Cliff Griffith... Born ... AAA and USAC driver from the 1950's & 60's. He drove in four Indy races, '51, '52, '56 and '61 with his best result, a 9th place finish in 1952.
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1924
Chuck Parsons... Born ... Sports car driver . Ran one USAC race at Riverside in 1967.
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1955
Herb Thomas won a hard fought 100-mile NASCAR Grand National race on the 1/2 mile dirt Palm Beach Speedway in West Palm Beach, Florida. Thomas and Buck Baker swapped the lead 11 times before Thomas took the lead for good. Local Modified star Jack Choquette made a late charge in his first GN start, passing Baker with two laps to go and finishing only 3 lengths behind Thomas at the line. Thomas and Choquette were driving Hudson Hornets while 3rd place Baker was in an Olds 88.
A.J. Foyt won the pole position for the 1971 Daytona 500 with a speed of 182.744 in his Glen Wood Mercury.
( Click here for the race report. )
Jerry Blundy won the second event of the Winternational Sprint Car series at the Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa, FL.
( Click here for the race report. )
LeeRoy Yarbrough won the 40-lap NASCAR Late Model Sportsman race at the Jacksonville Speedway, Jacksonville, FL.
Danny O'Neill won the 25-lap Bay Cities Racing Association indoor Midget race at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa, CA.
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1972
Jerry Blundy won the third event of the Winternational Sprint Car series at the Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa, FL. Ray Lee Goodwin finished second followed by Chuck Amati, Ralph Parkinson Jr., Billy Cassella, Jim McCune, Jim Linder, Jan Opperman, Daryl Dawley and Ralph Quarterson.
Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx drove a 312P2 Ferrari to victory in the 6 hours of Daytona at the Daytona International Speedway.
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1986
Willard "Bill" Cantrell... Died ... Nicknamed the "Silver Fox" because of his gray hair and the sly tricks he used to win races, Cantrell came to Southern California from Missouri before World War II. He started racing in jalopies in 1936, and raced midgets with the United Midget Association in 1939. In 1940 and '41 he drove more than fifty different midgets looking for a car that would make him a winner. In 1942 he found that car and scored 15 wins and a 2nd in the UMA points. From 1945 thru 1964, Billy won more than 120 main events with the United Racing Assn., AAA, and USAC. Included in this total is the 1962 "Turkey Night Grand Prix". He won the URA Red Circuit Title in 1947 and was that association's overall champion in 1951 and '52. He also collected 18 sprint car wins with the California Racing Association in this period. After retiring from driving, he served for a time as the west coast supervisor for USAC and as starter for the USRC midget club.
Bobby Davis Jr won the All Star Preliminary feature for the 10th Annual Sprint Car Nationals race at the East Bay Speedway, Gibsonton, FL.( Click here for the race report. )
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1987
Ira Hall... Died ... AAA driver that raced in the 1920's , 30's and 40's.
Doug Wolfgang won the All Star Preliminary feature for the 11th Annual Sprint Car Nationals race at the Florida National Speedway, Tampa, FL. ( Click here for the race report. )
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1988
Steve Kinser won the World of Outlaws Sprint Car race at the Florida State Fairgrounds Speedway, Tampa, FL. Mark Kinser was second followed by Sammy Swindell, Andy Hillenburg and Dave Blaney.
Rocky Hodges won the All Star Sprint Car race at the Volusia County Speedway, Barberville, FL. Joe Gaerte was second followed by Rick Ungar, Jimmy Sills and Paul Lotier.
Frankie Kerr won the American Midget Racing feature race at the Volusia County Speedway, Barberville, FL. Kevin Olson was second followed by Scott Hatton, Terry Wente, Sam Isenhower, Ron Hughes Jr. and Billy Hughes.
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1994
Chuck Gurney won the USAC Midget race at the Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix, AZ.
Kenny Irwin Jr. won the USAC Silver Crown race at the Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix, AZ.
Davey Hamilton won the USAC Supermodified race at the Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix, AZ.
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1999
Mike Dunn sets an NHRA Top Fuel 1/4 mile ET record of 4.503 seconds at Pomona, California.
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2000
Tony Stewart won the USAC Midget race at the Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix, AZ.
Jason Leffler won the USAC Silver Crown race at the Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix, AZ.
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2009
Josh Richards won the afternoon Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series race then went on to win the night race as part of a day/night doubleheader at the East Bay Raceway Park in Gibsonton, FL.
Jimmy Blewett won both the Tour-Type Modified and the SK Modified features at the New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach Florida.
Donny Schatz won the World of Outlaws Sprint Car race at the Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, FL. Jason Sides was second followed by Greg Hodnett, Kraig Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Steve Kinser, Cody Darrah, Jason Meyers, Jac Haudenschild and Terry McCarl.
Jared Landers won the UMP DIRTcar Modified race at the Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, FL.
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2021
Buddy Kofoid won the 2021 USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget season opening event at the Bubba Raceway Park, Ocala, FL Kofoid led all 30 laps of the feature followed by Tanner Thorson, Chris Windom, Daison Pursley and Emerson Axsom. Click to watch the video.
Justin Webster won the Top Gun Sprint Car feature at the East Bay Raceway Park, Tampa, FL Shane Butler was second followed by Robby Hoffmann, Garrett Green, Kyle Connery, Steve Diamond Jr, Billy Bridges, Tyler Clem, Brandon Grubaugh, Will Hull, Kristina Pratt, Joe Zuczek and Larry McVay.
ONE DAY
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