Charles Soules... Born ... AAA driver from the early 1900's.
1951
Curtis Turner held off a late charge by Lee Petty to win the 150 lap NASCAR Grand National race on the 3/4 mile dirt Charlotte Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. Pole winner Fonty Flock led the first 46 laps in the "Red Devil" Olds 88 before Turner took the lead in his factory backed Nash Ambassador. Flock later retired with overheating problems. Turner took the checkered flag 1 second ahead of Petty's Plymouth to give Nash it's first and only GN win. 1949 Indy 500 winner Bill Holland escaped with a cut hand after nearly destroying his Plymouth in a flip with 10 laps to go. Holland was racing with NASCAR while serving a one year suspension imposed by the AAA for driving in an unsanctioned charity race at a Florida short track.
1962
Rex White won the darkness shortened NASCAR GN 'Richmond 250' on a muddy 1/2 mile dirt Atlantic Rural Fairgrounds track in Richmond, Virginia. White took the lead from Ned Jarrett on lap 172 and the race was flagged 8 laps later. White and 2nd finisher Jarrett both drove Chevrolets. Ralph Moody's long retirement ended, but he parked his overheating Ford after 1 lap. Rain forced drivers to draw for starting spots and Herman "The Turtle" Beam drew the pole. On the pace lap, Beam drove into the pits and waited for the field to pass, later saying that he didn't want to start in front of all those "hot dogs".
1973
David Pearson in his Ford won the NASCAR Winston Cup race at Atlanta, Georgia. Bobby Isaac was second in a Dodge.
1976
David Gilliland ... Born ... NASCAR driver
1979
Dale Earnhardt took his first career NASCAR GN win in the 'Southeastern 500' at Bristol International Raceway. Earnhardt, in the Rod Osterlund Chevy, took the lead with 25 laps to go and crossed the line 3 seconds ahead of Bobby Allison's Bud Moore Ford. Earnhardt's first win came in only his 16th start and the team's 3rd race with Jake Elder as crew chief.
1981
Harlan Fengler ... Died ... AAA driver from 1923 to 1927. Fengler acted as Chief Steward of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1958 until 1974.
1984
Mario Andretti drove a Lola-Cosworth to victory in the CART Indy Car 'Long Beach Grand Prix', the first time Indy Cars had raced on the Long Beach Calif. street circuit. Geoff Brabham finished second and Tom Sneva third. Emerson Fittipaldi made his Indy Car debut.
Darrell Waltrip wins the Valleydale 500 over Terry Labonte at the Bristol Motor Speedway , Bristol, TN.
1990
Dale Earnhardt wins the TranSouth 500 over Mark Martin at the Darlington Raceway , Darlington, SC.
1993
Alan Kulwicki... Died ... NASCAR Winston Cup racecar driver. He arrived at the highest and most expensive level of stock car racing in the United States, with only a borrowed pickup truck, a race car, no sponsor, and a limited budget. Kulwicki was a perfectionist and liked doing things his way: his scientific methodology approach to NASCAR racing inspired the way teams are currently run.He is known for driving for his own race team during most of his NASCAR career. Kulwicki was the 1986 NASCAR Rookie of the Year, and won the 1992 Winston Cup by the closest margin in NASCAR history. In 1998 he was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers] and he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2002. Kulwicki's nicknames were "Special K" and the "Polish Prince". Kulwicki died in a plane crash on April 1, 1993 at age 38. He was returning in a Hooters corporate plane from an appearance at the Knoxville Hooters prior to the spring race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
1999
Overton Phillips... Died ... AAA driver from the 1930's & 40's.
2001
Dale Jarrett wins the Harrah's 500 over Steve Park at the Texas Motor Speedway , Fort Worth, TX.
2007
Jimmie Johnson wins the Goody's Cool Orange 500 over Jeff Gordon at the Martinsville Speedway , Martinsville, VA.
ONE DAY
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