was back in front on lap 149 and he was moving away from the field until lap 231 when Ned went to the lead to remain there until the end of the race.Somewhat of a "vanilla" sounding race, right? But, oh no!
The crowd of 3,000 were on their feet as Joe Weatherly ran up behind Tiny Lund who was some 30 laps down. Weatherly was trying to pass Lund to continue to build his lead over Jarrett and when Joe finally got what he considered an opening, he pushed the Pontiac to go by Lund. But it didn't happen that way! Lund moved up and crunched Weatherly's fender. As the altercation between Lund and Weatherly was going on, Ned smoothly moved out front. It was then that Weatherly spun Lund in turn four.
Lund dove into the pits and waited until Weatherly was coming back through turns 3 and 4 and then pulled out of the pits directly in front of Joe. Lund veered into Weatherly going into turn one and the Pontiac of Weatherly almost left the speedway over the enbankment but Weatherly held on and ran down Lund going into turn four where he crashed into Lund. As the cars exited turn four and head down the front chute, Bud Moore, Weatherly's car owner, threw a rock and hit the LundFord in the driver's door.
Jarrett was flagged the winner and Bud Moore crammed a wrench in his back pocket and headed to where his driver was parking the number 8 Pontiac. The wrench was "insurance" should things get rough. Weatherly climbed from his battered Pontiac and was ready to head for the crushed and wreck Ford of Lund and everyone was expecting a huge fight to ensue. However, unbelieveable as it may seem, fans seeking autographs swarmed around both drivers and the drivers were prevented from encountering each other. Bud did not have to use the wrench that night but he had plenty of body work to do.
After the race, Lund said "Joe had run over me once before in the race and he has knocked me around at other tracks". Joe responded that "yea, I tapped Tiny because he had been holding me up for 10 laps and Jarrett was cutting into the lead I had built up".
Jarrett's average winning speed was 56.897 mph which is credited as being "remarkable" as the track had deterioated into a mess as the race went on. By the end of the race, there were 1 foot deep furrows all around the track.
Finishing order:
1. Ned Jarrett, Burton-Robinson Ford, winning $1,350.00
2. Joe Weatherly, Bud Moore Pontiac, winning $1,000.00
3. Richard Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $650.00 (2 laps down)
4. David Pearson, Cotton Owens Dodge, winning $500.00 (9 laps down)
5. Maurice Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $400.00 (9 laps down)
6. Jack Anderson
7. Larry Thomas
8. Larry Manning
9. Curtis Crider
10. Tiny Lund
11. Doug Cooper
12.Buck Baker
13. Roy Tyner
14. Worth McMillion
15. Billy Wade
16.Bill Widenhouse
17. Wendell Scott
18. Jimmy Pardue
19. Junior Johnson
20. G. C. Spencer
21. Jack Smith
22. Darel Dieringer
23. Lee Roy Bolton
24. Neil Castles
25. Ed Livingston
26. Jimmy Massey
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
Racing History Minute - November 9, 1958
Stock Car Racing History
The 150 laps/50 mile race on the .333 mile paved track known as Champion Speedway in Fayetteville, NC, on this date in 1958, was actually the first race of soon to be very exciting 1959 season. February, 1959, would bring us the very first Daytona 500 and the season would progress through 44 races and end on October 25,1959, aqt Concord, NC. Lee Petty would win the first Daytona 500 and would claim his third, and final, Grand National Championship. Cotton Owens would finish second in the standings with Speedy Thompson third. But it was fourth place finisher in the season standings that should have turned some head. Herman Beam, nicknamed "Herman the Turtle" was fourth and more amazingly, that was after starting only 30 of the 44 races. Herman made his living in racing by driving a steady pace, much slower than the "hotdog stars" and bringing his car home in one piece. But, I digress and apologize for that little trip into the 1959 future.
Twenty-five starters kicked off the 1959 season at Champion Speedway with Bob Welborn qualifying on the pole with a speed of 61.985 mph in a Julian Petty Chevrolet. Rex White, in another Chevy, would start second, Roy Tyner, Chevy, starting third, Glen Wood in a Wood Brothers Ford fourth and Buck Baker in a Chevy fifth.
Welborn led the first 9 laps before Rex White muscled his Chevy out front. Welborn followed in the tire tracks of the leader but seemed content to follow Rex. On lap 42, Rex lost the lead when his Chevy began to overheat and that allowed Welborn to re-take the lead which he would hold until the checkered flag. White continued to nurse the number 40 around the track and was able to bring it home in 10th place, only 4 laps behind the winner.
Finishing Order:
1. Bob Welborn, Julian Petty Chevrolet, winning $600.00
2. Glen Wood, Wood Brothers Ford, winning $475.00
3.Buck Baker, Baker Chevrolet, winning $350.00
4. Roy Tyner, Tyner Chevrolet, winning $250.00 (1 lap down)
5. Junior Johnson, Paul Spaulding Ford, winning $215.00 (2 laps down)
6. Tommy Irwin
7. Tiny Lund
8. Joe Lee Johnson
9. Lee Petty
10. Rex White
11. George Dunn
12. Jimmy Thompson
13. Richard Petty
14. Bobby Keck
15. Bill Poor
16. Brownie King
17. L. D. Austin
18. Clarence DeZaila
19. Jimmy Pardu
20. Shep Langdon
21. Jimmie Lewallen
22. Harvey Hege
23. R. L. Combs
24.Fred Harb
25. Charlie Griffith
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM