1978 Dixie 500: King, Donnie, King, Donnie - Confusion reigneth!
Stock Car Racing History
Great post, Russ. Thank you.
Forum Activity for @tim-leeming
Stock Car Racing History
1978 Dixie 500: King, Donnie, King, Donnie - Confusion reigneth!
Stock Car Racing History
We were at the race, motor home, turn four. While I was pretty good at keeping up with how the cars were running, and especially The King, we had a guy with us who always was right with weather predictions no matter what the official weather forecast was, and was amazing with anything involving numbers. In later years I learned he was/is what is often called an "idiot savant", very highly functioning and in every other way a totally normal guy. You would never want to play cards with him because he could count cards and almost know what everyone was holding in their hands. When NASCAR first reversed Petty's win, my friend said it was absolutely impossible that Allison was ahead of Petty. Even years after the fact, Robbie would explain an almost lap-by-lap run down of that race and repeat over and over that Petty won that race.
Now, as I sit here and read that it was a 16 year old Brian Z. that claims to have verified Allison's win all I can say is "no wonder the race was screwed". Honestly? Brian Z. France at 16 expected to have any intelligence at all to verify whether it was even day or night and he came up with the Allison verification. That would make be bust a guy laughing if it wasn't so sad.
Racing History Minute - November 5, 1967
Stock Car Racing History
The half-mile paved track known as Asheville-Weaverville Speedway was the scene of several memorable events in the 50s and 60s. Today we are going back to November 5, 1967. The 1967 season belonged to Richard Petty. He won 27 of 46 races as I recall and won 10 in a row at one point. The subject of today's Minute, the 1967 "Western North Carolina 500" would go down as a bashing battle between Richard Petty and Bobby Allison.
Allison captured the pole in a Holman-Moody Ford with a speed of 90.407 mph. Richard Petty would start his Plymouth on the outside front row, just a tick of the stop watch slower. David Pearson put another Holman-Moody Ford in third starting place, with Dick Hutcherson in yet another Holman-Moody entry rolled off fourth. Cale Yarborough in a Bud Moore Mercury would round out the top five.
Allison led the first 121 laps before giving way to Hutcherson for 2 laps. It was then David Pearson who would stay out front until lap 214. Petty took over on lap 214 and the last half of the race was a battle for position with the lead changing often between Allison, Petty, and Pearson. In fact, the lead changed hands 22 times during the race with the main battle raging between Petty and Allison.
From the very start of the race, neither Bobby or Richard would give the other an inch. It was paint-swapping,, rubbing is racing mentality. With 22 laps to the checkers, Richard made a move to the inside of Allison's car that sent Allison into the marbles and almost resulted in a dance with the guard rail,but Bobby gathered it in and set said after the blue Plymouth disappearing down the straight.
With just sven laps remaining, Bobby caught Richard going into the turn and muscled his way to the inside to absolutely smash Richard's Plymouth towards the rail. Just as Allison had done earlier, Petty regained control and took off in hot pursuit. When the checkered flag fell, Petty was only 1 car length behind the Allison Ford. There was no chance to retaliate which would probably have been the scenario had the two entered the final turn together.
After the race Richard said "I guess when you've wont as much as I have, everyone takes pot shots at you". Allison responded with "We were racing for the win. He (Petty) put me out of the groove more than one and I did the same thing to him". The pit crews of Petty and Allison were ready to fight it out with fists and tire irons to settle the matter in the pits that wasn't settled on the track.
The crew chief for Allison was bubbling with enthusaism over the win as this made two races for which he had served as Allison's crew chief and the team had won both races. Oh, that crew chief? Fred Lorenzen. Lorenzen said "as far as I'm concerned, Allison has a life-time job".
There were only 3,500 spectators in attendance on that very chilly afternoon. After all, it was November in the North Carolina mountains outside of Asheville. Of the 30 starters, only six cars finished the race. In fact, the car finishing in 8th place was 150 behind the winner, but was still running. The 5th and 6th place "finishers" did not actually finish the race.
