Twenty-five years ago, in 1982, in Winston Cup action at Riverside
California, Darrell Waltrip took the pole and finished third behind
winner Tim Richmond. Third was good enough as Waltrip wrapped up the
1982 Winston Cup division championship, his second in a row.
Ronnie Bouchard finished sixth.
Twenty years ago, in 1987, the Oswego
Speedway, the undisputed Super Modified Capitol of the World announced
that they had signed a sanction with NASCAR for four Winston Modified
Tour events in 1988. A year later, those in power at Oswego would
express their feelings that they were not happy with the way NASCAR ran
their programs and would not invite them back again.
Fifteen years ago, in 1992, NASCAR’s Winston
Cup division saw the end of one era and the beginning of another.
Richard Petty drove his last race at Atlanta and officially retired from
driving. Rick Wilson was named as his replacement. It was also at
Atlanta that Jeff Gordon made his Winston Cup debut.
Ten years ago, in 1997, Joe Nemachek scored an
emotional victory as he won the BGN
300 at Homestead, Fla., a track that claimed the life of his brother.
Randy LaJoie finished second and sewed up his second divisional title.
Ted Christopher ran strong in the early going but broke an axle and
ended up 34th.
Five years ago in 2002 The Busch North Series
competitors were somewhat in a dither after NASCAR announced that in
2003, their rules would be combined with those of NASCAR’s Winston West
division. Busch North series competitors will have to replace their
existing 9:1compression motors with 12:1 compression motors. The Winston
West competitors will have to replace their existing Winston Cup type
chassis with the design presently used by the Busch North Series. Each
division will have its own separate race circuit with a grand finale
combination event at season’s end. Called NASCAR’s Elite Division, it
has been said that The Speed Channel is under contract for four years to
present a total of up to 20 events a year of the new combined division.
It’s going to involve a lot more travel and increased expense and
hopefully NASCAR will increase the minimum purse requirements.
Last year, 2006, the True Value Modified Series, which
had become a less expensive alternative to the NASCAR Series, indicated
that Waterford may very well be on their schedule for 2007. The open
wheel touring series, which first appeared at the Seekonk Speedway in
October of 2004, would compete in four 100 green flag lap events, which
would be preceded by a series of qualifying heats.
At the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Awards Banquet in Las
Vegas, NASCAR recognized several racetracks for their outstanding
promotional efforts in 2006. Among the honorees was the Thompson
Speedway, which received the Administrative award of excellence.
NASCAR’s Nextel Cup and Busch Series wrapped up their seasons at
Homestead, Fla. Matt Kenseth took the Busch Series win. Kevin Harvick
already had wrapped up the title. In Nextel Cup action, Greg Biffle took
the win and Jimmie Johnson, the title.
This week we have some vintage modifieds
photos from
vintagemodifieds.com
George
Lombardo
"Wild Bill" Slater
"Money Bags" Moe Gherzi
That’s about it for this week from 40 Clark St, Westerly, and R.I.02891.
Ring my chimes at 401-596-5467 E-mail:
smithpe_97_97@yahoo.com
The Chrome Horn
'Looking Back with Phil Smith' Archive
THE END
Source:
Phil Smith/Courtesy of Tom Ormsby and
thespeedwaylinereport.com
Posted:
November 23, 2007 |