Forum Activity for @tim-leeming

What to make of the NASCAR Nationwide Series?

Current NASCAR

Very well stated, Patrick. You seem to have the same problem with the Nationwide as I do. I wish the Keselowskis, Buschs, and the other Cup drivers would stay away. I think the crowd in the stands at Vegas for the Nationwide race (all 150 folks) show that adding the "big" names does not mean a huge drawing crowd. I agree with you that Nationwide needs it's OWN stars and I think by allowing that to happen, the series will blossom into a viable racing series. When I see the JGR and Penske cars lining up to race, I see more money supporting those two cars than the rest of the field put together.

I also agree with you that by making it a series to stand on its own and develop its own stars, Nationwide, or whatever it will become after Nationwide Insurance leaves at the end of the year, could be a respected and sought after series for teams without the sponsorships necessary to run Cup. I also agree that some drivers could, and should, look at the series as the "home" where they belong.

Jack Ingram was, and is, the man, the Iron Man. I watched him race hundreds of times (literally) and most times if he didn't win, he was running second. It was so gratifying to see him inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Thanks, Patrick, for a well written article speaking to a point that needs to be resolved. For instance, I would travel to Darlington or Charlotte to watch a Nationwide race without a Cup interloper in the field. I bet I would see a great race too!

Racing History Minute - March 11, 1979

Stock Car Racing History

With all the snow and ice we have had in the South this winter, it harkens us back to this History Minute race today. The "Richmond 400" originally scheduled for February 25th, was postponed on that date for a heavy snow storm that hit the Richmond area. When the cars returned on March 11th, it was a cold and grey day which had, in fact, experienced snow flurries around the area the morning of race day.

Thirty cars would start the event with Bobby Allison in the Bud Moore Ford winning the pole with a speed of 92.957 mph. Benny Parsons in the M.C. Anderson Chevrolet would start second, Darrell Waltrip in the DiGard Chevrolet third, Dale Earnhardt in the Rod Osterlund Chevrolet fourth and Terry Labonte in the Billy Hagan Chevy fifth.

Bobby Allison would take off from the pole and keep that Bud Moore Ford out front for the first 156 laps. Bobby hit the pits first and Cale Yarborough took over the lead for five laps before Allison took over again. Allison led through lap 224 and then Cale went back to the front never to be headed again. Cale would build a lead of six seconds at the checkered flag over Bobby Allison.

After the race Cale said he had dropped back early because there had been "enough trouble. I wanted to stay out of the crowd and take no more chances of getting into any more trouble.When the field got strung out, I made my move". Cale was obviously referring to the nose to fist exercise between himself and Bobby Allison at the end of the Daytona 500 in the nationally televised event. Many may not know that only three weeks after the Daytona dust-up, Donnie Allison and Cale wrecked again in the "Carolina 500" at Rockingham. The accident at Rockingham came with Cale leading, Donnie in second and Bobby third. Donnie dove under Cale going into turn three and Cale didn't see him. The two banged together hard and spun as Bobby slipped by on the inside.

Surprisingly, Donne and Cale didn't blame each other, calling it a racing accident. However, others caught up in the mess offered harsher remarks. Darrell Waltrip opined that "someone should drag Cale out of his car and whip his butt". However, D. W. did not make a move in the direction of the Yarborough garage stall. Richard Petty, also eliminated in the wreck, said "Donnie got underneath Cale. He flat outmaneuvered him. Then Cale kept going lower and lower. He drove him right onto the apron. It is what I call a misjudgment I driving".

Even the cold, the snow flurries and the grey skies did not keep down the crowd for Richmond. There were 21,000 fans in attendance and reports are that fans had to be turned away as there were no seats left at race time.

Cale took over and won the race in grand style. Rookie driver, Dale Earnhardt, driving for Rod Osterlund ended up 13th, a full 10 laps behind the winner.

Finishing order:

1. Cale Yarborough, Junior Johnson Oldsmobile, $16,275.00

2. Bobby Allison, Bud Moore Ford, $10,750.00 (6 seconds back)

3. Darrell Waltrip, DiGard Chevrolet, $6,925.00 (1 lap down)

4. Benny Parsons, M.C. Anderson Chevrolet, $2,550.00 (1 lap down)

5. Richard Petty, Petty Enterprises Chevrolet, $4,800.00 (1 lap down)

6. Joe Millikan

7. J. D. McDuffie

8. Terry Labonte

9. Donnie Allison

10.D. K. Ulrich

11.Ricky Rudd

12. James Hylton

13. Dale Earnhardt

14. Lennie Pond

15. Buddy Arrington

16. Dave Marcis

17. Ronnie Thomas

18. Dave Watson

19. Dave Dion

20. Joe Fields

21. Frank Warren

22. Tommy Gale

23. Baxter Price

24. Bill Hollar

25. Cecil Gordon

26. Richard Childress

27.Jimmy Means

28. Dick Brooks

29. Buddy Baker

30. Roger Hamby Average speed for the race was 83.608 mph slowed by only 2 cautions for a total of 8 laps.

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

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

TMC Chase, our own History Minute Guru, honored by special invitation.

