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  • RFF Fantasy Racing Game
    • 2018 Fantasy Game >
      • Fantasy Picks ~ Richmond
      • Fantasy Picks ~ Bristol
      • Fantasy Picks ~ Texas
      • Fantasy Picks ~ Martinsville
      • Fantasy Picks ~ Auto Club
      • Fantasy Picks ~ ISM
      • Fantasy Picks - Las Vegas
      • Fantasy Picks - Atlanta
  • Guest Appearance Writers
    • Story of a Lucky Penny and the Underbird
    • Earnhardt and Childress ~ Round 1
  • PattyKay Lilley
    • PattyKay Lilley 2018 >
      • We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Us
      • All the News Unfit to Print~ All-Star Edition
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ No One Is Listening
      • Alan Kulwicki Will Always Be a Champion
      • 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame ~ Selections and Elections
      • Fontana to Martinsville and All About the Fan Experience
      • Kevin Harvick Is Right ~ Grass Roots Racing Does Matter
      • The Road Less Traveled
      • Surefire Cost Cutting Ideas for NASCAR
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Too Much Is More than Enough
      • I Remember You ~ My Personal Tribute to Dale Earnhardt
      • An Earnhardt Kind of Day
      • Remembering Neil Bonnett
      • Daytona Fever
      • NASCAR Looked the Other Way
      • A Look in the Rear View Mirror ~ Keith Jackson
      • The Product Is Encumbered and Therefore Not Marketable
      • Its January Already
      • The Perfect Storm and a Sad Farewell
    • PattyKay Lilley 2017 >
      • That Time between Christmas and Daytona
      • The Christmas Story My Mother Told ~ 2017
      • I Still Believe in Santa Claus ~ Jimmy Spencer
      • A Defining Moment in NASCAR History
      • Remembering the Final Winston Cup Banquet ~ 2017
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Dont Believe Your Lying Eyes
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ One Last Ride
      • As the 2017 Season Draws to a Close
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Who Is Not Speaking to Whom?
      • The Little Track by the Railroad Track
      • NASCAR Goes Country
      • Tales of the Talladega Curse ~ 2017
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Sad Times and Poor Broadcasting
      • Not One Knee Was Taken During Solemn Prerace Ceremonies at Dover
      • The White Cliffs of Dover ~ Delaware
      • History Holds the Back Story ~ RPM
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Someone Ought to Say It!
      • Characters Add Character to Racing
      • In Darlington, Everything Old Is New Again
      • Remember When NASCAR Was All About the Fans?
      • From Michigan to Richmond and All Points In-between
      • Racing at the Glen and Millennials Can Learn from Geezers
      • When the Points Arent the Points and 2+2 Doesnt Equal 4
      • When Rednecks Ran NASCAR
      • Dear Brent Dewar, About That Star Mangled Banner
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Silly Season Is Only Silly for Some
      • Looking Back ~ A View from the Rearview
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ On Road Racing and Dirt Racing
      • Defeat Snatched from the Jaws of Victory
      • Ninety Miles an Hour down a Dead End Street
      • The Good, the Bad and the Intolerable
      • Verrrry Interesting
      • D-Day Demolition Derby at Dover
      • Memorial Day Means So Much More than Racing ~ 2017
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ NASCAR Why Do You Refuse to Listen?
      • A Tale of Two Weekends
      • Remember Adam Petty
      • Truth Will Always Serve Better than a Good Story
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Vaya con Dios
      • It’s Bristol Baby, but Which Bristol?
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ When Enough Becomes Too Much
      • A Sunday Drive, Texas Style
      • One Helluva Good Race; Sorry You Missed It
      • As Requested By the Fans… and Other Fairytales
      • Smokey Yunick Belongs in the NASCAR Hall of Fame
      • NASCAR Hall of Fame ~ Selections and Elections
      • Some Facts Are Indisputable and Some Folks Enjoy Being Unhappy
      • At Daytona, Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop
      • A Few More Nicknames and Some Quaint Quotes
      • Nicknames in Racing Have to Be Earned
      • Drivers, Please Start Your Engines
      • The Voice of One Fan Only
      • Fly on the Wall ~ Speaking of Carl Edwards
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Hopefully the Voice of Reason
      • U.S. Nationals, and We Are Not Talking Drag Racing Here
    • PattyKay Lilley 2016 >
      • The Christmas Story as My Mother Told It
      • We’re Gonna Miss the Man Called Smoke
      • The New Twelve Days of a NASCAR Christmas
      • Remembering The Final Winston Cup Banquet
      • Let’s Talk About Indy Instead of Homestead
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Why All The Secrecy?
      • Martinsville ~ FUBAR
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ And the Fans Need to Be Heard!
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ NASCAR Doesn’t Love Me Anymore
      • Under The Charlotte Lights...Again ~ Lady in Black
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ A Question For Brian Z. France
      • Who’s Abbott, Who’s Costello and Who’s on First
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Where Have All The Race Fans Gone?
      • Throwback ~ The Lady In Black
      • Throwbacks and Tributes and Memories, Oh My
      • Someone Asked About the History of North Wilkesboro
      • Mid-Ohio Mayhem ~ All In Fun
      • His Name Is Waddell Wilson ~ Remember That Name
      • J. D. McDuffie ~ Lived and Died for Racing
      • Attendance and Ratings ~ Do They Matter?
      • Winston/Nextel/Sprint Cup ~ What Comes Next?
      • Davey in Retrospect
      • Twisted Sheet Metal and How A Race Should End
      • Is NASCAR For Sale?
      • Wreckin on the Road ~ Lady in Black
      • Marty Robbins ~ NASCAR Balladeer
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Those Silly Ol’ Lug Nuts
      • Junie Donlavey ~ True Pioneer of NASCAR
      • Tim Richmond ~ Right to the Bitter End and Beyond
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ The Penthouse and the Outhouse
      • Memorial Day Means More than Just Racing
      • Dover - The Good The Bad and the Unacceptable
      • Down Memory Lane ~ Smokey Yunick
      • Best Damn Garage In Town
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Talladega: Too Much of a Bad Thing
      • Tales Of The Talladega Curse
      • A Few Words About The Old Bristol
      • NASCAR Hall of Fame ~ How the Election Process Works
      • A Sunday Drive, Texas Style with the Lady in Black
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Where Have All the Fans Gone?
      • Alan Kulwicki - Always A Champion
      • Volkswagen Isnt Just a Bug Anymore
      • Racing Is For The Young As Well As The Old
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ From The Desert To The Mountains
      • Would You Like Fries With That?
      • A Few Words on Flag Etiquette
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Great Racing But Poor Coverage
      • Leaving Daytona And Headed For Atlanta
      • Dale Earnhardt ~ I Remember You
      • Charter of Franchise, It's All Good
      • Neil Bonnett: Racer, Broadcaster, Legend, And Man
      • A Racer For All Seasons!
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Six Generations Of Cars And Fans
      • Curtis Turner Inducted Into NASCAR Hall Of Fame
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Improving The Fan Experience
      • The Official Everything Of NASCAR
    • PattyKay Lilley 2015 >
      • It’s Hard to Say Goodbye to So Much Talent
      • The Christmas Story My Mother Told
      • And How Would You Like That Dashboard: Analog or Digital?
      • The Twelve Days of a NASCAR Christmas
      • Who You Callin' A Rookie?
      • And Then There Were Four
      • There Really Was A Race In Texas
      • A Twilight Happy Ending And Sunshine On The Horizon
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ The Luck of Austin Theriault
      • What It Wasn't, Was A Restart
      • Playing The Blame Game
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Am I Still A Race Fan?
      • Under The Charlotte Lights With The Lady in Black
      • It's Probably Not Safe If It's Not SAFER
      • Missing: Race Teams And Sponsors!
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Getting Started, Word Games and Playoffs
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ What Happens When Racing Becomes Soporific?
      • Darlington In The Rearview And Richmond Right Up The Road
      • The Lady in Black at the Riot in Richmond
      • Retro ~ Everything Old is New Again at Darlington
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ So Much Happening And Most Of It Bad
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Actions Detrimental
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Fans Have Some Responsibility, Too
      • The Passing Of A Giant
      • Something Happened At Pocono That Almost Everyone Missed
      • Kissing The Bricks With The Lady In Black
      • Time To Say Goodbye, To A Track And To A Man
      • The Brickyard 400 In The Rearview ~ What Happened?
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Leaving Sparta For Loudon
      • Logic 101 ~ When in Doubt, Rely on Common Sense
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Kentucky Speedway Needs To Be SAFER
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Fireworks At The Firecracker
      • Some Things Just Aren't News
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ On The Road Again
      • NASCAR Fans Didn't Fit The Stereotype
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ A Fan's View On The State Of The Sport
      • The Lady In Black Pokes Fun At Pocono
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ No One Knows What Goes On Behind Closed Doors
      • One LAP UP With The Lady In Black
      • Making Racing Safer With SAFER
      • Memorial Day Should Mean More Than Racing
      • Showdowns, Trucks, A Starlit Night, And A Couple Guys Named Smith
      • Remembering Adam Petty
      • A Lady Makes Her Debut, And We're Not Any SAFER In Kansas, Toto.
      • Talladega ~ The Curse And SAFER Barriers
      • Pretty Words And Strong Words: Steve Byrnes And SAFER Barriers
      • Bristol, By Any Other Name
      • The NASCAR Hall Of Fame ~ How It Works
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Old Races And New Walls
      • The Lady In Black - The Magic Of Martinsville
      • Revisiting Martinsville, Without Jesse Jones
      • The Lady In Black - The Fontana Furnace
      • Sometimes, You Just Have To Laugh
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Our Drivers DeserveThe Safety Of SAFER
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Send In The Clowns
      • SAFER! Just Do It!
      • The Choices of NASCAR, February 18th, And A Million Points Of Light
      • A Perfect Storm And A Sad Farewell
      • They Didn't Have To Go That Way
      • I Fought The Law And The Law Lost!
      • A Voice For The Fans No More
      • The Day The Vortex Theory Was Tested
      • Do We Miss Daytona Testing
      • Autographs And Memories
      • Always Hoping For A Happy New Year
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ A Cup Full Of Snow
  • Frank Buhrman
    • 2018 Frank Buhrman >
      • NASCAR Needs More Racers Like Those Who Came Up Through the ASA
      • Does Our Future Keep Going Around in Circles Or Will Other Options Bring the Fans Back
      • In Chartered NASCAR Theres No Room for Guys Like Texan H.B. Bailey
      • Sponsors ~ Who Are They and What Do They Do
      • Its Martinsville ~ Let the REAL Racing Begin
      • Maybe its NASCARs Inspection Process that Really Needs Inspecting
      • Las Vegas’ NASCAR Success Blessed By the Spirit of the Late Mel Larson
      • Stock Car Racing Magazine ~ Lessons Learned from Old Covers
      • Celebrate the Trophy and Money, Daytona Winner, but Don’t Count on Winning that Cup
      • Strollin Down the Beach
      • How About a Swap?
      • The Chili Bowl
      • They May Be Tomorrows NASCAR Stars, But Are They Anybodys Heroes
    • Frank Buhrman 2017 >
      • Make This a Christmas to Remember!
      • Winters Cold Is Colder without Racing. What Can We Do to Get Some
      • A New Champion - and One from NASCARs Infancy
      • Old Stats Are Fun, but They Shot Down a Good Theory
      • Martinsville Went Right, So What Keeps Going Wrong?
      • A Field of Dreams that Never Came True
      • Do NASCAR’s Screw-ups Even Matter If Motorsports Have No Future?
      • Does Speed Make the Speed-Sport More Exciting?
      • My Intro to Charlotte Motor Speedway
      • Racing Grand Nationals Once Meant Prepping Your Car in a Hurry
      • Driver Development Programs Need to Get the Gong
      • Drawing Attention to NASCAR in a Good Way
      • Little Joe, Junior, Gentleman Ned and Mr. Modified on Fairgrounds Dirt
      • Darlington ~ Back Then, It Was Something Special
      • Where Else Has NASCAR Raced in These States?
      • The Formula for Success is Not Obvious in Appealing to Millennials
      • Will NASCAR’s Aging Fans Demand that Medicare Pay for More Comfy Seats at the Speedway?
      • Kyle Larson Wins Races of All Kinds, and He Might Just Save NASCAR
      • With Writers and Racetracks, Age Can Be Everything
      • NASCAR Has It All, So Why Am I Happy Watching the Races at Lizard Creek?
      • Wood Brothers + Blaney = Good News for NASCAR
      • Who Could Make NASCAR A Little Spicier?
      • A Little Ramble in Delaware
      • Not The Masters, But the Wood Brothers Truly Have a Tradition like None Other
      • Speeds Were Slower, Drivers Still Came and Went, and NASCAR Survived
      • A Quick Surf Through NASCAR History
      • More than the Loss of a Great Driver
      • Little Martinsville Is the Monster Track of NASCAR Cup Series History
      • California Not So “Golden” A NASCAR State
      • Franks Guide to How to Fix All That Ails NASCAR
      • A Little Vegas History and Long Trips to Races
      • The Real Dirt on Atlanta’s Racing Past
      • Would More Fans Watch if a “500” Was a “Triathlon?”
      • Media Coverage Today Could Be A Lot Worse
      • Another Link between Short Tracks and What Ails NASCAR
      • Lets Go Back To The Old Definition Of Cheating
    • Frank Buhrman 2016 >
      • Bringing Back the Excitement – One Fan’s Ideas
      • Racing Road Trip: Let’s Head to… Where?
      • Bring Cup Racers Back to the Bullrings
      • Discover Some "Mud Roots" Racing!
      • Memories, Gripes and Maybe a Little Dreamin
      • Frank Likes The Chase...Kind Of
      • 1960's: NASCAR's Northern Tour
      • Chicago: The First Races In The Second City
      • Richmond "Action": Then And Now
      • 1950 To Now: Ladies Attack The Lady In Black
      • Radical Thought: Let Drivers Develop Themselves
      • 1967: With Lower Banking And Smaller Crowds, Bristol Was Still A Big Deal
      • Coverage of Racing Has Changed With The Sport
      • More Bluegrass Than Green Flags For NASCAR In Kentucky
      • The Day Goliath Roared (sort-of) In NASCAR Racing
      • Is A Blast From The Past What NASCAR Needs In The Future
      • Give a Nod to Larry LoPatin for NASCAR Motors in the Motor State
      • Pondering Racing’s Future in Charlotte . . . and Trumansburg
      • Frank's Loose Lugnuts
      • Fix it, Forget it, or Let Nature Run its Course
      • Oh, The Yellow Flag of Texas
      • A New Track, Some Old Memories . . . But Where is the Lake
      • Let’s Have A Sprint Cup ‘Blindfold Race,’ With Donald Trump Guiding Who?
      • Maybe The Ghost of "Fireball" Can Call The Auto Club 400 Winner
      • It ain’t like it used to be . . . (and sometimes that’s a good thing)
      • Sure, Atlanta Can Be Cold In February, But Remember Richmond?
  • Vivian Simons
    • Vivian Simons 2018 >
      • The Fan Experience
      • Where Were You When
      • Young Racers vs Kyle Busch
      • Daytona Has Come and Gone - Part 2
      • Daytona Has Come and Gone - Part 1
      • Hey Have You Heard the News
      • Daytona Memories - Again
      • Vehicles and Life Must Change
    • Vivian Simons 2017 >
      • Christmas Wishes to Our Staff
      • Old Versus New - History and Memories
      • Musings During the Off-Season in NASCAR - Again
      • It Is What It Is!
      • Sponsors, Drivers, Tracks & NASCAR
      • Some Funny Things Happened on the Way to the Playoffs
      • Is It a Race or a Show?
      • I Am a Race Fan that Wants to See the Race!
      • Road Course Ringers ~ Are They a Good or a Bad Thing?
      • Phases & Memories = Good Old Days By An Older Fan
      • Who's Gonna Fill Their Seats?
      • Is the Cup Half Full or Half Empty?
      • Observations from the Atlanta Races
      • Musings During the Off-Season in NASCAR
    • Vivian Simons 2016 >
      • Christmas Wishes
      • Is It Racing Or Just A Show?
      • Drivers Or Racers
      • And So It Came To Be
      • The Trucks, The New Chase, And The School Yard Bully
      • The Chase Is Coming! The Chase Is Coming!
      • Parity...Or Toyota Domination?
      • Invasion Of The Lower Tier Victory Snatchers!
      • High Banks and Memory Banks
      • A Road Course Is A Course (Of Course, Of Course...)
      • What Sort of Race Fan Are You?
      • NASCAR Hall Of Fame Or Hall Of Fave?
      • NASCAR's Generation Gap
      • Tony Stewart, NASCAR and Lug Nuts
      • Racing 101
      • Television Coverage Of NASCAR Racing
      • Is The Xfinity Series Fair?
      • Follow The Leader
      • Daytona Memories
    • Vivian Simons 2015 >
      • Addiction, Disillusionment, And Conforming
  • David Nance
    • David Nance 2018 >
      • There Is No Racing This Weekend
      • Martinsville Inspection Procedures = New Crew Chiefs by Friday
      • For a Moment All Was Right with the Racing World
      • Oh Where Oh Where Is NASCARs Driver Alert System
      • Qualifying Concept Long Overdue - Race for the Green
    • David Nance 2017 >
      • Thank You Bud
      • All about the Price Tag
      • And the Real True Playoff Winner Is
      • The Perfect Storm
      • If We Are Going to Have a Playoff, Make It a Real One
      • Outrunning the Bear
      • Level Playing Fields Not Until All Winners Face R &D Inspections
      • Is It Time For Encumbered Starts?
      • Kevin, I Dont Believe Ida Told That
      • And Stomped that Sucker Flat!
      • A Sons First Race… Through the Eyes of a Dad
      • Take Em To The Fence
      • Kyle's Mic Drop ~ Just One of Those Racing Deals
      • Remember When DW Was Monster Energy?
      • We Have Ourselves A Summit!
      • The Hunt for the NASCAR Canary
      • Penalties ~ DW Had A Better Idea
      • If FOX Covered the Kentucky Derby
      • Media Coverage Today Could Be a Lot Better
      • The Week in NASCAR - Opportunity Lost
      • Will Karma Smile on NASCAR?
      • Gentlemen... Start... Your... Commercials
      • The Untold Story of How the New Race Format Came To Be
      • Another Look at Attendance
    • David Nance 2016 >
      • Holiday Leftovers ~ Let Cooter Be Cooter
      • Holiday Leftovers ~ All I Want For Christmas
      • Holiday Leftovers ~ Grand Prix Memories
      • 20-20 + Monster Energy = Race For the Green
      • Please Let It Be Rain
      • It's Just Not Right
      • More Chase, Baby!
      • Three Laws
      • 20-20: The Rest Of The Story
      • Take A Chance, Mr. France
      • Time For A New Chase
      • And That Was Fr'istol!
  • J. L. Steele
    • J.L. Steele 2018 >
      • Back to the Future
      • Predictions and Wishes ~ Through a Hazy Crystal Ball
    • J. L. Steele 2017 >
      • A NASCAR Fans Letter to Santa
      • 2017 in the Rear View Mirror
      • A Sign of the Bad Times
      • Ken Squier at Darlington
      • Thoughts, Opinions and Rumors - Oh My!
      • Leave Junior Alone!
      • Kyle Busch is Exactly What NASCAR Needs
      • Let’s Save the Truck Series
    • J. L. Steele 2016 >
      • Brian's Big Monday
      • A Wishing Well And A Crystal Ball
      • A Parting Gift For Stewart
      • A Perfect Voice For A Perfect Time
      • Growth By Subtraction
    • J. L. Steele 2015 >
      • Meet The Racing Marine
      • A Race Fan's Christmas Wish List
      • Sunset At Martinsville
      • The Michael Waltrip Dilemma
      • The Rich Keep Getting Richer, While The Xfinity Series Dies
      • The Last Perfect Night
      • Sponsoring Drivers With Sponsor Drivers Motorsports Marketing
      • Halfway(?) Home...
      • The Essence Of Racing
      • Ranking The Truex Win
      • Visiting Victory Lane
      • The Silver Lining
      • Smoke Will Rise
      • No Comparison When Comparing Newman and Bowyer
      • Advice For Race Tracks
      • Making A Case For Kahne
      • Support Your Local Short Track
      • SAFE Is A Four Letter Word
      • Dinner With D.W.
      • Gordon's Greatness
      • Wendell Scott - Leader Of The Class
      • We Shook Earnhardt's Hand
      • Show Me The Money! (And Where It Comes From)
      • The King And I
  • Mitch Walker
    • Mitch Walker 2018 >
      • Its History, Like It or Not
      • Once the Local Tracks Are Gone
      • Kevin Harvick Gets It!
      • Racing, Broadcasting, Blocking and the Win ~ All Bad
      • Lets Go Racin
      • Untold Stories ~ Hidden History
    • Mitch Walker 2017 >
      • The Son of a Country Boy; the Son of a Champion
      • You Dont Tug on Supermans Cape
      • How It All Got Started
      • What Drove the Core Fans Away?
      • Who Benefits from the Decline in NASCAR Attendance?
      • Old School: Lessons By Legends
      • The Drs Script for the Ails of NASCAR
  • Tim Leeming
    • Tim Leeming 2018 >
      • The Magic Window ~ Closing It Up
      • The Magic Window ~ Chapter 8 The Phone Rings Again and Ford Has a Better Idea
      • The Magic Window~ Chapter Seven - More Damage Than First Appeared. One Shot Deal, NASCAR
      • The Magic Window ~ Chapter Six New Season, New Colors, New Number, New Sponsor, Wow!
      • The Magic Window ~ Chapter Five Things Called Spacers and a Menace Named Dennis
      • The Magic Window ~ Chapter Four From Disaster to Faster but Caught in a Clutch
      • The Magic Window ~ Chapter Three The Kid Gets a Name and the King Comes to Town
      • The Magic Window ~ Chapter Two Trailers, Late Night Talks and High Banked Asphalt
      • That Magic Window You Climb Through
      • How to Become Popular with Georgia Law Enforcement
      • Is Time Travel Possible?
      • Theres a Sign Post Up Ahead
      • An Uncles Legacy to His Nephew
    • Tim Leeming 2017 >
      • My Name Is Not Important
      • The Darlington Shocker
      • The Eclipse and a Race Car
      • Lil Bud Moore Tribute
      • The Sly FOX (Sports Network)
  • Matt McLaughlin - Anniversary Edition - 50 Years of NASCAR Racing
    • #32 - Swervin' Irvan and the Second Generation
    • #31 - Daytona - Little Cars and Big Bucks
    • #30 - Heart Stoppers, Heart Breakers and Heart Warmers
    • #29 - The Factories Go Home and Petty Goes on a Tear
    • #28 - The Daytona 500 1965-1970
    • #27 - The Daytona 500 ~ 1960-1964
    • #26 - Beyond the Beach - The First Daytona 500
    • #25 - Racing on the Beach
    • #24 - Larry LoPatin and American Raceways
    • #23 - Fuelish Pride
    • #22 - The Day the Music Almost Died
    • #21 - DW and DiGard ~ Breaking Up is Hard to Do
    • #20 - Winston to the Rescue
    • #19 - Charlotte ~ 1964 Drama & Danger - Part 2
    • #18 - Charlotte ~ 1964 Drama & Danger - Part 1
    • #17 - In the Beginning
    • #16 - Ford Strikes Out - The 1966 Boycott
    • #15 - Before he was Awesome
    • #14 - 1965 ~ Chrysler Plays Hardball
    • #13 - A Million to One
    • #12 - Seven up ~ The King Wins his Seventh Title
    • #11 - The Great Spoiler Debate of 1981
    • #10 - The Original Golden Boy
    • #9 - The Greatest Race Ever
    • #8 – The Petty-Allison Feud
    • #7 - The First Super Team
    • #6 - By the Time I Get to Phoenix
    • #5 - 1967 ~ Richard Petty Becomes The King
    • #4 - Charlotte ~ Bright Lights and Dark Days
    • #3 - Those Cheatin Ways
    • #2 - The Talladega Curse
    • #1 - Showdown in Alabama
  • Matt McLaughlin's "50 Years Of NASCAR Racing"
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 2 (Post 101)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 1 (Post 100)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Alan Kulwicki: Running Down A Dream (Post 99)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Hickory Wind Blows Cold (Post 98)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ David Slays Goliath (Post 97)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Until The Fat Lady Sings (Post 96)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Charlotte In The Fall (Post 95)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ One Magical Season, Part 3 (Post 94)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ One Magical Season, Part 2 (Post 93)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ One Magical Season, Part 1 (Post 92)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Remembering Davey, Part 2 (Post 91)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Remembering Davey, Part 1 (Post 90)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Bump And Grind (Post 89)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ High Stakes On The High Banks (Post 88)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Fall Of Richmond (Post 87)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Southern 500: The Grandaddy Of Them All, Part 6 (Post 86)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Southern 500: The Grandaddy Of Them All, Part 5 (Post 85)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Southern 500: The Grandaddy Of Them All, Part 4 (Post 84)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Southern 500: The Grandaddy Of Them All, Part 3 (Post 83)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Southern 500: The Grandaddy Of Them All, Part 2 (Post 82)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Southern 500: The Grandaddy Of Them All, Part 1 (Post 81)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Better Get Back To Tennessee, Jed (Post 80)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ MPH, Not MPG: The Michigan Of Old (Post 79)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Controversy-Let It Rage, Part 2 (Post 78)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Controversy-Let It Rage, Part 1 (Post 77)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Road Warriors (Post 76)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Hot Fun In The Summertime (Post 75)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Hallowed Ground (Post 74)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Hotter Than The 4th Of July (Post 73)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Close But No Cigar (Post 72)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ My One And Only, Part 2 (Post 72)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ My One And Only, Part 1 (Post 70)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ You Never Forget Your First, Part 3 (Post 69)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ You Never Forget Your First, Part 2 (Post 68)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ You Never Forget Your First, Part 1 (Post 67)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Road Rage (Post 66)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Triumph, Tragedy, And The Tunnel Turn (Post 65)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Luck Of The Irish (Post 64)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Islip: Long Island Speedway (Post 63)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Richmond, The Pettys, And The Evolution Of NASCAR (Post 62)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Kid Lightning (Post 60)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Temper, Temper! Part 2 (Post 59)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Temper, Temper! Part 1 (Post 58)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Monster Is Coming! (Post 57)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The World 600 (Post 56)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Winston: Checkers Or Wreckers (Post 55)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Occoneechee Speedway (Post 54)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Trenton: The Speedway Of The North (Post 53)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Texas World Speedway: Field Of Shattered Dreams (Post 52)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Ontario: The Best Laid Plans... (Post 51)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Do You Feel A Draft? (Post 50)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Martinsville In The Spring (Post 49)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Hickory: The Birthplace Of Legends (Post 48)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Oddities: Short Takes, Part 2 (Post 47)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Oddities: The Bizarre and Peculiar (Post 46)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ North Wilkesboro (Post 45)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Ford-Chrysler Duel (Post 44)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Bristol Stomp (Post 43)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Big Blocks, Bickering, And Bill (Post 42)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Tim Richmond: The Reason We Remember, Part 2 (Post 41)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Tim Richmond: The Reason We Remember, Part 1 (Post 40)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Too Tough To Tame For Too Long To Remember (Post 39)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Tales From Days Of Yore (Post 38)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Atlanta Motor Speedway (Post 37)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ J.D. Stacy (Post 36)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Viva Las Vegas (Post 35)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Rock (Post 34)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Daytona 500: 1994 - 1997 (Post 33)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Swervin' Irvan And The Second Generation (Post 32)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Daytona: Little Cars And Big Bucks (Post 31)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Heart-Breakers, Heart-Stoppers, And Heart-Warmers (Post 30)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Factories Go Away And Petty Goes On A Tear (Post 29)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Daytona 500: 1965-1970 (Post 28)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Daytona 500: 1960-1964 (Post 27)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Beyond The Beach: The First Daytona 500 (Post 26)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Racing On The Beach (Post 25)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Larry LoPatin And American Raceways (Post 24)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Fuelish Pride (Post 23)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Day The Music Almost Died (Post 22)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ DW And DiGard: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (Post 21)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Winston To The Rescue (Post 20)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Charlotte 1964: Drama And Danger, Part 2 (Post 19)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Charlotte 1964: Drama And Danger, Part 1 (Post 18)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ In The Beginning (Post 17)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Ford Strikes Out: The 1966 Boycott (Post 16)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Before He Was Awesome (Post 15)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ 1965: Chrysler Plays Hardball (Post 14)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ A Million To One (Post 13)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Seven Up: The King Wins His Seventh Title (Post 12)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Great Spoiler Debate Of 1981 (Post 11)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Original Golden Boy (Post 10)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Greatest Race Ever (Post 9)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Petty/Allison Feud (Post 8)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The First Super Team (Post 7)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ By The Time I Get To Phoenix (Post 6)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ 1967: Richard Petty Becomes The King (Post 5)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Charlotte: Bright Lights And Dark Days (Post 4)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Those Cheatin' Ways (Post 3)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Talladega Curse (Post 2)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Showdown In Alabama (Post 1)
  • Season Previews
    • 2017 Season Previews >
      • 2017 Season Preview - Part 3
      • 2017 Season Preview - Part 2
      • 2017 Season Preview - Part 1
    • 2016 Season Previews >
      • Fast Forward Season Preview Part 3 - Buescher To McDowell/Dillon
      • Fast Forward Season Preview Part 2 - Biffle To Earnhardt
      • Fast Forward 2016 Season Preview Part 1 - McMurray To Bowyer
    • 2015 Season Previews >
      • Fast Forward Season Preview Part 1 - McMurray To Biffle
      • Fast Forward Season Preview Part 2 - Stenhouse To Gilliland
      • Fast Forward Season Preview Part 3 - Cassill To Earnhardt, Jr.
