I always find myself getting amped up over a NASCAR weekend at the Bristol Motor Speedway. The levels of anticipated intense excitement alone dictates that fact. With all due respect to NASCAR's elite from their Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, I'm finding myself getting really excited about Saturday night's Scotts EZ Feed Showdown. It's an opportunity for me to relive some memories from my childhood.
This special 35 lap exhibition race features some true legends and champions from NASCAR's history book. It's an opportunity to see the likes of David Pearson, Cale Yarborough and Harry Gant suit up one more time to show us how they made solid contributions to NASCAR history.
The Scotts EZ Feed Showdown is going to be a genuine treat to old school NASCAR fans. That would those of us well over 50 years of age. I am one of those old school fans. I was born and raised in South Carolina and attended my first NASCAR race in 1958 with my Dad. I was all of six years old at the time and this shy little red headed boy made the rounds in the pits after a race seeking autographs from NASCAR's stars. I grew up in the middle of early NASCAR history. The sport was a big part of our family life and over the years I've often joked that it was NASCAR racing that got Dad and I through the so called "generation gap."
I vividly recall watching David Pearson race during his rookie year, 1960,in NASCAR Grand National, (now Sprint Cup), Racing. My first look at a would be NASCAR champion was at a three-eighths of a mile dirt track in Sumter, SC where the Grand Nationals were doing a 100 lap feature that night.
You would have never known that Pearson was bound for racing glory while watching him in this race. The Sumter Speedway's turns were banked with dirt berms, in lieu of cash walls and rails, approximately two feet high. Approximately ten feet behind the berms was a wooden slat fence that surrounded the track's property line. Behind the fence were Carolina pine trees where the speedway's cheap seats were located. Those fans who couldn't afford tickets climbed the trees to watch the race.
During the course of the race, Pearson sailed into turn three too high. His 1960 Chevrolet hit the dirt berm, went flying through the air and destroyed approximately 100 feet of the wood fence. The track promoter was in the sky box and standing a little too close to the announcer's open microphone. That's when the spectators in the packed grandstand overheard a few choice four letter words along with something mumbled about the high cost of lumber. By the way, the Pearson wreck also scared the hell out of the pine tree spectators.
That's just one example of why I'm so amped up over this special exhibition race at Bristol Saturday night. The Scotts EZ Feed Showdown is going to be a priceless trip down memory lane for us old school NASCAR fans. For the younger group the race is going to be a genuine NASCAR history lesson.
LINE UP FOR THE SCOTTS EZ FEED SHOWDOWN
CALE YARBOROUGH. Timmonsville, SC. Age 70 turning 71 next week. NASCAR's first consecutive three time champion: 1976 through 1978. 83 Sprint Cup wins, including four Daytona 500's, placing fifth on NASCAR's all time win list.
DAVID PEARSON. Spartanburg, SC. Age 75. Nickname: "The Fox" and later "The Silver Fox." Three time Cup champion: 1966, 1968, 1969. 105 Sprint Cup wins placing him second on NASCAR's all time win list.
HARRY GANT. Taylorsville, NC. Age 70. Nicknames: "Handsome Harry", "The Bandit" and "Mr September." 18 Sprint Cup wins and 21 Nationwide Series wins. Driver of the famed #33 Skoal Bandit car formally owned by actor Burt Reynolds and movie director/producer Hal Needham. He earned the name "Mr September" after winning four Cup wins in a row in 1991. Oldest driver to win a Cup race at age 52 and oldest to win first Cup race at age 42.
DAVE MARCIS. Wausau, WI. Age 69. Five Cup wins in a career that spanned from 1968 to 2002. 833 Cup starts places him third in that category. The last of the truly independent, non factory supported, team owners. Famous for wearing Wing Tip shoes while driving. He will be wearing Wing Tips Saturday night at Bristol.
CHARLIE GLOTZBACH. Edwardsville, IN. Age 71. Nickname: "Chargin" Charlie." Only ran NASCAR's asphalt ovals from 1967 to 1975. He won the Bristol Cup race in 1971. It's the only Bristol race that was a caution free, a record that still stands. Currently operates a commercial truck dealership in Indiana.
JIMMY HENSLEY. Ridgeway, VA. Age 64. Nine wins and 129 top ten finishes in NASCAR's Nationwide Series in a career that spanned from1972 to 2001. Two wins and 64 top ten finishes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series that included a stint driving a Dodge Truck for Petty Enterprises. Currently operates a business that installs fire service systems.
TOMMY HOUSTON. Hickory, NC. Age 65. A major contributor to the history of what is now known as the NASCAR Nationwide Series. During a 15 year span he had 417 starts, 24 wins and 198 top ten finishes.
PHIL PARSONS. Detroit, MI. Age 52. Younger brother of NASCAR Cup champion Benny Parsons. 15 years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup scored one win, Talladega in 1988, and 40 top ten finishes. Two wins and 96 top ten finishes in the Nationwide Series. Currently a broadcaster with the SPEED Channel and co owner of Prism Motorsports a NASCAR Sprint Cup operation.
LARRY PEARSON. Spartanburg, SC. Age 56. The son of the legendary David Pearson. A 17 year span in the NASCAR Nationwide Series resulted in two championships, 1986 and 1987, along with 15 wins and 129 top ten finishes.
L D OTTINGER. Newport, TN. Age 71. 206 starts, in a ten year span, in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Three wins and 94 top ten finishes.
RICK WILSON. Barstow, FL. age 57. 14 year career in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. He took over Richard Petty's car after "The King" retired. One of the early drivers to be behind the wheel of the famed Morgan McClure Racing-Kodak Chevrolet. 46 Nationwide Series starts in eight years netted two wins and 11 top ten finishes. Currently operates a 2000 acre cattle ranch and 200 acre orange grove in Florida.
JACK INGRAM. Asheville, NC. Age 73. Nickname: "The Iron Man." 275 starts, in a ten year span, in the Nationwide Series netted two championships, 1982 and 1985, along with 31 wins and 164 top ten finishes. Retired from the Nationwide Series in 1991 but still drives a late model at the Greenville Pickens Speedway in South Carolina.