Administrative

Man, I'm betting that Dude in the hat and sunglasses was thrilled to encounter our own TMC Chase. Must have been an honor he will remember for a long time to come.

TMC Chase, our own History Minute Guru, honored by special invitation.

Administrative

You have every right to be excited Chase. Can't wait for the pictures and the report. Way to go!!

TMC Chase, our own History Minute Guru, honored by special invitation.

Administrative

Many of you may know that Richard Petty has moved the Petty Museum back from downtown Randleman to the old Petty Enterprises site in Level Cross. The King will be cutting the ribbon to the new facility on Wednesday Night, March 12, 2014. By personal invitation from the Pettys, TMC Chase will be in attendance at the ribbon cutting.

Chase has contributed countless hours to the History Minute we do here each day as well as his own historic guide to all of the Petty Victories which he often adds an attachment to the History Minutes. He is a true Petty fan through and through. All of us here at RacersReunion should be very proud of what Chase has done, and what he continues to do for us here on the site. I'm not sure how long it is going to take us to get that smile off his face after Wednesday night but I do know he is a young man who deserves the honor. Oh, and I have asked him to get lots of pictures.

Be safe, Chase, and enjoy every single second of it. You've earned the honor!!!!

updated by @tim-leeming: 08/06/18 12:40:59PM

Racing History Minute - March 10, 1963

Stock Car Racing History

The race; 148.5 miles on a .9 mile dirt track located in Hillsboro, NC. The winner; Junior Johnson in the Holly Farms Chevrolet; The crowd estimate; 15,000. The "main attraction"; Hollywood superstar actress, Jayne Mansfield. Too Much Information? No, really that is just the start of a good story.

The track in Hillsboro, known as Orange Speedway was an unique track that had, for a number of years, presented some top quality racing. Always exciting, and usually close racing. On this day, Joe Weatherly would put the Bud Moore Pontiac on the pole with a speed of 95.716. Now remember this is a .9 mile DIRT track with tight turns so that was an incredible speed. Even more amazing, is even with 3 caution flags in the race, the average speed for the 148.5 miles was 83.129 mph.

Jim Paschal in a Petty Engineering Plymouth would start second, Richard Petty in another Petty Engineering Plymouth third, Junior Johnson in the Holly Farms Chevrolet fourth and Bobby Isaac in a Bondy Long Plymouth fifth.

Weatherly led lap one before fourth place started Junior Johnson blew by to take over. Junior would lead until lap 42. Weatherly went back in front for lap 43 but was out front only that one lap before Junior put the white Chevy back out front. Richard Petty took over on lap 72 and would lead until lap 87 when Junior would take over again and lead the rest of the way. The 165 lap race was contested until the end.,

Joe Weatherly, defending his 1962 Championship, would have his day ended on lap 90 with a faulty fuel pump. On lap 40, Bobby Isaac in the Bondy Long Plymouth, launched the "Mayflower" over the bank for a landing in a clump of pine trees ending his day. It is worth noting that Herman Beam, the proverbial "Turtle" of the NASCAR Grand National series, finished ninth. While ninth is not that big a deal in a 23 car starting field, what IS a big deal is that this was the 84th consecutive Grand National race in which Beam was running at the finish. At that time (even today really), that is a remarkable record.

After the race, Jayne Mansfield came down from the press box from where she had watched the race, to be a part of Victory Lane ceremonies. She planted a kiss on the chubby and dirty face of a surprised Junior Johnson and there are several photos of that celebration floating around and the look on Junior's face in some of the some is priceless.

Finishing order:

1. Junior Johnson, Holly Farms Chevrolet, $1,550.00

2. Jim Paschal, Petty Engineering Plymouth, $1,100.00 (2 seconds down)

3. Richard Petty, Petty Engineering Plymouth $750.00

4. Ned Jarrett, Burton-Robinson Ford, $575.00 (4 laps down)

5. Jimmy Pardue, Pete Stewart Pontiac, $425.00 (8 laps down)

6. Roy Mayne

7. Floyd Powell

8. Larry Manning

9. Herman Beam

10. E. J. Trivette

11. Bill Foster

12. Buck Baker

13. Gary Sain

14.Curtis Crider

15.Joe Weatherly

16. Sonny Fogle

17. Nelson Stacy

18. Elmo Langley

19. David Pearson

20.Bobby Isaac

21. Major Melton

22. Stick Elliott

23. Wendell Scott

PERSONAL NOTE: The speedway which is the subject of today's History Minute is the site for the annual Celebration of the Automobile hosted by the Historic Speedway Group. Please check our events calendar for the date. I have attended the past five events and I can assure you that you will have a day so inundated with racing history, historic cars, pioneers and heroes from the early years, and so many other things going on that you will leave with enough visions to ensure pleasant dreams for many nights to come. The event is truly one I look forward to every year like a kid looks forward to Christmas.