Finishing Order:
1. Bobby Allison, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $3,250.00
2. Richard Petty, Petty Enterprises Plymouth, winning $2,300.00
3. David Pearson, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $ 1,500.00
4. Dick Hutcherson, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $900.00 (10 laps down)
5. Friday Hassler, Red Sharpe Chevrolet winning $700.00 (29 laps down)
6. John Sears
7. Max Ledbetter
8. Doug Cooper
9. Clyde Lynn
10. Tom Pistone
11. Roy Tyner
12. Cale Yarborough
13. G. C. Spencer
14. Don Sschisler
15.J. T. Putney
16. Bill Seifert
17. Don Biederman
18. Neil Castles
19. Boscoe Lowe
20. Bob Cooper
21. Elmo Langley
22. Darel Dieringer
23. Harold Fagan
24. Wendell Scott
25. Watson Gardner
26. LeeRoy Yarbrough
27.Jim Paschal
28. PAUL LEWIS
29.Henley Gray
30. No listing
The odd thing in the run down is that it lists 30 entries but skips the 20th finishing position so we are left to wonder if this was a numerical error or what happened, but this is the information in the reference source I use.
PERSONAL NOTES: I had attended races at the Asheville-Weaverville track several times prior to this race but was not in attendance for this one. This was another of those Allison-Petty slugfests which caused me, at the time, to have a strong dislike for Bobby Allison. Over the years, I learned to respect Bobby for all he gave to the sport and, in the end, what he and Richard were doing on the track in that era, brought a lot of partisan fans into the sport. Seems to me that the contrived rivalries NASCAR attempts to promote these days fall far short of what was the norm back then.
Oh, and I had the opportunity to say, right to Bobby Allison's face, in front of dozens of witnesses, that "I used to hate Bobby Allison". The momentary look on Bobby's face was the fire of the competiveness of that race in Asheville-Weaverville. I went on to explain I felt that way because he was "beating my guy" and I didn't like that. I like to think that today I can call Bobby Allison a friend as he and I, along with his brother Donnie, have shared some great conversations as a part of the times we get together with RacersReunion events or events at The Memory Lane Museum in Mooresville, NC.
Bobby Allison, as did Richard Petty, left his mark on the sport and the sport grew as the result of that. It is great to see Richard and Bobby as such good friends today. But, I want to tell you what I consider one of the most emotionally touching scenes ever in all my years around racing. When Trevor Bayne won the Daytona 500 in 2011, Richard walked over to the Wood Brothers pit and escorted a shocked Wood brother to Victory Lane. Two of the toughest competitors in the business in the old days walked together to a great victory. There is no other sport on the planet where fierce competitors become close allies at times.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
A Best Seller Awaiting a Writer
Administrative
Thanks for concurring Bill. I thought I was on to something here.
A Best Seller Awaiting a Writer
Administrative
Yes, I was up late Dave. Actually, for some reason, I had gone to bed, couldn' sleep and this idea crept into my head. We truly need to put your life in print Dave Fulton. The memories you have of your personal involvement in the sport are priceless.
A Best Seller Awaiting a Writer
Administrative
Many times the comments I make on this site are more or less "tongue-in-cheek", often in hopes of a laugh or two or perhaps to inspire someone to post a response that will further the topic of discussion. But this post is totally, completely in earnest.
There is, within this site, a book awaiting a writer. "The Adventures of Dave Fulton" would surely be a best seller in racing circles. His recollections and stories I've heard are more entertaining than ANYTHING NASCAR has done in years and beats the devil out of most of the books out there alleging to be about racing.
And, if Dave is not enough to satisfy the hunger for race fans for the true spirit of the sport, there is Bill Blair, Jr. just waiting to have his life chronicaled. And Billy Biscoe. And Dennis Andrews. So many others as well. Maybe, what we need to do here is have someone work with each of these fellows to get the gist of their stories and publish them here on RacersReunion. We must not, cannot, let this legacy disappear.
Opinions, anyone?
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:02:57PM
1st time headed to Phoenix
Current NASCAR
Dave, this is absolutely wonderful information! What a story. Thank you.
1st time headed to Phoenix
Current NASCAR
Rattlesnakes????????? No wonder I've never gone to Phoenix.
1st time headed to Phoenix
Current NASCAR
Chase, you and your friends have a wonderful time and a safe trip! Be sure to pull for the right "chaser" and be sure your "chasers" are taken ONLY when not driving. Can't wait to hear your report.