Forum Activity for @tim-leeming

Top 5: Over-The-Hill NASCAR Champions

General

Thanks, Johnny. You're right about "Lady Ann". For the life of me, I can't figure out the other two times I made the cut but I do know that when you and I reconnected after all those years,I should count that as making an awesome "cut". It is great to travel "Memory Street" with you. You recall somethings I can't and then I have memories you don't seem to have. Together we could make a movie!!!! Not sure if it would be a documentary, a drama, or a comedy.

Top 5: Over-The-Hill NASCAR Champions

General

I never made the cut anywhere that matters. Guess I'll learn to get over it.

Racing History Minute - September 26, 1954

Stock Car Racing History

As so often happens with the NASCAR history, we hit a string of dates where all the races were run at the same track over a period of years. So it is at this particular point in time as the Martinsville Fall event comes up day after day. So,in order to avoid another Martinsville event (not that there is anything at all wrong with Martinsville), we are going back to 1954 when SIXTY-FOUR cars qualified for a 250 miles event on the one mile dirt track in Langhorne, PA. The guys had just competed in a 100 mile event at the half-mile dirt track in Charlotte, NC on September 24th, but were ready to go on the 26th in Langhorne.

Herb Thomas put that Smokey Yunick Hudson on the pole with a speed of 89.418 mph. Lee Petty, in a Chrysler, qualified second, with Buck Baker third. My reference source, (Greg Fielden's "Forty Years of Stock Car Racing") is limited with the starting positions so I don't know who qualified fourth, but Bill Amick in his Ford was to start fifth.

Thomas led the first 11 laps and then Buck Baker took over in his Griffin Motors Oldsmobile. Buck would stay in front until lap 26 when Thomas regained the lead. On lap 45 Lee Petty took over and would lead until lap 70 when Baker moved out front again. On lap 97, West Coast driver, Hershel McGriff in his Frank Christain Oldsmobile took over. Lap 115 saw Thomas once more leading the pack until Buck Baker slipped by to lead two laps. The last 98 laps were all Herb Thomas in that Yunick Hudson. Herb won the event with an average speed of 71.186 mph, slowed by six caution flags for 25 laps. The victory was the 40th career Cup win for Thomas.

The race garnered lots of attention for the wrecks involved on the dusty, fast track. Lap four saw 10 cars crash with such force that 8 of those cars were unable to continue. No drivers were injured in that melee. On lap 166, Harvey Eakins, driving a Nash (remember those) went through the rail and plunged more than 30 feet . Rescue workers took several minutes to extract Eakins from the car and he was immediately transported to Mercer Hospital with back injuries.

The crowd of 22,000 were thrilled and excited with the performance of one Junior Johnson. Famous band leader, Paul Whiteman, had entered Junior in a Cadillac for the event but very early in the race the Caddy headed for the pits, apparently finished for the day with a destroyed rear end. The pit crew, however, went about installing another rear end and Junior roared back onto the track to begin a tremendous charge that brought him up to 15th, only 28 laps behind the winner at the end of the race. I have to wonder, since it was unlikely back them to carry spare parts like a rear end, if there was a spectator in the infield who would discover his Cadillac was missing something. No comment to that in my source.

Top five finishers:

1. Herb Thomas, Smokey Yunick Hudson, winning $2,450.00

2. Lee Petty, Petty Engineering Chrysler, winning $1,150.00

3. Hershel McGriff, Frank Christain Oldsmobile, winning $850.00

4. Buck Baker, Griffin Motors Oldsmobile, winning $625.00 (5 laps down)

5 Erick Erickson, Erickson Buick, winning $600.00 (6 laps down)

Sixth through tenth were Jimmie Leallen, Dick Rathmann, Tim Flock, John Dodd, Sr., Joe Eubanks and Jim Paschal. Marvin Panch13th, Junior Johnson 15th, Red Kagle 16th, and Van Van Wey 17th. Bill Widenhouse was 26th, Jim Reed 35th, Bill Blair 38th, Elmo Langley 59th, Bob Welborn 60th, and credited with 64th and final position is a driver listed only a P. Cunningham who is shown as qualified but DID NOT START.

As most of us know, Langhorne was a big circle track. It was a continous turn and I've heard some of the racers talk about running there. If you happen to be at Occonneechee Saturday, you can ask Marvin Panch about the races there. He did finish 13th in this event.

Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Put Richard Petty in Charge of a Mandatory Meeting with Whining Drivers Says Tom Higgins

Current NASCAR

I have one thing to say to you Fulton: "yada,yada,yada.

Racing History Minute - September 25, 1966

Stock Car Racing History

Thanks, Dave.

Racing History Minute - September 25, 1966

Stock Car Racing History

I intended no disrespect at all toward Lin Kuchler. Just wanted to clear up any questions in that regard. From all I ever knew about the man and his job performance, he is rated A+ with me all the way down the line.

Racing History Minute - September 25, 1966

Stock Car Racing History

I don't put titles on these Racing Minutes, but if I did, today's would have to be something like "The more things change, the more they stay the same". When you read the details of this Minute the reference should easily be understood as applied to NASCAR rules and interpretation of same.

Forty drivers qualified to run the "Old Dominion 500" at the half mile paved track in Martinsville, VA. Junior Johnson put his Ford on the pole with Fred Lorenzen to his outside. Third place qualifier was Richard Petty in his Plymouth, fourth was Ned Jarrett in the Bondy Long Ford and fifth place starter was Paul Goldsmith in the Ray Nichels Plymouth.

Junior, as expected, blasted away at the start and led the first 50 laps. Fearless Freddie then took over on lap 51 and would stay there until lap 109. Bobby Allison hustled the J.D. Bracken Chevy into the first spot on lap110 and he held on until lap 182. It was then Ned Jarrett's turn to lead and he did so until lap 209 before Bobby Allison once more took over first place. On lap 355 it was Junior again but on lap 388 Lorenzen took over and continued to build up a tremendous lead, taking the checkers a full five laps ahead of second place Darel Dieringer in Bud Moore's Mercury.

In post race inspection, it was determined that Lorenzen had a gas tank which held more fuel than allowed by NASCAR rules. The Lorenzen car was disqualified. While Lorenzen was in the press box for the post race interview, a note, written in PENCIL by Norris Friel, NASCAR's head rule checker. The note said, in part "We checked and found an illegal tank. We had a request to check the tank." The pencil writing continued with Johnny Bruner's handwriting stating "The car automatically disqualified itself according to the rules. Darel Dieringer is the winner. Lorenzen finished 40th". Please note the reference to "penciled notes"/

To say that Lorenzen was upset is a mild understatement. His response, quoting now "It isn't fair that they disqualify me. I drove hard out there today. The tank was sealed in the car at Darlington by NASCAR officials and if my tank holds too much the other cars do too".

Ralph Moody, of the Holman-Moody team which owned the Lorenzen Ford, demanded that NASCAR check the tanks of the top five finishers but NASCAR stated there wasn't enough fuel available to do so. Moody went on to say "This will turn out to be another typical NASCAR operation. I'm getting fed up with it all". Strong language for those days, huh?

Lorenzen's fuel cell measured 1.1 gallons MORE than allowed by NASCAR rules. Holman-Moody claimed it was because the Firestone engineered fuel cells expanded with use and it had nothing to do with "cheating". THREE FULL DAYS AFTER THE RACE, Lin Kuchler, Executive Manage of NASCAR, issued a statement that began with "After a complete and thorough examination of all the evidence" and ended with "Therefore, it is the decision of NASCAR to overrule the disqualification of Fred Lorenzen and declare him the winner of the race".

The other story of the race was the tremendous performance of Bobby Allison in his lightweight Chevrolet. Even Freddie said Allison "had a bomb out there" as Bobby actually made up more than six laps lost on long pit stops with an inexperienced crew. Allison actually blew the engine in the Chevy with six laps to go but he was credited with third place AFTER NASCAR "corrected" their previous ruling on Freddie's Fuel tank.

The win was Lorenzen's 24th career Grand National Victory.

Top five finishers were:

1. Fred Lorenzen, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $4,350.00

2. Darel Dieringer, Bud Moore Mercury, winning $2,100.00 (5 laps down)

3. Bobby Allison, J.D. Bracken Chevrolet, winning $1,425.00 (6 laps down)

4. Dick Hutcherson, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $775.00 (8 laps down)

5. James Hylton, Bud Harje Dodge, winning $725.00 (10 laps down)

Sixth through tenth were PAUL LEWIS, John Sears, J.T. Putney, Roy Mayne and Neil Castles. Eleventh was Buck Baker with Cale Yarborough 12th. Wayne Smith finished 13th, Junior Johnson 14th, Henley Gray 15th, and Bill Siefert 16th.