I can assure you that when you see all the historic race cars line up on the track for what are supposed to be parade laps (don't believe that for a minute), you will feel the excitement of an impending race. The ground shakes and the sound of racing engines reverberate off the trees around the track. For a long time fan like me, I am transported back to a time when racing was truly awesome.

No, I wasn't there for the race described in this History Minute so I didn't get to see Jayne Mansfield in person. But I must say I WAS in victory lane in 1975 or '76 at Charlotte Motor Speedway when The King won. Elizabeth Taylor was there with her Senator husband, John Warner. It ended up that she and I were standing next to each other so, being the ever running mouth I am, I started talking with her. I told her my childhood crushes had included her when I first saw "National Velvet". I got a kiss on the cheek from her, much to the chagrin of her husband. So, Junior, you got Jayne and I got Elizabeth Taylor! Want to compare notes?

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

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

NASCAR Sprint Cup racing is an dangerous sport in "Victory Lane".

Current NASCAR

Dennis, Brad said he got eyes full of beer. I didn't see it happen, but he said that's what the problem was. I agree that is getting a little on the dangerous side when you get a face full of beer without any warning. Maybe Brad can borrow the infamous "beer goggles" for the next win.

SANDHILL 250 1968

Stock Car Racing History

Awesome report Dennis!!!! Thanks. This is a division in historic racing well worth documenting and remembering. Some really excellent photos too. Keep it up, my friend. I look forward to your incredible knowledge of this division adding much to the historic posts.

While watching Las Vegas race today this subject came up

Stock Car Racing History

You know, Johnny, I cannot remember what tire pressure we used on what tracks but I'm sure it was always intended to keep the tires safe. The first year I did all that myself but by the second year about the only thing I did at the track was drive. I have a crew then that did it all. But that is an interesting topic for discussion as obviously these days they play with tire pressures a lot.

Racing History Minute - March 8, 1959

Stock Car Racing History

Today we go back to 1959 and a 100 mile/200 lap race on the half-mile dirt track in Concord, NC. Most fans know that the track now known as Charlotte Motor Speedway now that a major Hardware chain pulled out with naming rights, is located near Concord and is located in Cabarrus County. This race we feature today had a crowd of 11,500 show up on the sunny, 57 degree day, which was a record crowd for any sporting event held in Cabarrus County at that time.

Buck Baker powered his '59 Chevrolet to the pole with a speed of 66.420 mph. Tiger Tom Pistone in a T-Bird would start second, Cotton Owens in a Pontiac third, Curtis Turner in a T-Bird fourth and Bob Welborn in his Chevrolet fifth.

The green flag waved in the air and Buck Baker moved away from the outside starter and began to pull away, if only slightly. However, on lap 15, a huge cloud of smoke erupted from the number 88 Chevrolet as it dropped a valve and Baker headed to the pits to become a spectator. Tiger Tom took over when Buck departed but his lead was short-lived as Curtis Turner was charging hard. On lap 16, the Delta Auto Sales T-Bird sailed by Pistone and it was all Curtis Turner to the end. Curtis pulled away steadily and won the event by 1 lap and 4 seconds over Cotton Owens. Pistone was eliminated in a crash on lap 62. Pistone had a wheel bearing break which caused his T-Bird to flip over in turn two. Pistone was not hurt. Lee Petty would finish third and left the track holding a 328 point lead over Cotton Owens in the standings.

Finishing order:

1. Curtis Turner, Delta Auto Sales T-Bird, $800.00

2. Cotton Owens, W. H. Watson Pontiac, $525.00 (1 lap, 4 seconds down)

3. Lee Petty, Petty Engineering Oldsmobile, $350.00 (2 laps down)

4. Junior Johnson, Paul Spaulding Ford, $250.00 (4 laps down)

5. Speedy Thompson, Steve Pierce Chevrolet, $225.00 (4 laps down)

6. Tommy Irwin

7.Chester Barron

8. Elmo Langley

9. Herman Beam

10. L. D. Austin

11. Bobby Keck

12. Neil Castles

13. Johnny Allen

14. Rex White

15. Harvey Hege

16. Tom Pistone

17. Bob Welborn

18. Buck Baker

19. Bunk Moore

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

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