  • "Tiger" Tom Pistone ~ Racing, Now And Then
  • Previous Columnists
    • Jim Fitzgerald >
      • Jim Fitzgerald 2017 >
        • The Cup Series Is Revisiting A "Monster" From Its Checkered Past
        • Ode, To The Cup Series
        • When Do We Start Hating On Kyle Larson?
        • Attendance And The Worst Excuse Ever
        • The One I Knew About, The One That Was A Surprise, And The One That Shocked Me
      • Jim Fitzgerald 2016 >
        • Bunch of Sore Loser Crybabies (No, Not You...THEM!)
        • Look At Those Marbles!
        • I Guess We Can Discuss "Playoffs" Now...
        • How Many More Beatings...
        • Dover ~ A Bitter Sweet Relief
        • NHRA Sizzles While NASCAR Fizzles?
        • Out Of Focus: The 2016 Championship Picture
        • Ignorant Fans Of A Feather Are Dumb Together
        • That Final Lap
        • Blame Kyle Busch
        • I Thought The Daytona 500 Was...
        • Caution Clocks, Chase Formats, Heat Races, and Knee-Jerk Reactions
        • Don’t Know What You’ve Got Until It’s Gone
      • Jim Fitzgerald 2015 >
        • A Sunset On 2015
        • OWW! Track Communication
        • Bowyer And Harvick Are In It To Win It
        • A Lap Ahead...
        • Toeing The Line: Let's Argue About Restarts
        • Hot & Heavy ~ Rules, Rules, Rules
        • My Dear, Dear, Uninformed Person Speaking About NASCAR
        • The Day Rusty Wallace Scared The $&@# Out Of My Mom
        • A Lap Around: Hot Topics
        • Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - Three Times A Winner?
        • On The Dover Road
        • All-Star Memories
        • NASCAR Racing: A Team Sport?
        • Cheating The Cat
        • Cheers To The Best Beer Cars!
        • Just Don't Call It The "R" Word
        • Fans Eye View ~ Star Wars And Stock Cars
    • James Crooks >
      • James Crooks 2017 >
        • Why Talladega Scares Me and Why I Love It
        • A Six Pack Down And A Thirty Pack Left To Go
        • In The Year 2525 ~ NASCAR’s New Rule Changes for All Three Top Series
        • Thoughts As We Green Flag The 2017 Season
        • Carl Edwards, The Earnhardts, and Grandpaw
        • Get Off Your Duff and Go to the Track!
      • James Crooks 2016 >
        • All I Want for Christmas is Winston Cup Back!
        • What Happened to Roush-Fenway Racing?
        • Support Your Local Race Track!
        • The Mystery of the History(Did Anyone See It?)
    • David Fulton >
      • David Fulton 2016 >
        • The Unsung NASCAR Drivers
        • When "The Dream Team" Became A Nightmare
        • How One Little Phone Call Helped Shape The Sprint Cup Series We Know Today
        • A Record To Never Be Broken
      • David Fulton 2015 >
        • Hey Dale, What's For Dinner?
        • A German In Dale Earnhardt's Ford
        • Darel Dieringer: Boomer and a Man for All Seasons
        • A Day For Veterans
        • A Day At The Races With Big Bill France
        • Independents Day
        • Riding The Hound To Darlington
        • Camaraderie Made Racing Special
        • Crafted With Pride In U.S.A
        • Race Trains And Peach Blossoms
        • Richmond Planted Seeds With Youth To Grow Fans Of The Future
        • My NC Back Roads Journey Unearthed a Petty Family Remembrance…
        • A Tale Of Dale And A Great Old Girl
    • Jeremiah Thalheimer >
      • Jeremiah Thalheimer 2016 >
        • A Day In The Life Of A NASCAR Official
        • Move Over Football - NASCAR Is The Real Family
        • The Ultimate All-Star Format
        • Six Years, One Dream
        • The Faith Of NASCAR
        • The Benefits of the Current Sponsorship Climate
        • Up And Coming: Christopher Hogan
        • Dale Earnhardt: What Might Have Been
        • Sterling Marlin: What Might Have Been
        • Casey Atwood: What Might Have Been
        • Kenny Irwin, Jr: What Might Have Been
      • Jeremiah Thalheimer 2015 >
        • Ernie Irvan: What Might Have Been
        • Davey Allison: What Might Have Been
        • Alan Kulwicki: What Might Have Been
        • A Case For The Chase
        • A Four Year Old's View Of The Greatest Race Of All Time
        • A Phoenix Fan Memory
        • Does NASCAR = Baseball?
        • The New Souvenir Experience
        • A Review of NASCAR in the Heartland
        • The Psychology Of NASCAR
        • When Our Heroes Hang It Up
        • The Time I Helped Tony Stewart Win at Daytona
        • How Richard Petty Made Me a Lifelong NASCAR Fan
        • Why NASCAR Is Better Than Pro Football
        • The Plight Of Local Racing
        • What Was The Greatest Fight In Racing?
        • How To Make A Race Fan In Ten Minutes Or Less
        • Short Track Racing With Lightning McQueen
        • One Of The Greatest Comebacks In Racing
        • NASCAR Memories
        • Legends Never Die
        • For The Love Of Racing, Part II
        • For The Love Of Racing, Part I
        • Bobby Hamilton Was My Favorite
    • Kevin Abraham >
      • Kevin Abraham 2015 >
        • The Shift: The Chase, Cheating, And Short Tracks
        • The Shift: Changing Of The Guard, Kurt Busch, And Domination
    • David Allen >
      • David Allen 2014
    • Robyn Vandenberg >
      • Robyn Vandenberg 2014 >
        • NASCAR's Little Prince
        • How Would NASCAR Handle A "Sterling" Situation?
        • NASCAR Fans: Gotta Love 'Em!
        • When Was The Last Time You Thought Of Kenny?
        • NASCAR Races: Rigged?
        • Dale Jr. Is On Twitter And Taking Over!
        • Hey, What Are You Doing This Weekend?
        • I Am A NASCAR Fan
        • An Apology To Brad Keselowski
  • RaceFansForever
  • Race Fans Forever Home
  • Race Info Center
  • Roar Of The Crowd ~ Fan Forum
  • About/Write For Race Fans Forever
  • Buddy's Page
  • RFF Fantasy Racing Game
    • 2018 Fantasy Game >
      • Fantasy Picks ~ Richmond
      • Fantasy Picks ~ Bristol
      • Fantasy Picks ~ Texas
      • Fantasy Picks ~ Martinsville
      • Fantasy Picks ~ Auto Club
      • Fantasy Picks ~ ISM
      • Fantasy Picks - Las Vegas
      • Fantasy Picks - Atlanta
  • Guest Appearance Writers
    • Story of a Lucky Penny and the Underbird
    • Earnhardt and Childress ~ Round 1
  • PattyKay Lilley
    • PattyKay Lilley 2018 >
      • We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Us
      • All the News Unfit to Print~ All-Star Edition
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ No One Is Listening
      • Alan Kulwicki Will Always Be a Champion
      • 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame ~ Selections and Elections
      • Fontana to Martinsville and All About the Fan Experience
      • Kevin Harvick Is Right ~ Grass Roots Racing Does Matter
      • The Road Less Traveled
      • Surefire Cost Cutting Ideas for NASCAR
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Too Much Is More than Enough
      • I Remember You ~ My Personal Tribute to Dale Earnhardt
      • An Earnhardt Kind of Day
      • Remembering Neil Bonnett
      • Daytona Fever
      • NASCAR Looked the Other Way
      • A Look in the Rear View Mirror ~ Keith Jackson
      • The Product Is Encumbered and Therefore Not Marketable
      • Its January Already
      • The Perfect Storm and a Sad Farewell
    • PattyKay Lilley 2017 >
      • That Time between Christmas and Daytona
      • The Christmas Story My Mother Told ~ 2017
      • I Still Believe in Santa Claus ~ Jimmy Spencer
      • A Defining Moment in NASCAR History
      • Remembering the Final Winston Cup Banquet ~ 2017
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Dont Believe Your Lying Eyes
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ One Last Ride
      • As the 2017 Season Draws to a Close
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Who Is Not Speaking to Whom?
      • The Little Track by the Railroad Track
      • NASCAR Goes Country
      • Tales of the Talladega Curse ~ 2017
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Sad Times and Poor Broadcasting
      • Not One Knee Was Taken During Solemn Prerace Ceremonies at Dover
      • The White Cliffs of Dover ~ Delaware
      • History Holds the Back Story ~ RPM
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Someone Ought to Say It!
      • Characters Add Character to Racing
      • In Darlington, Everything Old Is New Again
      • Remember When NASCAR Was All About the Fans?
      • From Michigan to Richmond and All Points In-between
      • Racing at the Glen and Millennials Can Learn from Geezers
      • When the Points Arent the Points and 2+2 Doesnt Equal 4
      • When Rednecks Ran NASCAR
      • Dear Brent Dewar, About That Star Mangled Banner
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Silly Season Is Only Silly for Some
      • Looking Back ~ A View from the Rearview
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ On Road Racing and Dirt Racing
      • Defeat Snatched from the Jaws of Victory
      • Ninety Miles an Hour down a Dead End Street
      • The Good, the Bad and the Intolerable
      • Verrrry Interesting
      • D-Day Demolition Derby at Dover
      • Memorial Day Means So Much More than Racing ~ 2017
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ NASCAR Why Do You Refuse to Listen?
      • A Tale of Two Weekends
      • Remember Adam Petty
      • Truth Will Always Serve Better than a Good Story
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Vaya con Dios
      • It’s Bristol Baby, but Which Bristol?
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ When Enough Becomes Too Much
      • A Sunday Drive, Texas Style
      • One Helluva Good Race; Sorry You Missed It
      • As Requested By the Fans… and Other Fairytales
      • Smokey Yunick Belongs in the NASCAR Hall of Fame
      • NASCAR Hall of Fame ~ Selections and Elections
      • Some Facts Are Indisputable and Some Folks Enjoy Being Unhappy
      • At Daytona, Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop
      • A Few More Nicknames and Some Quaint Quotes
      • Nicknames in Racing Have to Be Earned
      • Drivers, Please Start Your Engines
      • The Voice of One Fan Only
      • Fly on the Wall ~ Speaking of Carl Edwards
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Hopefully the Voice of Reason
      • U.S. Nationals, and We Are Not Talking Drag Racing Here
    • PattyKay Lilley 2016 >
      • The Christmas Story as My Mother Told It
      • We’re Gonna Miss the Man Called Smoke
      • The New Twelve Days of a NASCAR Christmas
      • Remembering The Final Winston Cup Banquet
      • Let’s Talk About Indy Instead of Homestead
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Why All The Secrecy?
      • Martinsville ~ FUBAR
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ And the Fans Need to Be Heard!
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ NASCAR Doesn’t Love Me Anymore
      • Under The Charlotte Lights...Again ~ Lady in Black
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ A Question For Brian Z. France
      • Who’s Abbott, Who’s Costello and Who’s on First
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Where Have All The Race Fans Gone?
      • Throwback ~ The Lady In Black
      • Throwbacks and Tributes and Memories, Oh My
      • Someone Asked About the History of North Wilkesboro
      • Mid-Ohio Mayhem ~ All In Fun
