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September 12, 1998 Jeff Burton took vengeance over Jeff Gordon in the Exide NASCAR Select
Batteries 400. Last week, Gordon roared past Burton to win the Southern 500. Burton had to
wonder if it was going to happen again as a rapidly closing Gordon battled him to the
finish, coming up only 0.051 seconds short. This was the 5th career win for Burton.
September 12, 1992 Rusty Wallace cruised to a 3.5 second victory after leading the final
138 laps of the Miller Genuine Draft 400. It was his third Richmond win at the newly
re-configured racetrack and his 21st overall. Victory Lane must have been sweat that day;
This win marked the end of a 34 race drought. Pole sitter Ernie Irvan was the final car on
the lead lap in 11th.
September 12, 1982 Bobby Allison scored his 73rd career win at Richmond Fairgrounds
Raceway over Tim Richmond. This was his 7th win for the year, but his first short track
victory since the 1980 Holly Farms 400 in September 1980. Allison put a lot of effort into
the short track program for the year, seeing it as pivotal to winning a championship. For
the year he came up a little shy of Darrell Waltrip, but for the day he dominated the
Wrangler Sanfor-Set 400, leading 265 laps. Darrell Waltrip finished 3rd, one lap in
arrears.
September 12, 1976 Bobby Allison was hungry for his 1st win of the season, and Cale
Yarborough already had 5, but Cale had his eyes set on the championship for 1976. He
fought Allison all the way to the Checkered Flag in the Capital City 400. Yarborough
scored his 37th career win on a track where he had not yet won – Richmond Fairgrounds
Raceway. Pole sitter Benny Parsons experienced problems early in his L G DeWitt Chevrolet
and departed on lap 103 in a crash. Parsons finished 29th out of 30 starters.
September 12, 1958 19 cars showed up for Gastonia Fairgrounds’ one and only NASCAR show,
and the fans were treated to a shootout between Buck Baker, Lee Petty and Bob Welborn, all
of whom finished on the lead lap. The remainder of the field was at least 4 laps in
arrears. It didn’t take long to get rid of the pole sitter. Tiny Lund scored his 4th
career pole and was hoping for his first NASCAR victory, but only lasted 1 lap before his
suspension broke.
1 and only event at Gastonia
September 12, 1956 In the second appearance at the ½ mile dirt track at Charlotte
Fairgrounds, Ralph Moody held off Billy Myers and Joe Eubanks to pocket the $850 purse. He
completed the race with an average speed of 52.847 mph. This was Moody’s 4th career win.
Defending champion Speedy Thompson, winner of the first event in June of this year,
finished in 7th position, 9 laps back.
September 12, 1956 Aspiring boxer, (see last weekend’s news) Ricky Rudd was born. Before
putting the silly back into silly season this year—and riling up his team in the process –
Rudd’s best Point’s standings position was 2nd in 1991 driving for Rick Hendrick. Between
1983 and 1998 he amassed one of the most interesting streaks in NASCAR’s history, scoring
wins in each consecutive season, but never winning more than 2 in a single year, and often
getting his sole win in the final stages of the season. His 22 career victories are a
tribute to his longevity, patience, and persistence.
September 12, 1954 In the final NASCAR race at Macon Georgia’s Central City Speedway, a
young Hershel McGriff scored his 2nd career victory. In doing so, he redeemed a poor
showing the weekend prior when he blew an engine and finished 45th in the Southern 500. At
the Checkers it appeard that McGriff had beaten Buck Baker by a slim margin of 2 seconds,
but a post race inspection disqualified the Oldsmobile of Baker and elevated Tim Flock to
2nd. He was 25 seconds behind. Flock was also credited with the pole position – his 14th –
with Bakers penalty. Baker at least got something from the run; Flock was driving one of
Buck’s cars.
September 12, 1950 Unadilla California’s homeboy, Ken Ragan was born. He competed in 50
NASCAR races between 1983 and 1990. One of his better finishes was in the Firecracker 400
in 1983. The event was won by Budy Baker and Ragan was 12th, 3 laps off the pace.
September 12, 1946 Ron Keselowski was born. He and his brother, Bob are best known for
their success in ARCA and as owners of a NASCAR truck team. Ron made 68 visits to the
NASCAR circuit, with a pair of top 5s and 11 top 10s. His last top 5 was a 5th at hometown
track Michigan International Speedway in the Motor State 400 in June 1973. He finished 5th
in an event won by David Pearson.
September 12, 1927 Bob Reuther was born. He competed in one event each year in 1951,
1959 and 1960 with a career high of 9th at Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, TN. (Joe Lee
Johnson won the event.
