Eddie O'Donnell drove to his second AAA win in four days as he won the 100 mile race on the 1 mile dirt Ascot Speedway. O'Donnell averaged 59.2 mph in a Duesenberg.
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1954
Herb Thomas drove his Hudson Hornet to victory in the 100 mile NASCAR Grand National race on the 1/2 mile dirt Palm Beach Speedway in West Palm Beach, Florida. It was the 29th career win for the winningest driver in GN history at the time. Buck Baker finished second, 2 laps behind in an Olds 88. Future Indy drivers Dick Rathmann and Al Keller shared the front row in Hudson Hornets. Keller was in the lead on lap 49 when a head gasket blew, giving the lead to Rathmann took until he suffered the same fate 16 laps later. Thomas won $1,600 in one of the highest paying 100 mile races in NASCAR Grand National history.
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1959
Daytona International Speedway formally opened. 13 cars were on hand for the first qualifying round, but 6 failed tech inspection. "Fireball" Roberts turned in a speed of 140.581 mph in a Pontiac to earn the pole for the inaugural 100 mile Grand National qualifying race. Marvin Panch ran 128.810 mph to pace the two convertibles that timed in.
Jerry Richert won the Florida State Fair IMCA Sprint Car race in Tampa Florida. Johnny White was second followed by Johnny Rutherford, Pete Folse and Arnie Knepper.
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1971
Iggy Katona won the ARCA 300-mile Stock Car race at the Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL. ( Click here for the race report. )
J.D. Leas won the third event of the Winternational Sprint Car series at the Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa, FL.
( Click here for the race report. )
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1973
Rick Hocking wins the AMA Motorcycle feature at the indoor Atlantic City Convention Hall.
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1976
Larry Michaels won the TQ Midget feature at the indoor Atlantic City Convention Hall.
Gary Bettenhausen won the 100-lap USAC Midget race at the State Fairgrounds Coliseum, Indianapolis, IN.
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1982
Frank McGurk... Died ... AAA driver from the 1930's and 40's.
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
Larry Rice won the 100-lap USAC Silver Crown race at the Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa, FL.
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1988
Rick Hood won the 100-lap USAC Silver Crown race at the Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa, FL.
Billy Vukovich III won the USAC Supermodified race at the Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix, AZ.
Rich Vogler won the USAC Midget race at the Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix, AZ.