      • His Name Is Waddell Wilson ~ Remember That Name
      • J. D. McDuffie ~ Lived and Died for Racing
      • Attendance and Ratings ~ Do They Matter?
      • Winston/Nextel/Sprint Cup ~ What Comes Next?
      • Davey in Retrospect
      • Twisted Sheet Metal and How A Race Should End
      • Is NASCAR For Sale?
      • Wreckin on the Road ~ Lady in Black
      • Marty Robbins ~ NASCAR Balladeer
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Those Silly Ol’ Lug Nuts
      • Junie Donlavey ~ True Pioneer of NASCAR
      • Tim Richmond ~ Right to the Bitter End and Beyond
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ The Penthouse and the Outhouse
      • Memorial Day Means More than Just Racing
      • Dover - The Good The Bad and the Unacceptable
      • Down Memory Lane ~ Smokey Yunick
      • Best Damn Garage In Town
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Talladega: Too Much of a Bad Thing
      • Tales Of The Talladega Curse
      • A Few Words About The Old Bristol
      • NASCAR Hall of Fame ~ How the Election Process Works
      • A Sunday Drive, Texas Style with the Lady in Black
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Where Have All the Fans Gone?
      • Alan Kulwicki - Always A Champion
      • Volkswagen Isnt Just a Bug Anymore
      • Racing Is For The Young As Well As The Old
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ From The Desert To The Mountains
      • Would You Like Fries With That?
      • A Few Words on Flag Etiquette
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Great Racing But Poor Coverage
      • Leaving Daytona And Headed For Atlanta
      • Dale Earnhardt ~ I Remember You
      • Charter of Franchise, It's All Good
      • Neil Bonnett: Racer, Broadcaster, Legend, And Man
      • A Racer For All Seasons!
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Six Generations Of Cars And Fans
      • Curtis Turner Inducted Into NASCAR Hall Of Fame
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Improving The Fan Experience
      • The Official Everything Of NASCAR
    • PattyKay Lilley 2015 >
      • It’s Hard to Say Goodbye to So Much Talent
      • The Christmas Story My Mother Told
      • And How Would You Like That Dashboard: Analog or Digital?
      • The Twelve Days of a NASCAR Christmas
      • Who You Callin' A Rookie?
      • And Then There Were Four
      • There Really Was A Race In Texas
      • A Twilight Happy Ending And Sunshine On The Horizon
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ The Luck of Austin Theriault
      • What It Wasn't, Was A Restart
      • Playing The Blame Game
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Am I Still A Race Fan?
      • Under The Charlotte Lights With The Lady in Black
      • It's Probably Not Safe If It's Not SAFER
      • Missing: Race Teams And Sponsors!
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Getting Started, Word Games and Playoffs
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ What Happens When Racing Becomes Soporific?
      • Darlington In The Rearview And Richmond Right Up The Road
      • The Lady in Black at the Riot in Richmond
      • Retro ~ Everything Old is New Again at Darlington
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ So Much Happening And Most Of It Bad
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Actions Detrimental
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Fans Have Some Responsibility, Too
      • The Passing Of A Giant
      • Something Happened At Pocono That Almost Everyone Missed
      • Kissing The Bricks With The Lady In Black
      • Time To Say Goodbye, To A Track And To A Man
      • The Brickyard 400 In The Rearview ~ What Happened?
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Leaving Sparta For Loudon
      • Logic 101 ~ When in Doubt, Rely on Common Sense
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Kentucky Speedway Needs To Be SAFER
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Fireworks At The Firecracker
      • Some Things Just Aren't News
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ On The Road Again
      • NASCAR Fans Didn't Fit The Stereotype
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ A Fan's View On The State Of The Sport
      • The Lady In Black Pokes Fun At Pocono
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ No One Knows What Goes On Behind Closed Doors
      • One LAP UP With The Lady In Black
      • Making Racing Safer With SAFER
      • Memorial Day Should Mean More Than Racing
      • Showdowns, Trucks, A Starlit Night, And A Couple Guys Named Smith
      • Remembering Adam Petty
      • A Lady Makes Her Debut, And We're Not Any SAFER In Kansas, Toto.
      • Talladega ~ The Curse And SAFER Barriers
      • Pretty Words And Strong Words: Steve Byrnes And SAFER Barriers
      • Bristol, By Any Other Name
      • The NASCAR Hall Of Fame ~ How It Works
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Old Races And New Walls
      • The Lady In Black - The Magic Of Martinsville
      • Revisiting Martinsville, Without Jesse Jones
      • The Lady In Black - The Fontana Furnace
      • Sometimes, You Just Have To Laugh
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Our Drivers DeserveThe Safety Of SAFER
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Send In The Clowns
      • SAFER! Just Do It!
      • The Choices of NASCAR, February 18th, And A Million Points Of Light
      • A Perfect Storm And A Sad Farewell
      • They Didn't Have To Go That Way
      • I Fought The Law And The Law Lost!
      • A Voice For The Fans No More
      • The Day The Vortex Theory Was Tested
      • Do We Miss Daytona Testing
      • Autographs And Memories
      • Always Hoping For A Happy New Year
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ A Cup Full Of Snow
  • Frank Buhrman
    • 2018 Frank Buhrman >
      • NASCAR Needs More Racers Like Those Who Came Up Through the ASA
      • Does Our Future Keep Going Around in Circles Or Will Other Options Bring the Fans Back
      • In Chartered NASCAR Theres No Room for Guys Like Texan H.B. Bailey
      • Sponsors ~ Who Are They and What Do They Do
      • Its Martinsville ~ Let the REAL Racing Begin
      • Maybe its NASCARs Inspection Process that Really Needs Inspecting
      • Las Vegas’ NASCAR Success Blessed By the Spirit of the Late Mel Larson
      • Stock Car Racing Magazine ~ Lessons Learned from Old Covers
      • Celebrate the Trophy and Money, Daytona Winner, but Don’t Count on Winning that Cup
      • Strollin Down the Beach
      • How About a Swap?
      • The Chili Bowl
      • They May Be Tomorrows NASCAR Stars, But Are They Anybodys Heroes
    • Frank Buhrman 2017 >
      • Make This a Christmas to Remember!
      • Winters Cold Is Colder without Racing. What Can We Do to Get Some
      • A New Champion - and One from NASCARs Infancy
      • Old Stats Are Fun, but They Shot Down a Good Theory
      • Martinsville Went Right, So What Keeps Going Wrong?
      • A Field of Dreams that Never Came True
      • Do NASCAR’s Screw-ups Even Matter If Motorsports Have No Future?
      • Does Speed Make the Speed-Sport More Exciting?
      • My Intro to Charlotte Motor Speedway
      • Racing Grand Nationals Once Meant Prepping Your Car in a Hurry
      • Driver Development Programs Need to Get the Gong
      • Drawing Attention to NASCAR in a Good Way
      • Little Joe, Junior, Gentleman Ned and Mr. Modified on Fairgrounds Dirt
      • Darlington ~ Back Then, It Was Something Special
      • Where Else Has NASCAR Raced in These States?
      • The Formula for Success is Not Obvious in Appealing to Millennials
      • Will NASCAR’s Aging Fans Demand that Medicare Pay for More Comfy Seats at the Speedway?
      • Kyle Larson Wins Races of All Kinds, and He Might Just Save NASCAR
      • With Writers and Racetracks, Age Can Be Everything
      • NASCAR Has It All, So Why Am I Happy Watching the Races at Lizard Creek?
      • Wood Brothers + Blaney = Good News for NASCAR
      • Who Could Make NASCAR A Little Spicier?
      • A Little Ramble in Delaware
      • Not The Masters, But the Wood Brothers Truly Have a Tradition like None Other
      • Speeds Were Slower, Drivers Still Came and Went, and NASCAR Survived
      • A Quick Surf Through NASCAR History
      • More than the Loss of a Great Driver
      • Little Martinsville Is the Monster Track of NASCAR Cup Series History
      • California Not So “Golden” A NASCAR State
      • Franks Guide to How to Fix All That Ails NASCAR
      • A Little Vegas History and Long Trips to Races
      • The Real Dirt on Atlanta’s Racing Past
      • Would More Fans Watch if a “500” Was a “Triathlon?”
      • Media Coverage Today Could Be A Lot Worse
      • Another Link between Short Tracks and What Ails NASCAR
      • Lets Go Back To The Old Definition Of Cheating
    • Frank Buhrman 2016 >
      • Bringing Back the Excitement – One Fan’s Ideas
      • Racing Road Trip: Let’s Head to… Where?
      • Bring Cup Racers Back to the Bullrings
      • Discover Some "Mud Roots" Racing!
      • Memories, Gripes and Maybe a Little Dreamin
      • Frank Likes The Chase...Kind Of
      • 1960's: NASCAR's Northern Tour
      • Chicago: The First Races In The Second City
      • Richmond "Action": Then And Now
      • 1950 To Now: Ladies Attack The Lady In Black
      • Radical Thought: Let Drivers Develop Themselves
      • 1967: With Lower Banking And Smaller Crowds, Bristol Was Still A Big Deal
      • Coverage of Racing Has Changed With The Sport
      • More Bluegrass Than Green Flags For NASCAR In Kentucky
      • The Day Goliath Roared (sort-of) In NASCAR Racing
      • Is A Blast From The Past What NASCAR Needs In The Future
      • Give a Nod to Larry LoPatin for NASCAR Motors in the Motor State
      • Pondering Racing’s Future in Charlotte . . . and Trumansburg
      • Frank's Loose Lugnuts
      • Fix it, Forget it, or Let Nature Run its Course
      • Oh, The Yellow Flag of Texas
      • A New Track, Some Old Memories . . . But Where is the Lake
      • Let’s Have A Sprint Cup ‘Blindfold Race,’ With Donald Trump Guiding Who?
      • Maybe The Ghost of "Fireball" Can Call The Auto Club 400 Winner
      • It ain’t like it used to be . . . (and sometimes that’s a good thing)
      • Sure, Atlanta Can Be Cold In February, But Remember Richmond?
  • Vivian Simons
    • Vivian Simons 2018 >
      • The Fan Experience
      • Where Were You When
      • Young Racers vs Kyle Busch
      • Daytona Has Come and Gone - Part 2
      • Daytona Has Come and Gone - Part 1
      • Hey Have You Heard the News
      • Daytona Memories - Again
      • Vehicles and Life Must Change
    • Vivian Simons 2017 >
      • Christmas Wishes to Our Staff
      • Old Versus New - History and Memories
      • Musings During the Off-Season in NASCAR - Again
      • It Is What It Is!
      • Sponsors, Drivers, Tracks & NASCAR
      • Some Funny Things Happened on the Way to the Playoffs
      • Is It a Race or a Show?
      • I Am a Race Fan that Wants to See the Race!
      • Road Course Ringers ~ Are They a Good or a Bad Thing?
      • Phases & Memories = Good Old Days By An Older Fan
      • Who's Gonna Fill Their Seats?
      • Is the Cup Half Full or Half Empty?
      • Observations from the Atlanta Races
      • Musings During the Off-Season in NASCAR
    • Vivian Simons 2016 >
      • Christmas Wishes
      • Is It Racing Or Just A Show?
      • Drivers Or Racers
      • And So It Came To Be
      • The Trucks, The New Chase, And The School Yard Bully
      • The Chase Is Coming! The Chase Is Coming!
      • Parity...Or Toyota Domination?
      • Invasion Of The Lower Tier Victory Snatchers!
      • High Banks and Memory Banks
      • A Road Course Is A Course (Of Course, Of Course...)
      • What Sort of Race Fan Are You?
      • NASCAR Hall Of Fame Or Hall Of Fave?
      • NASCAR's Generation Gap
      • Tony Stewart, NASCAR and Lug Nuts
      • Racing 101
      • Television Coverage Of NASCAR Racing
      • Is The Xfinity Series Fair?
      • Follow The Leader
      • Daytona Memories
    • Vivian Simons 2015 >
      • Addiction, Disillusionment, And Conforming
  • David Nance
    • David Nance 2018 >
      • There Is No Racing This Weekend
      • Martinsville Inspection Procedures = New Crew Chiefs by Friday
      • For a Moment All Was Right with the Racing World
      • Oh Where Oh Where Is NASCARs Driver Alert System
      • Qualifying Concept Long Overdue - Race for the Green
    • David Nance 2017 >
      • Thank You Bud
      • All about the Price Tag
      • And the Real True Playoff Winner Is
      • The Perfect Storm
      • If We Are Going to Have a Playoff, Make It a Real One
      • Outrunning the Bear
      • Level Playing Fields Not Until All Winners Face R &D Inspections
      • Is It Time For Encumbered Starts?
      • Kevin, I Dont Believe Ida Told That
      • And Stomped that Sucker Flat!
      • A Sons First Race… Through the Eyes of a Dad
      • Take Em To The Fence
      • Kyle's Mic Drop ~ Just One of Those Racing Deals
      • Remember When DW Was Monster Energy?
      • We Have Ourselves A Summit!
      • The Hunt for the NASCAR Canary
      • Penalties ~ DW Had A Better Idea
      • If FOX Covered the Kentucky Derby
      • Media Coverage Today Could Be a Lot Better
      • The Week in NASCAR - Opportunity Lost
      • Will Karma Smile on NASCAR?
      • Gentlemen... Start... Your... Commercials
      • The Untold Story of How the New Race Format Came To Be
      • Another Look at Attendance
    • David Nance 2016 >
      • Holiday Leftovers ~ Let Cooter Be Cooter
      • Holiday Leftovers ~ All I Want For Christmas
      • Holiday Leftovers ~ Grand Prix Memories
      • 20-20 + Monster Energy = Race For the Green
      • Please Let It Be Rain
      • It's Just Not Right
      • More Chase, Baby!
      • Three Laws
      • 20-20: The Rest Of The Story
      • Take A Chance, Mr. France
      • Time For A New Chase
      • And That Was Fr'istol!
  • J. L. Steele
    • J.L. Steele 2018 >
      • Back to the Future
      • Predictions and Wishes ~ Through a Hazy Crystal Ball
    • J. L. Steele 2017 >
      • A NASCAR Fans Letter to Santa
      • 2017 in the Rear View Mirror
      • A Sign of the Bad Times
      • Ken Squier at Darlington
      • Thoughts, Opinions and Rumors - Oh My!
      • Leave Junior Alone!
      • Kyle Busch is Exactly What NASCAR Needs
      • Let’s Save the Truck Series
    • J. L. Steele 2016 >
      • Brian's Big Monday
      • A Wishing Well And A Crystal Ball
      • A Parting Gift For Stewart
      • A Perfect Voice For A Perfect Time
      • Growth By Subtraction
    • J. L. Steele 2015 >
      • Meet The Racing Marine
      • A Race Fan's Christmas Wish List
      • Sunset At Martinsville
      • The Michael Waltrip Dilemma
      • The Rich Keep Getting Richer, While The Xfinity Series Dies
      • The Last Perfect Night
      • Sponsoring Drivers With Sponsor Drivers Motorsports Marketing
      • Halfway(?) Home...
      • The Essence Of Racing
      • Ranking The Truex Win
      • Visiting Victory Lane
      • The Silver Lining
      • Smoke Will Rise
      • No Comparison When Comparing Newman and Bowyer
      • Advice For Race Tracks
      • Making A Case For Kahne
      • Support Your Local Short Track
      • SAFE Is A Four Letter Word
      • Dinner With D.W.
      • Gordon's Greatness
      • Wendell Scott - Leader Of The Class
      • We Shook Earnhardt's Hand
      • Show Me The Money! (And Where It Comes From)
      • The King And I
  • Mitch Walker
    • Mitch Walker 2018 >
      • Its History, Like It or Not
      • Once the Local Tracks Are Gone
      • Kevin Harvick Gets It!
      • Racing, Broadcasting, Blocking and the Win ~ All Bad
      • Lets Go Racin
      • Untold Stories ~ Hidden History
    • Mitch Walker 2017 >
      • The Son of a Country Boy; the Son of a Champion
      • You Dont Tug on Supermans Cape
      • How It All Got Started
      • What Drove the Core Fans Away?
      • Who Benefits from the Decline in NASCAR Attendance?
      • Old School: Lessons By Legends
      • The Drs Script for the Ails of NASCAR
  • Tim Leeming
    • Tim Leeming 2018 >
      • The Magic Window ~ Closing It Up
      • The Magic Window ~ Chapter 8 The Phone Rings Again and Ford Has a Better Idea
      • The Magic Window~ Chapter Seven - More Damage Than First Appeared. One Shot Deal, NASCAR
      • The Magic Window ~ Chapter Six New Season, New Colors, New Number, New Sponsor, Wow!
      • The Magic Window ~ Chapter Five Things Called Spacers and a Menace Named Dennis
      • The Magic Window ~ Chapter Four From Disaster to Faster but Caught in a Clutch
      • The Magic Window ~ Chapter Three The Kid Gets a Name and the King Comes to Town
      • The Magic Window ~ Chapter Two Trailers, Late Night Talks and High Banked Asphalt
      • That Magic Window You Climb Through
      • How to Become Popular with Georgia Law Enforcement
      • Is Time Travel Possible?
      • Theres a Sign Post Up Ahead
      • An Uncles Legacy to His Nephew
    • Tim Leeming 2017 >
      • My Name Is Not Important
      • The Darlington Shocker
      • The Eclipse and a Race Car
      • Lil Bud Moore Tribute
      • The Sly FOX (Sports Network)
  • Matt McLaughlin - Anniversary Edition - 50 Years of NASCAR Racing
    • #32 - Swervin' Irvan and the Second Generation
    • #31 - Daytona - Little Cars and Big Bucks
    • #30 - Heart Stoppers, Heart Breakers and Heart Warmers
    • #29 - The Factories Go Home and Petty Goes on a Tear
    • #28 - The Daytona 500 1965-1970
    • #27 - The Daytona 500 ~ 1960-1964
    • #26 - Beyond the Beach - The First Daytona 500
    • #25 - Racing on the Beach
    • #24 - Larry LoPatin and American Raceways
    • #23 - Fuelish Pride
    • #22 - The Day the Music Almost Died
    • #21 - DW and DiGard ~ Breaking Up is Hard to Do
    • #20 - Winston to the Rescue
    • #19 - Charlotte ~ 1964 Drama & Danger - Part 2
    • #18 - Charlotte ~ 1964 Drama & Danger - Part 1
    • #17 - In the Beginning
    • #16 - Ford Strikes Out - The 1966 Boycott
    • #15 - Before he was Awesome
    • #14 - 1965 ~ Chrysler Plays Hardball
    • #13 - A Million to One
    • #12 - Seven up ~ The King Wins his Seventh Title
    • #11 - The Great Spoiler Debate of 1981
    • #10 - The Original Golden Boy
    • #9 - The Greatest Race Ever
    • #8 – The Petty-Allison Feud
    • #7 - The First Super Team
    • #6 - By the Time I Get to Phoenix
    • #5 - 1967 ~ Richard Petty Becomes The King
    • #4 - Charlotte ~ Bright Lights and Dark Days
    • #3 - Those Cheatin Ways
    • #2 - The Talladega Curse
    • #1 - Showdown in Alabama
  • Matt McLaughlin's "50 Years Of NASCAR Racing"
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 2 (Post 101)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 1 (Post 100)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Alan Kulwicki: Running Down A Dream (Post 99)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Hickory Wind Blows Cold (Post 98)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ David Slays Goliath (Post 97)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Until The Fat Lady Sings (Post 96)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Charlotte In The Fall (Post 95)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ One Magical Season, Part 3 (Post 94)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ One Magical Season, Part 2 (Post 93)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ One Magical Season, Part 1 (Post 92)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Remembering Davey, Part 2 (Post 91)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Remembering Davey, Part 1 (Post 90)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Bump And Grind (Post 89)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ High Stakes On The High Banks (Post 88)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Fall Of Richmond (Post 87)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Southern 500: The Grandaddy Of Them All, Part 6 (Post 86)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Southern 500: The Grandaddy Of Them All, Part 5 (Post 85)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Southern 500: The Grandaddy Of Them All, Part 4 (Post 84)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Southern 500: The Grandaddy Of Them All, Part 3 (Post 83)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Southern 500: The Grandaddy Of Them All, Part 2 (Post 82)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Southern 500: The Grandaddy Of Them All, Part 1 (Post 81)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Better Get Back To Tennessee, Jed (Post 80)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ MPH, Not MPG: The Michigan Of Old (Post 79)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Controversy-Let It Rage, Part 2 (Post 78)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Controversy-Let It Rage, Part 1 (Post 77)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Road Warriors (Post 76)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Hot Fun In The Summertime (Post 75)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Hallowed Ground (Post 74)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Hotter Than The 4th Of July (Post 73)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Close But No Cigar (Post 72)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ My One And Only, Part 2 (Post 72)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ My One And Only, Part 1 (Post 70)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ You Never Forget Your First, Part 3 (Post 69)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ You Never Forget Your First, Part 2 (Post 68)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ You Never Forget Your First, Part 1 (Post 67)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Road Rage (Post 66)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Triumph, Tragedy, And The Tunnel Turn (Post 65)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Luck Of The Irish (Post 64)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Islip: Long Island Speedway (Post 63)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Richmond, The Pettys, And The Evolution Of NASCAR (Post 62)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Kid Lightning (Post 60)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Temper, Temper! Part 2 (Post 59)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Temper, Temper! Part 1 (Post 58)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Monster Is Coming! (Post 57)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The World 600 (Post 56)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Winston: Checkers Or Wreckers (Post 55)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Occoneechee Speedway (Post 54)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Trenton: The Speedway Of The North (Post 53)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Texas World Speedway: Field Of Shattered Dreams (Post 52)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Ontario: The Best Laid Plans... (Post 51)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Do You Feel A Draft? (Post 50)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Martinsville In The Spring (Post 49)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Hickory: The Birthplace Of Legends (Post 48)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Oddities: Short Takes, Part 2 (Post 47)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Oddities: The Bizarre and Peculiar (Post 46)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ North Wilkesboro (Post 45)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Ford-Chrysler Duel (Post 44)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Bristol Stomp (Post 43)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Big Blocks, Bickering, And Bill (Post 42)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Tim Richmond: The Reason We Remember, Part 2 (Post 41)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Tim Richmond: The Reason We Remember, Part 1 (Post 40)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Too Tough To Tame For Too Long To Remember (Post 39)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Tales From Days Of Yore (Post 38)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Atlanta Motor Speedway (Post 37)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ J.D. Stacy (Post 36)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Viva Las Vegas (Post 35)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Rock (Post 34)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Daytona 500: 1994 - 1997 (Post 33)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Swervin' Irvan And The Second Generation (Post 32)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Daytona: Little Cars And Big Bucks (Post 31)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Heart-Breakers, Heart-Stoppers, And Heart-Warmers (Post 30)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Factories Go Away And Petty Goes On A Tear (Post 29)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Daytona 500: 1965-1970 (Post 28)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Daytona 500: 1960-1964 (Post 27)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Beyond The Beach: The First Daytona 500 (Post 26)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Racing On The Beach (Post 25)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Larry LoPatin And American Raceways (Post 24)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Fuelish Pride (Post 23)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Day The Music Almost Died (Post 22)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ DW And DiGard: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (Post 21)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Winston To The Rescue (Post 20)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Charlotte 1964: Drama And Danger, Part 2 (Post 19)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Charlotte 1964: Drama And Danger, Part 1 (Post 18)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ In The Beginning (Post 17)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Ford Strikes Out: The 1966 Boycott (Post 16)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Before He Was Awesome (Post 15)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ 1965: Chrysler Plays Hardball (Post 14)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ A Million To One (Post 13)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Seven Up: The King Wins His Seventh Title (Post 12)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Great Spoiler Debate Of 1981 (Post 11)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Original Golden Boy (Post 10)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Greatest Race Ever (Post 9)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Petty/Allison Feud (Post 8)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The First Super Team (Post 7)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ By The Time I Get To Phoenix (Post 6)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ 1967: Richard Petty Becomes The King (Post 5)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Charlotte: Bright Lights And Dark Days (Post 4)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Those Cheatin' Ways (Post 3)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ The Talladega Curse (Post 2)
    • 50 Years Of NASCAR Racing ~ Showdown In Alabama (Post 1)
  • Season Previews
    • 2017 Season Previews >
      • 2017 Season Preview - Part 3
      • 2017 Season Preview - Part 2
      • 2017 Season Preview - Part 1
    • 2016 Season Previews >
      • Fast Forward Season Preview Part 3 - Buescher To McDowell/Dillon
      • Fast Forward Season Preview Part 2 - Biffle To Earnhardt
      • Fast Forward 2016 Season Preview Part 1 - McMurray To Bowyer
    • 2015 Season Previews >
      • Fast Forward Season Preview Part 1 - McMurray To Biffle
      • Fast Forward Season Preview Part 2 - Stenhouse To Gilliland
      • Fast Forward Season Preview Part 3 - Cassill To Earnhardt, Jr.
  • "Tiger" Tom Pistone ~ Racing, Now And Then
  • Previous Columnists
    • Jim Fitzgerald >
      • Jim Fitzgerald 2017 >
        • The Cup Series Is Revisiting A "Monster" From Its Checkered Past
        • Ode, To The Cup Series
        • When Do We Start Hating On Kyle Larson?
        • Attendance And The Worst Excuse Ever
        • The One I Knew About, The One That Was A Surprise, And The One That Shocked Me
      • Jim Fitzgerald 2016 >
        • Bunch of Sore Loser Crybabies (No, Not You...THEM!)
        • Look At Those Marbles!
        • I Guess We Can Discuss "Playoffs" Now...
        • How Many More Beatings...
        • Dover ~ A Bitter Sweet Relief
        • NHRA Sizzles While NASCAR Fizzles?
        • Out Of Focus: The 2016 Championship Picture
        • Ignorant Fans Of A Feather Are Dumb Together
        • That Final Lap
        • Blame Kyle Busch
        • I Thought The Daytona 500 Was...
        • Caution Clocks, Chase Formats, Heat Races, and Knee-Jerk Reactions
        • Don’t Know What You’ve Got Until It’s Gone
      • Jim Fitzgerald 2015 >
        • A Sunset On 2015
        • OWW! Track Communication
        • Bowyer And Harvick Are In It To Win It
        • A Lap Ahead...
        • Toeing The Line: Let's Argue About Restarts
        • Hot & Heavy ~ Rules, Rules, Rules
        • My Dear, Dear, Uninformed Person Speaking About NASCAR
        • The Day Rusty Wallace Scared The $&@# Out Of My Mom
        • A Lap Around: Hot Topics
        • Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - Three Times A Winner?
        • On The Dover Road
        • All-Star Memories
        • NASCAR Racing: A Team Sport?
        • Cheating The Cat
        • Cheers To The Best Beer Cars!
        • Just Don't Call It The "R" Word
        • Fans Eye View ~ Star Wars And Stock Cars
    • James Crooks >
      • James Crooks 2017 >
        • Why Talladega Scares Me and Why I Love It
        • A Six Pack Down And A Thirty Pack Left To Go
        • In The Year 2525 ~ NASCAR’s New Rule Changes for All Three Top Series
        • Thoughts As We Green Flag The 2017 Season
        • Carl Edwards, The Earnhardts, and Grandpaw
        • Get Off Your Duff and Go to the Track!
      • James Crooks 2016 >
        • All I Want for Christmas is Winston Cup Back!
        • What Happened to Roush-Fenway Racing?
        • Support Your Local Race Track!
        • The Mystery of the History(Did Anyone See It?)
    • David Fulton >
      • David Fulton 2016 >
        • The Unsung NASCAR Drivers
        • When "The Dream Team" Became A Nightmare
        • How One Little Phone Call Helped Shape The Sprint Cup Series We Know Today
        • A Record To Never Be Broken
      • David Fulton 2015 >
        • Hey Dale, What's For Dinner?
        • A German In Dale Earnhardt's Ford
        • Darel Dieringer: Boomer and a Man for All Seasons
        • A Day For Veterans
        • A Day At The Races With Big Bill France
        • Independents Day
        • Riding The Hound To Darlington
        • Camaraderie Made Racing Special
        • Crafted With Pride In U.S.A
        • Race Trains And Peach Blossoms
        • Richmond Planted Seeds With Youth To Grow Fans Of The Future
        • My NC Back Roads Journey Unearthed a Petty Family Remembrance…
        • A Tale Of Dale And A Great Old Girl
    • Jeremiah Thalheimer >
      • Jeremiah Thalheimer 2016 >
        • A Day In The Life Of A NASCAR Official
        • Move Over Football - NASCAR Is The Real Family
        • The Ultimate All-Star Format
        • Six Years, One Dream
        • The Faith Of NASCAR
        • The Benefits of the Current Sponsorship Climate
        • Up And Coming: Christopher Hogan
        • Dale Earnhardt: What Might Have Been
        • Sterling Marlin: What Might Have Been
        • Casey Atwood: What Might Have Been
        • Kenny Irwin, Jr: What Might Have Been
      • Jeremiah Thalheimer 2015 >
        • Ernie Irvan: What Might Have Been
        • Davey Allison: What Might Have Been
        • Alan Kulwicki: What Might Have Been
        • A Case For The Chase
        • A Four Year Old's View Of The Greatest Race Of All Time
        • A Phoenix Fan Memory
        • Does NASCAR = Baseball?
        • The New Souvenir Experience
        • A Review of NASCAR in the Heartland
        • The Psychology Of NASCAR
        • When Our Heroes Hang It Up
        • The Time I Helped Tony Stewart Win at Daytona
        • How Richard Petty Made Me a Lifelong NASCAR Fan
        • Why NASCAR Is Better Than Pro Football
        • The Plight Of Local Racing
        • What Was The Greatest Fight In Racing?
        • How To Make A Race Fan In Ten Minutes Or Less
        • Short Track Racing With Lightning McQueen
        • One Of The Greatest Comebacks In Racing
        • NASCAR Memories
        • Legends Never Die
        • For The Love Of Racing, Part II
        • For The Love Of Racing, Part I
        • Bobby Hamilton Was My Favorite
    • Kevin Abraham >
      • Kevin Abraham 2015 >
        • The Shift: The Chase, Cheating, And Short Tracks
        • The Shift: Changing Of The Guard, Kurt Busch, And Domination
    • David Allen >
      • David Allen 2014
    • Robyn Vandenberg >
      • Robyn Vandenberg 2014 >
        • NASCAR's Little Prince
        • How Would NASCAR Handle A "Sterling" Situation?
        • NASCAR Fans: Gotta Love 'Em!
        • When Was The Last Time You Thought Of Kenny?
        • NASCAR Races: Rigged?
        • Dale Jr. Is On Twitter And Taking Over!
        • Hey, What Are You Doing This Weekend?
        • I Am A NASCAR Fan
        • An Apology To Brad Keselowski
Race Fans Forever

50 Years of nascar racing ~ Tales From Days Of Yore (Post 38)

By Matt McLaughlin
Post 38

 

Editor's note: This article is part of a special reprise of Matt McLaughlin's "50 Years of NASCAR Racing", written and published in 1998 in commemoration of NASCAR's 50th Anniversary celebration that year. Matt has kindly granted me permission to run the entire series. Please, sit back and enjoy as you take a journey back through the pages of history and perhaps relive a memory or two. Many thanks to Matt for his generosity in sharing. God bless you, my friend.

 

 

Take a trip back in time to the days when television and divorce were still rarities, motorcycles were dangerous and sex was safe, and stock cars were…well stock, to the early days of NASCAR. It was a very different time and place, where seemingly anything could happen, and occasionally did, and hopefully these tales and trivial tidbits will help highlight just how different the sport was in its infancy.

 

· Back in the early days the Modified class, not the Grand Nationals, were actually NASCAR's bread and butter, and the sanctioning body came into existence promoting these races, not the "new cars". Typically these race cars were mid to late '30s Fords with hopped up flathead engines, running on dirt short tracks. Buddy Schuman won the biggest Modified race in 1953, run under the lights on the one-mile paved oval in Raleigh, North Carolina. The event was marred by the tragic deaths of two drivers in a first lap crash, after the starter failed to notice a car was stalled in the racing groove on the backstretch and dropped the green flag. Just like these days, Schuman was quick to give credit for his pit crew in victory lane, claiming it was their lightning quick pit stop that gave him the lead. After all, the crew had managed to change two tires and fill the car's fuel tank in only one minute and forty seven seconds, incredibly quick by the standard of the day.

 

· Lee Petty was one of the early superstars in Grand National racing. He won the Grand National Title in 1954, 1958 and 1959, and was in the top four in points every year from the inaugural 1949 season until 1959. He would have won the 1950 championship as well, handily, but in those days there were a lot of sanctioning bodies sponsoring races, and Bill France Sr. was trying to lock in the big name drivers to NASCAR. Any driver who competed in a non-NASCAR sanctioned event lost all the Grand National points he had accumulated to that date, and Petty lost 809 points for running a rival league race during an off weekend in July. Lee also had the dubious honor of being the first driver to wreck in NASCAR's Strictly Stock division (which became the Grand National Division, which in turn became the Winston Cup division.) The incident took place at the very first Strictly Stock race June 19, 1949. Petty had borrowed a neighbor's '46 Buick, and rolled it on the 107th lap. Of course, like his son after him, Lee Petty made his name driving Mopars, particularly Plymouths, and won the first Grand National victories for both Plymouth and Dodge. When we think of Mopar racecars back in the fifties, the ancient 241 Hemi (Granddaddy of the 426 Hemi) comes to mind, but Lee scored his first victories not with a bellowing Hemi, but with a flatulent flathead in line six cylinder capable of cranking out a mere 94 horsepower. The Plymouths didn't get Hemi engines until much later, because they were considered entry-level, basic transportation in those days, much like a Hyundai today. Petty had learned his lesson when he put that elephantine Buick on its lid, and guessed correctly a lighter car would be faster on the deeply rutted dirt tracks that made up the Grand National race schedule of the day...  tracks with ruts so deep that even one of those behemoth big cars of the day would roll over if they hit the ruts sideways, while the lighter Plymouth scooted across them like a bass boat on a choppy lake. Lee Petty was known to have a bit of a temper and he showed it August 4,1956 at a race in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The dust got so bad none of the drivers could see where they were going, so Lee pulled into the pits, climbed up on the starters tower, and red flagged the race after 32 laps. How aggressive a driver was Lee Petty? At the July 18th, 1958 race Lee got annoyed with a driver he was trying to lap and rammed him from the rear putting the other car hard into the wall. That driver was his son Richard, starting his first Grand National race. Lee went on to win the race. Richard finished 17th in a field of 19 cars.

 

· The shortest race in Grand National history in terms of distance was run July 19, 1958 at the Civic stadium in Buffalo New York. The 25-mile race, 100 laps around a quarter mile paved oval, was won in a tick under 32 minutes by Jim Reed. Pole speed that day was set by Rex White at a sizzling 38.6 miles per hour. 7,750 fans were on hand to watch the epic battle.

 

· In the early days of NASCAR racing, the race cars were shod with passenger cars tires just like the ones that came off the racks at Sears or the local filling station. Jim Roper won the first Strictly Stock race in a Lincoln equipped with wide whitewall tires. Image is everything after all, I suppose. Indy car legend Johnny Mantz won the first Southern 500 (the longest stock car race in history to that point) at Darlington on September 4th , 1950. He did so without having to change tires, as he had equipped the Plymouth he co-owned with Bill France with truck tires. Red Bryon suffered 24 flat tires that day on standard passenger car tires, and wound up third. Besides winning the race, that little Plymouth was used all week before the race to run errands around Darlington. The tires were promptly banned after the race….by car owner Bill France. The first legal "specialty" racing tire, featuring an all nylon cord construction to dissipate heat, was introduced by the Pure Oil Company in 1952. A lot of the smaller teams had a tough time affording those race special tires, which cost a princely $37.90 a piece including FET and delivery. A relative bargain by comparison was the first pair of flame retardant overalls introduced that same year by Treesdale Labs, which cost $9.25 according to a racing accessory catalogue of the day.

 

· As NASCAR tried to gain respectability, the sanctioning body sometimes resorted to some strange measures. There was a big race held June 21st, 1953 at the old Langhorne Speedway, a one mile dirt oval which was circular in shape and had no straightaways. That day, foreign cars were allowed to enter, in an attempt to show American cars were as fast and reliable as those foreign exotic jobs. Dick Rathmann upheld American honor by winning the race in his Hudson, and American Iron claimed the top five positions. Also in the top ten was a Jaguar and a pair of Porsches. A bit further back , finishing 19th in the 38 car field, but still running, was Dick Hagey in a Volkswagen Beetle. He took home $40 for this epic achievement, which probably kept his cockroach cult item in gas for a year in those days.

 

· Drivers sometimes got bored during long caution flag periods during a race. Curtis Turner once crashed out of a race under the caution flag while looking down to light a cigarette. Even those qualifying laps can get boring, and what better way to pass the time then to have a passenger handy to chat with? Retired racer and race promoter Joe Littlejohn hopped in the passenger seat of Herb Thomas' Hudson when Herb went out to qualify for Fourth of July 1954 race at Asheville-Weaverville Speedway. Thomas took the pole and went on to win the race…without a passenger of course.

 

· The first Chevy ever to race in a NASCAR Strictly Stock event, raced in the third race of the schedule in Hillsboro, North Carolina, driven by Bill Snowden. By coincidence, it carried the number 3 which Dale Earnhardt has made synonymous with Chevys in NASCAR, and it of course finished….well fifth. I just report em; I don't make em up. The first win for a Chevy came in the 182nd race in NASCAR's top rank, when Fonty Flock won the March 26th,1955 race at Columbia, South Carolina.

 

· Glenn Dunaway was flagged the winner of the very first NASCAR Strictly Stock race that day in June, 1949 where it all began, but his claim to history was done away with when the car was disqualified. NASCAR inspectors discovered a grievous violation of the rules, a small wedge of wood driven between the leaf springs in the left rear of the car. Those blocks of wood were an old moonshiner's trick to stiffen up the spring so the rear of the car wouldn't sag under the load, and Dunaway's car was still active hauling shine when it won the race. The NASCAR rules allowed for absolutely no modifications to the car, other than a plate welded to the right front wheel to keep the lug nuts from pulling through the rims. Incidentally, those small wedges of wood used to stiffen the spring pack were a popular tuning trick in those days. Nowadays tightening down on the coil springs in the rear of the car has the same effect, and thus it is still called, "putting a round of wedge in it."

 

· How long has Ned Jarrett been a part of NASCAR? He ran his first Grand National race at Hickory Speedway August 29th, 1953. Jarrett finished 11th, which sounds pretty good, but there were only 12 cars entered in the event. Having such a small number of cars entered in an event was common in that day. In fact, a race planned for July 1952 in Akron Ohio had to be cancelled because no drivers entered. On the other hand, 82 cars started the 1951 Southern 500 at Darlington. 24 were listed as still running when Herb Thomas took the checkered flag, six and a half hours later.

 

· NASCAR has become synonymous with stock cars, but in 1952, Bill France Senior attempted to start a class running open wheel Indy style cars to compete with the AAA, which sponsored Indianapolis and other such events on the equivalent of the CART or IRL schedule today. (All ovals in those days, mainly dirt tracks, and the cars were front engined, looking more like sprint cars than what most people think of when they think of Indy Cars today.) The big difference between the two was that NASCAR's rules called for strictly stock American built V8 engines, as opposed to the racing Offenhausers that dominated Indy car racing of that day. The first NASCAR "Speedway" event was not an oval or a road course but a top speed run over a mile course on three consecutive days, with the best average winning. Buck Baker took the prize in a Cadillac- sponsored entry. The series was never very popular, either with entrants or the fans, and ran only seven races before France pulled the plug claiming it was because of a nationwide steel strike that made building Speedway cars impossible. Buck Baker was awarded the championship in that Cadillac- powered entry.

 

· While there was a lot of rough driving in those early days, there was also a spirit of Sportsmanship that seems sadly lacking today. Future NASCAR legend, two time Grand National champion, and retired motorcycle racer Joe Weatherly engaged in a spirited duel with Sam DiRusso in a 25-lap NASCAR modified race at Richmond back in 1952. On the last lap, Weatherly got into DiRusso's car and spun him out. After the race Weatherly declined the win, telling NASCAR he was at fault in the wreck, and asking them to give DiRusso the win. DiRusso was allowed to go to winner's circle and collect the trophy and check for the win, but the biggest applause of the day went to Weatherly. After Glenn Dunaway was disqualified from the first Strictly Stock race, a number of his fellow drivers felt he had been treated unfairly and donated a portion of their winnings to him. Dunaway walked away with more money in his pocket than if he had won the race.

 

At present, Matt is not taking email correspondence at Race Fans Forever. If you have comments, please leave them below and he will read them at his leisure. 

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