Batteries 400. Last week, Gordon roared past Burton to win the Southern 500. Burton had to
wonder if it was going to happen again as a rapidly closing Gordon battled him to the
finish, coming up only 0.051 seconds short. This was the 5th career win for Burton.
September 12, 1992 Rusty Wallace cruised to a 3.5 second victory after leading the final
138 laps of the Miller Genuine Draft 400. It was his third Richmond win at the newly
re-configured racetrack and his 21st overall. Victory Lane must have been sweat that day;
This win marked the end of a 34 race drought. Pole sitter Ernie Irvan was the final car on
the lead lap in 11th.
September 12, 1982 Bobby Allison scored his 73rd career win at Richmond Fairgrounds
Raceway over Tim Richmond. This was his 7th win for the year, but his first short track
victory since the 1980 Holly Farms 400 in September 1980. Allison put a lot of effort into
the short track program for the year, seeing it as pivotal to winning a championship. For
the year he came up a little shy of Darrell Waltrip, but for the day he dominated the
Wrangler Sanfor-Set 400, leading 265 laps. Darrell Waltrip finished 3rd, one lap in
arrears.
September 12, 1976 Bobby Allison was hungry for his 1st win of the season, and Cale
Yarborough already had 5, but Cale had his eyes set on the championship for 1976. He
fought Allison all the way to the Checkered Flag in the Capital City 400. Yarborough
scored his 37th career win on a track where he had not yet won – Richmond Fairgrounds
Raceway. Pole sitter Benny Parsons experienced problems early in his L G DeWitt Chevrolet
and departed on lap 103 in a crash. Parsons finished 29th out of 30 starters.
September 12, 1958 19 cars showed up for Gastonia Fairgrounds’ one and only NASCAR show,
and the fans were treated to a shootout between Buck Baker, Lee Petty and Bob Welborn, all
of whom finished on the lead lap. The remainder of the field was at least 4 laps in
arrears. It didn’t take long to get rid of the pole sitter. Tiny Lund scored his 4th
career pole and was hoping for his first NASCAR victory, but only lasted 1 lap before his
suspension broke.
1 and only event at Gastonia
September 12, 1956 In the second appearance at the ½ mile dirt track at Charlotte
Fairgrounds, Ralph Moody held off Billy Myers and Joe Eubanks to pocket the $850 purse. He
completed the race with an average speed of 52.847 mph. This was Moody’s 4th career win.
Defending champion Speedy Thompson, winner of the first event in June of this year,
finished in 7th position, 9 laps back.
September 12, 1956 Aspiring boxer, (see last weekend’s news) Ricky Rudd was born. Before
putting the silly back into silly season this year—and riling up his team in the process –
Rudd’s best Point’s standings position was 2nd in 1991 driving for Rick Hendrick. Between
1983 and 1998 he amassed one of the most interesting streaks in NASCAR’s history, scoring
wins in each consecutive season, but never winning more than 2 in a single year, and often
getting his sole win in the final stages of the season. His 22 career victories are a
tribute to his longevity, patience, and persistence.
September 12, 1954 In the final NASCAR race at Macon Georgia’s Central City Speedway, a
young Hershel McGriff scored his 2nd career victory. In doing so, he redeemed a poor
showing the weekend prior when he blew an engine and finished 45th in the Southern 500. At
the Checkers it appeard that McGriff had beaten Buck Baker by a slim margin of 2 seconds,
but a post race inspection disqualified the Oldsmobile of Baker and elevated Tim Flock to
2nd. He was 25 seconds behind. Flock was also credited with the pole position – his 14th –
with Bakers penalty. Baker at least got something from the run; Flock was driving one of
Buck’s cars.
September 12, 1950 Unadilla California’s homeboy, Ken Ragan was born. He competed in 50
NASCAR races between 1983 and 1990. One of his better finishes was in the Firecracker 400
in 1983. The event was won by Budy Baker and Ragan was 12th, 3 laps off the pace.
September 12, 1946 Ron Keselowski was born. He and his brother, Bob are best known for
their success in ARCA and as owners of a NASCAR truck team. Ron made 68 visits to the
NASCAR circuit, with a pair of top 5s and 11 top 10s. His last top 5 was a 5th at hometown
track Michigan International Speedway in the Motor State 400 in June 1973. He finished 5th
in an event won by David Pearson.
September 12, 1927 Bob Reuther was born. He competed in one event each year in 1951,
1959 and 1960 with a career high of 9th at Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, TN. (Joe Lee
Johnson won the event.