Sam McQuagg took 18th, Friday Hassler 19th, Buddy Baker 20th, Ned Jarrett 21st, J.D. McDuffie 22nd, and Richard Petty 23rd. Jabe Thomas was 25th, Paul Goldsmith 27th, Hank Thomas 30th, Curtis Turner 31st, Buddy Arrington 32nd, and Elmo Langley 33rd. Jim Paschal was credited with 34th, David Pearson 35th, Earl Brooks 37th, Wendell Scott 38th, Earnest Eury 39th and G.C. Spencer got 40th position after falling out of the race on lap 4 with radiator problems.

Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Racing History Minute - September 24, 1950

Stock Car Racing History

Good Point Cody! Maybe he did.

Racing History Minute - September 24, 1950

Stock Car Racing History

In the first season of "Strickly Stock" now known as The Cup or Premier Division of NASCAR, only 8 races were run. By this date, in 1950, we are up to race 15 which was run on a 5/8 mile dirt track located in North Wilkesboro, NC. Located in the Brushy Mountains and home of Junior Johnson and Holly Farms, the track now lies in disrepair and it is such a sad site to see such a historic venue wasting away. Last time I was there, three or four years ago, it brought a tear to my eye to see the Junior Johnson Grandstand falling in with trees growing where fans once filled those seats. But, such is progress in the chase for "greenies" (Smokey Yunick's term for money).

For this Minute, however, we are going to see 26 cars check in to rul 125 miles/200 laps on the track which had, in fact, hosted the final race of the 1949 Strickly Stock season.Fireball Robert snagged the pole at a speed of 73.266 mph in his Sam Rice Olds 88. Red Byron in Raymong Parks' Cadillac would start second, Fonty Flock in an Olds was third, Curtis Turner in another Olds fourth and Herb Thomas in his own Plymouth started fifth.

Red Byron led the first three laps before the flying Fonty Flock shoved his way out front where he would remain until lap 107. On lap 108 RedByron got back in front but by lap 138 Jack Smith had moved to the front of the pack. Jack but with 8 laps to go, Jack Smith's Plymouth began to cough and sputter and slow dramatically. Out of nowhere came the littlePlymouth that had won the Southern 500 a couple weeks earlier, now being driven by a guy in his very first Grand National race. The little Plymouth, driving by newcomer Leon Sales from Winston-Salem, NC had started 11th and not one of the7,000 fans in attendance had paid any attention as Leon drove along steadily to be in position to take theleadwhen Jack encountered his problems. The rookie driver would take home the first place prize as Smith held on to second place in thewheezing and sputtering Plymouth.

Red Byron broke a spindle in the heavy Cadillac and did not finish while Fonty Flock blew the engine in his Olds to fall by the wayside. Fireball Roberts, leading the points coming in, finished 16th and picked up 2 and a half points on second place Red Byron, who didn't even enter the event.

There was an injury in the race but it wasn't a driver. Twelve year old Peter Shaw suffered a broken leg when Slick Smith's Oldsmobile hit Shaw whiletrying to miss a wheel which had come off Clyde Minter's Buick.

Top five finishers:

1. Leon Sales Westmoreland Plymouth, winning $1,000.00

2. Jack Smith, Plymouth, winning $750.00

3. Ewell Weddle, Lincoln, winning$500.00

4. Herb Thomas, Thomas Racing Plymouth, winning $400.00

5. Gayle Warren, Plymouth, winning $300.00

Sixth through tenth were Weldon Adams, Jimmy Thompson, Jerry Wimbish ,Bob Flock, and Herbert Burns. Bill Blair finished 11th, Harold Kite 12th, Billy Carden 13th, Buck Baker 14th, and Clyde Minter 15th.

Sixteenth went to Fireball Roberts, followed by Paul Parks, Fonty Flock, Red Byron, Slick Smith and Dick Shuburk. Curtis Turner would be credited with 22nd, Jim Cook 23rd, with Tim Flock, Jack Carr and Tex Keane rounding out the field.

Just a little side note here. Leon Sales, winning in his first Grand National Race would finish dead last in his next race, a 100 miler on October 15th in Martinville, VA. Talk about from top to bottom! Wow.

Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Racing History Minute - September 23, 1962

Stock Car Racing History

There were several exciting races from which to choose for this date's History Minute, but I choose the 1962 Old Dominion 500 from Martinsville as a followup to the Minute from yesterday wherein we discussed Fred Lorenzen's fascination with the rear bumpers of his competitors. In yesterday's Minute he prevailed. Today, not so.

Thirty-seven cars started the 500 laps on the half-mile track in Martinsville, VA. Fireball Roberts in the Banjo Matthews Pontiac snagged the pole with a speed of 71.513 mph. Joe Weatherly in his Bud Moore Pontiac would start second, Nelson Stacy in a Holman-Moody Ford third, Fred Lorenzen in another Holman-Moody Ford fourth and Junior Johnson in the Ray Fox Pontiac would roll of fifth.

Fireball led the first 102 laps before Lorenzen took over for 3 laps. Nelson Stacy went in front for the first time on lap 107 but stayed there only two lapsbefore Joe Weatherly shoved his Pontiac out front. Weatherly would give it up to Nelson Stacy on lap190 and Stacy would steadily pull away from his competitors to win the race by a little more than three laps.

While Stacy was making light of his competition Fred Lorenzen was making "friends and influencing people" in his run for the front. Just short of 100 laps, while running third, Freddie played bumper-tag with his teammate Stacy and moved Stacy to take number two position on the track behind Fireball.

The first of two cautions came out for a minor spin and that put Freddie right on the bumper of the Roberts' Pontiac for the restart. When the green flag waved, Fred went to work on the back bumper of the Pontiac. Bam, Bam, Bam, over and over but Fireball wasn't moved. After several laps of the bumping, the two cars were coming off turn two when Fireball slammed on his brakes. Without time to react, Lorenzen drove his Ford radiator deep into the back end of that Pontiac. Lorenzen was done for the day as the water drained from the busted radiator.

Banjo Matthews, owner of Fireball's car was not at all happy with Lorenzen. He called Lorenzen's actions "unnecessary antics". After the race, Fireball was less kind stating "I warned Freddie by shaking my finger at him. that must have made him mad because he waved his finger back at me. I waved my hand at him and told him to lay off but he kept it up. I didn't tell him again because I knew how to get him off of me". Lorenzen departed the track and was not available for comment so we don't know his response.

Nelson Stacy average 66.874 mph with only 2 caution flags to slow the pace. A crowd of 11,500 was on hand to see Stacy win, Fireball practice tail-gating responses, and Lorenzen experiencing the consequences of following too closely. Go back and read the Minute for yesterday and you will see that Fred learned how to avoid such embarrassing situations, thanks to Fireball.

Top five finishers:

1. Nelson Stacy, Holman-Moody Ford, winning $3,655.00

2. Richard Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth, winning $1,650.00 (3 laps down)

3. Ned Jarrett, B.G. Holloway Chevrolet, winning $1,500.00 (4 laps down)

4. Jack Smith, Smith Pontiac, winning $850.00 (5 laps down)

5. Joe Weatherly, Bud Moore Pontiac, winning $920.00 (5 laps down)

Sixth through tenth were Darel Dieringer, Fireball Roberts, Jimmy Pardue, Jim Paschal and Bob Welborn. Tiny Lund finished 12th, Buddy Baker 13th, Sherman Utsman 14th, Junior Johnson 17th, Wendell Scott 19th and Larry Frank 22nd. Finishing 24th was Stick Elliott with PAUL LEWIS in 26th. Rex White was 27th, and Lorenzen, out of the race on lap 108 is credited with 29th. G. C. Spencer was 30th, Johnny Allen 32nd, Marvin Panch 33rd, Fred Harb 34th, Curtis Crider 36th and E.J. Trivette finished last in 37th position after having to park his Chevy on lap 29 when his brakes failed.

PERSONAL NOTE: Several of the men who competed in this race will be in attendance at The Celebration of the Automobile this coming Saturday, September 28th, in Hillsborough, NC, at the Occoneechee/Orange Speedway. You can get the first hand stories at the event. Admission is free, the experience in priceless! Check the "Events Calendar" here on the site for more information. I highly promote this event as this will be my fifth year in attendance and from the very first minute I drove onto that facility five years ago, my experiences have been amazing and awesome, even last year when it poured rain all day Saturday. I hope many of you will come out Saturday. Weather this year is supposed to be awesome, 80 degrees and sunshine!

Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM