Fifty years ago in 1958 Paul Goldsmith went pole to
pole to win what was to be the last event run at Daytona on the 4.1 mile
beach-road course. Goldsmith led all 39 laps and collected $4550 for his
efforts. Curtis Turner finished second in the 49-car field. Jack Smith,
Joe Weatherly and Gwyn Staley rounded out the top five.
Forty-five years ago in 1963, two hundred-mile
qualifying races were held on Thursday to set the starting lineup for
the Daytona 500. Junior Johnson in the Ray Fox Chevrolet won the first
qualifier over Paul Goldsmith, AJ Foyt, Larry Frank and Dan Gurney.
Northern hot shoe Red Foote started 21st and finished 16th. USAC driver
Johnny Rutherford passed Rex White with five laps to go to win the
second qualifier. White finished second and was followed by Fred
Lorenzen, Ned Jarrett, Nelson Stacey and Tiny Lund. The 500 had a
storybook finish as Lund took the win for the injured Marvin Panch. Ned
Jarrett was leading with nine laps to go when he ran out of gas. Lund,
who spent most of the race drafting, made one less pit stop than the
rest of the field and went the entire 500-mile distance on the same set
of tires. Lund’s average speed was 151.566 mph. The announced attendance
was 70,780. Lorenzen finished second and was followed by Jarrett, Nelson
Stacey and Dan Gurney. Red Foote started 35th and finished 29th as his
engine blew on lap 113 of the 200 lap distance.
Forty years ago in 1968, the qualifying races rained
out and the starting field for the Daytona 500 was based on time trial
that were held the previous week. Cale Yarborough took the lead from
LeRoy Yarbrough with four laps to go as he won the 10th annual Daytona
500. Bobby Allison finished third with Al Unser and David Pearson
rounding out the top five. Eleven yellows for 60 laps slowed the average
speed to 143.251 mph as 94,800 looked on.
Thirty five years ago in 1973, Buddy Baker and Cale
Yarborough traded the lead 15 times during the running of the first
125-mile qualifying event. With only one caution, Baker took the win
with Yarborough on his bumper. Gordon Johncock finished third with
Richard Petty and Dick Brooks rounding out the top five. Darrell Waltrip
in an independent entry finished sixth. Maynard Troyer, from the
Modified ranks, finished 11th. The second 125 produced a big surprise as
independent CoCo Marlin passed David Pearson with six laps to go and
went on to take the win. Hershal McGriff finished second as Pearson
faded to ninth at the checker. AJ Foyt, Bobby Issac and James Hylton
rounded out the top five. Pete Hamilton started on the pole only to lose
an engine with eight laps to go. Richard Petty won his fourth Daytona
500 after Buddy Baker lost an engine with six laps to go. Baker was the
fastest of the 40 starters and had led the most laps. Bobby Issac
finished second with Dick Brooks, AJ Foyt and Hershal McGriff making up
the top five. Outside pole sitter Pete Hamilton finished dead last in
40th spot after his engine blew on lap 33 of the 200-lap distance.
Announced attendance was 100,000.
Thirty years ago in 1978, Bugsy Stevens was the
Wednesday night winner at New Smyrna. Fred DeSarro finished second with
Ronnie Bouchard, third. George Kent took the top spot at New Smyrna on
Thursday night. Geoff Bodine was hot on his tail but had to settle for
second spot. Bugsy Stevens, DeSarro and Satch Worley rounded out the top
five. The Thursday 125’s at Daytona saw AJ Foyt pass David Pearson with
19 laps to go as he went on to win the first 50 lap-125 mile event.
Pearson finished second and was followed by Donnie Allison, Cale
Yarborough and Bill Elliott. Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty swapped
the lead three times on the final lap of the second 125. Waltrip came
out on top by a car length. Benny Parsons finished third with Ron
Hutcherson and Dave Marcis rounding out the top five. The NASCAR
Modifieds ran a 200-mile event at the 4.1 road course at the Daytona
International Speedway on Friday. Darrell Waltrip outclassed the field
as he took the win over Richie Evans, Satch Worley, Jerry Cook and Joe
Thurman. Ronnie Bouchard put the Bob Judkins 2x in victory lane on
Friday night. DeSarro remained consistent as he finished second. Junior
Hanley, Stevens and Charlie Jarzombek completed the top five. Darrell
Waltrip continued his hot streak at Daytona as he won the Permatex 300
at Daytona on Saturday and on Saturday night at New Smyrna Geoff Bodine,
who finished sixth at Daytona that afternoon, took the win. Ronnie
Bouchard finished second and wrapped up the New Smyrna World Series
Modified title. Richie Evans finished third. After twenty-one years of
trying, Bobby Allison finally won the Daytona 500. Allison started 33rd
and took the lead from Buddy Baker with 10 laps to go. Cale Yarborough
finished second with Benny Parsons, Ron Hutcherson and Dick Brooks
following. The speedway released an attendance figure of 140,000.
Twenty-five years ago in 1983, Richie Evans picked up
his third win of the series at New Smyrna on Wednesday night. Gail
Barber finished second with Bentley Warren, third. Moose Hewitt and Mike
Mclaughlin rounded out the top five. In the 125-mile qualifiers at
Daytona on Thursday Dale Earnhardt won the first one and Neil Bonnett,
the second one. Evans also won on Thursday and Friday nights. Greg Sacks
didn’t have the required steam and had to settle for second on Thursday
night. Mike Mclaughlin finished third with Jamie Tomaino and Reggie
Ruggerio rounding out the top five. Mid-western ASA star Dick Trickle
drove Joe Brady's car to a solid second on Friday night with Tomaino
third and Sacks, fourth. At Daytona on Saturday, Darrell Waltrip won the
Goody’s 300. Geoff Bodine finished second with Neil Bonnett, third.
Richie Evans finished fourth on the final night at New Smyrna and sewed
up the series title. Reggie Ruggerio took the win over Tony Hirshman and
Mclaughlin. Capping off Speedweeks was the running of the Daytona 500,
which was won by Cale Yarborough. Bill Elliott finished second with
Buddy Baker, third. Ronnie Bouchard and Geoff Bodine suffered engine
failure and did not finish.
Twenty years ago in 1988, with the exception of the
series finale, the Richie Evans Memorial 100, Reggie Ruggerio dominated
on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at New Smyrna. He lost an engine
during the running of the 100, which was won by Tony Jankowiac. Tom
Baldwin finished consistently in second spot during the final four
nights and wrapped up the series title. The Daytona International
Speedway all but belonged to Bobby Allison as he won one of the 125’s,
the Goody’s 300 and scored an emotional win over son Davey in the
Daytona 500
.
Fifteen years ago in 1993, Ricky Fuller took down the
win at New Smyrna on Wednesday night. Reggie Ruggerio finished second
with Ed Kennedy, Steve Park and Richie Gallup rounding out the top five.
Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt won the Thursday 125-mile qualifiers at
Daytona. Rain washed out the Thursday night action at New Smyrna. Richie
Gallup managed to pull out a win on Friday night at New Smyrna as he
held off Ricky Fuller and Ed Kennedy. Dale Earnhardt led a Winston Cup
contingent including Ken Schrader, Harry Gant and Terry Labonte across
the start-finish line in the Goody’s 300. Steve Park won the Richie
Evans Memorial at New Smyrna on Saturday night. Bob Park came home
second and was followed by Ed Kennedy, Tom Baldwin and Richie Gallup.
During the running of the event Mike Ewanitsko spun Gallup out and when
told to go to the rear, parked his car. Dale Earnhardt was headed for
his first Daytona 500 win when Dale Jarrett passed him with two laps to
go.
Ten years ago in 1998, Ted Christopher, in the Bear
Motorsports entry, started 5th and took the lead from Doug French on lap
12 and went on to take the win on Wednesday night at New Smyrna. French
finished second and was followed by Tim Arre, Jan Leaty and Mike
Ewanitsko. Sterling Marlin and Dale Earnhardt won the 125’s at Daytona
on Thursday. For Earnhardt, it was his ninth 125-mile victory in a row.
Christopher and French finished one-two again on Thursday night Jan
Leaty finished third with George Kent and Mike Ewanitsko rounding out
the top five. New Smyrna fell victim to fog on Friday night. It was a
welcome break that allowed competitors some extra time to prepare for
the series ending Richie Evans Memorial 100. At Daytona on Saturday, Joe
Nemechek led all but 15 of the 120 lap distance to take the win in the
Goody’s 300. Jeff Purvis finished second with Mark Martin, third. The
Richie Evans Memorial at New Smyrna on Saturday night turned into a
slugfest that saw a lot of bent equipment and hot tempers. Jan Leaty
took the win over Jamie Tomaino, George Kent and Doug French. During the
running of the event Mike Ewanitsko was walled by Leaty when he
attempted to pass. Tim Arre crashed on a re-start and Ricky Miller
flipped. Ted Christopher got a little over anxious and lost it only to
get hit by George Bock, then t-boned by Dan Knoll. After 20 years of
trying, Dale Earnhardt finally won the Daytona 500. In dominating style,
Earnhardt led the final 60 laps. Bobby Labonte finished second with
Jeremy Mayfield, third.
Five years ago in 2003 at New Smyrna on Tuesday night,
Tim Arre was the surprise winner after Ted Christopher and JR Bertuccio
tangled on the last lap while fighting for the lead Bertuccio held on to
finish second with George Bock, third. Christopher ended up eighth. The
Modifieds ran a 50 lapper on Wednesday night. Ted Christopher pitted for
tires after an early tangle with Ed Flemke Jr. Flemke led until five to
go when Christopher took the lead for the win. Flemke finished second
with JR Bertuccio, third. The Daytona 500 qualifying 125-mile events run
on Thursday were yawners. Robbie Gordon won the first and Dale Earnhardt
Jr., the second. The only passing was in the pits during pit stops. JR
Bertuccio went pole to pole to win the 25-lap feature at New Smyrna on
Thursday night. George Kent, Ed Flemke Jr, Rob Summers and Ted
Christopher rounded out the top five. The Richie Evans Memorial 100 was
run at New Smyrna on Friday night. Ed Flemke had the field covered until
he lost an engine on lap 87. Tim Arre inherited the lead and went on to
take the win over Bertuccio and Mike Ewanitsko. The Busch Series 300 was
run at Daytona on Saturday. The Bushwhackers prevailed as Kevin Harvick
led the first 53 laps and Dale Earnhardt Jr. led the rest of the way to
take the win. Mike Finch won the final night at New Smyrna. Christopher,
who borrowed an engine from George Bock, finished second with Summers,
third. Christopher accumulated enough points to secure the track series
championship. The Daytona 500 closed out Speedweeks on a wet note as the
event was halted one lap passed half way because of rain. Michael
Waltrip, leading at the time, was awarded the win. Many fans were
displeased by this outcome.
Last year, 2007, racing in Florida at the New
Smyrna Speedway for the Tour type Modifieds and SK type Modifieds
continued on Monday night. The Tour type Modifieds numbered 26 and the
SK types, 10. Zach Sylvester was the top time trailer as he toured the
half-mile oval in 16.695 seconds. Jimmy Blewett was second fastest. John
Blewett III started fourth and wasted little time as he took the lead
from Zach Sylvester in turn three of the first lap. From there on it was
hammer down for Blewett as he kept his Brady Bunch mount out in front
and went on to take the win. Sylvester finished second. Ted Christopher
continued to be a non finisher as he was involved in a wreck with Joey
Logano. Logano was running fourth in the latter stages until getting
together with Andy Seuss. Both drivers kept their cars straight, but
lost several positions. Jimmy Blewett and Eric Beers got together while
running for fourth. Blewett appeared to have a problem, catching Beers
off guard. The two locked bumpers, putting both to the back of the pack.
Logano then got together with Ted Christopher as the two were battling
four fourth position. TC slammed into the wall, while Logano kept going.
Seuss then got together with Donny Lia while racing in the top-10, with
Seuss getting into the front stretch wall and falling out of the event.
Earl Paules ended up third with Don Lia and Chuck Hossfeld rounding out
the top five. Jimmy Blewett made it three in a row in the SK type
Modified feature.
John Blewett III became the first repeat winner in World
Series Tour type Modified racing on Tuesday night. While those left
behind in the northeast were bracing themselves for a winter storm heavy
rain pounded the New Smyrna area. By race time the rain stopped and
racing went on as planned. Bob Grigas started on the pole with John
Blewett III on the outside. Prior to the start of the race Ted
Christopher and Jim Storace spun in turn 2. Grigas took the lead on the
restart with Blewett, Eric Beers and Zach Sylvester in tow. Blewett went
under Grigas on lap 8. Evidently Blewett took the air off Grigas’
spoiler as he spun. In the resulting pig pile Don Lia suffered right
front wheel and suspension damage after he was hit by Sylvester who had
no where to go. Two more minor cautions slowed the event. At the finish
it was Blewett III followed by Beers, Sylvester, Earl Paules and Jon
McKennedy. Twenty-three cars took the green flag in the Tour-Type
Modified feature, but two of the competitors that had competed well in
previous nights were absent from the starting lineup. Joey Logano,
driving Gary Cretty’s #26 entry, was a no-show Tuesday, as was James
Civali in the second Joe Brady car. Jimmy Blewett made it four in a row
in SK type Modified action.
The Tour type Modifieds went the 50 lap distance on Wednesday
night. Jimmy Blewett became the fourth different winner as he took
advantage of his brother’s mis-fortune when John pitted with a broken
spindle. Eric Beers ended up second with Joey Logano, third. Ted
Christopher managed to stay out of trouble and finished fourth. Earl
Paules rounded out the top five. Twenty-five cars took the green with
Don Lia and John Blewett III leading the charge. Shelly and Butch Perry
brought out early cautions in separate incidents. Jimmy Blewett moved
into second spot and glued himself to Lia’s bumper. Blewett made the
race-winning move on lap 14 and that’s all she wrote! Earl Paules broke
Jimmy Blewett’s stranglehold in the SK type Modifieds as he took the win
after leading the entire event. Blewett was forced to start in the rear
after it was discovered that his car had an illegal carburetor spacer
plate.
Heavy rain moved into the New Smyrna area on Thursday night
just as the Modifieds were having their hot laps in preparation for
their feature. In Modified tour type qualifying Jimmy Blewett set fast
time just one night after winning his first Tour-Type feature of
Speedweeks 2007. Wednesday’s second-place finisher Eric Beers was second
quick in qualifying. Blewett then set fast time in the SK Modified
feature, which was also rained out.
Jimmy Blewett came into the Richie Evans 100 with both guns
blazing and picked up where he left off on Wednesday night as he dusted
the field and took the win. Blewett started on the outside pole and
wasted little time as he took the lead from Eric Beers on lap 3 with a
slingshot move. Ted Christopher ended up second when he passed Beers
with eight laps to go. Beers faded to fourth in the end as Don Lia
passed him on the final lap. Zach Sylvester rounded out the top five.
Among tose who failed to finish were John Blewett III who wrecked with
Bob Holmes, Chuck Hossfeld who lost an engine and Andy Seuss who ended
up in the wall..
Twenty-five Tour type Modifieds went to post. The Grand
Marshals for the event were Tara and Richie Evans Jr, children of the
late champion. In addition to the Richie Evans Memorial 100 Jimmy
Blewett continued his winning ways as he won the final event of the
series on Saturday night. Starting on the pole, Blewett led every lap.
Don Lia moved into second spot on lap 18 but had nothing for Blewett at
the end. John Blewett III finished third with Zach Sylvester and Eric
Beers rounding out the top five. Ted Christopher was up to second by lap
15 but dropped out shortly after and ended up 16th. Eric Beers wrapped
up the series championship. In SK type Modified racing it was Kevin
Goodale holding off Jimmy Blewett and Earl Paules through numerous lead
swaps in the closing laps of the 40-lap SK Modified feature. Jimmy
Blewett won the the SK type Modified Championship.
Eric Beers used consistency to earn the Tour type Modified Championship.
Beers beat out Jimmy Blewett by 15 points for the title. John Blewett
III ended up third with Don Lia and Zach Sylvester rounding out the top
five. Defending champion Andy Seuss finished out of the top ten.
At the Daytona Speedway, Michael Waltrip's new Toyota team
took the hardest hit yet in what had mushroomed into NASCAR's toughest
push against cheating during Daytona 500 week in at least 31 years.
Waltrip's crew chief and vice president of competition were ejected from
Daytona International Speedway and suspended indefinitely from NASCAR
competition. Waltrip was docked 100 driver points and crew chief David
Hyder fined $100,000. The team's vice president, Bobby Kennedy, was
suspended because he was held ultimately responsible. It was an enormous
embarrassment to Toyota in its first Nextel Cup outing. But NASCAR
competition vice president Robin Pemberton said "this is a team issue.
This has nothing to do with a manufacturer." An illegal substance -
which a source told The Associated Press was a property contained in jet
fuel - was found in an intake manifold of Waltrip's car during
inspection Sunday. In an unrelated matter, four crew chiefs were
suspended and fined for various infractions. Three were from the Ray
Evernham Dodge team which includes drivers Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler
and Scott Riggs, and one was from Matt Kenseth's Roush Racing team.
The Thursday 150 mile qualifiers were won by Tony Stewart and
Jeff Gordon. A post race inspection showed that Gordon’s car was too
low. The win wasn’t taken away but his car was placed 42nd in the
Daytona 500 starting field. Kevin Harvick scored a one-two punch as he
won both the Busch Series 300 and the Daytona 500. Harvicks 500 win was
by inches over Mark Martin.
Congratulations went to Mr and Mrs Mike Boehler
on the birth of their new baby, Kate Anna Boehler who was born on Feb.
15. The newest member of Boehler Racing weighed in at 6 lb. 11 oz. 21
inches long.
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
