AAA The American Automobile Association was founded in Cleveland, Ohio as a response to a lack of roads and highways suitable for autos. It soon became a sanctioning organization for automobile racing in the United States until 1956.
1911
Carl Forberg... Born ... Midget driver, midget and sprint car owner, and Duane "Poncho" Carter's father-in- law
1917
Earl Cooper won the AAA Championship race on the 1 mile dirt Ascot Speedway, Los Angeles, Calif., averaging 65.3 mph in his Stutz. It was the 13th win of Cooper's great career. Future Indy 500 winner Joe Boyer made his AAA Championship race debut.
1919
Buck Baker... Born ... One of the greatest drivers in NASCAR's history. He was the first back-to-back winner of the Grand National Championship in 1956 and 1957. He was second twice (1955 and 1958) and finished in the top five on four other occasions. After his retirement in 1976, Baker opened up the Buck Baker Racing School, where Jeff Gordon drove his first stock car. His son, Buddy Baker is a 34-year Winston Cup veteran and now teaches at the school along with Buck's daughter, Susie Baker.
1936
Jim (or Jimmy) Clark... Born ... He was the dominant driver of his era, winning two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965. At the time of his death, he had won more Grand Prix races (25) and more pole positions (33) than any driver up to that time. He also competed in the Indianapolis 500 five times, and won it once, in 1965.
1944
Greg Weld ... Born ... Won the 1963 Knoxville Nationals, the premiere event in sprint car racing. Weld raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1965-1972 seasons, with 36 career starts, including the 1970 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 11 times, with his best finish in 4th position in 1970 at Sacramento. He was also the 1967 USAC Sprint Car Series champion. Weld also founded Weld Wheel Industries, a firm manufacturing forged alloy wheels for various vehicles, including race cars, and was an active sponsor of both race cars and series, including the United States Auto Club series, and ran the firm until its acquisition by American Racing Equipment in 2006.
1953
Herm Johnson... Born ... A former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in 7 seasons (1979-1985), with 35 career starts, including the 1984 Indianapolis 500. He also raced at Indy in 1982, but the race was not part of CART that year. He finished in the top ten 8 times, with his best finish in 6th position in 1982 at Atlanta.
1960
Gary Hieber... Born ... Modified stock car and USAC driver from Langhorne, Pa.
1961
Wendell Scottstarted what would become the first African-American driver to run a full schedule on the NASCAR Grand National (now Winston Cup) circuit when he races at Piedmont International Speedway in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA. He finished in 17th place. Cotton Owens drove his Pontiac to victory in the 100 mile NASCAR GN race.
1972
Doug Craig wins the TQ Midget feature at the indoor Atlantic City Convention Hall.
1979
Bobby Allison wins the Carolina 500 over Joe Millikan at the North Carolina Speedway , Rockingham, NC.
1984
Bobby Allison wins the Hodg. Car. 500 over Terry Labonte at the North Carolina Speedway , Rockingham, NC.
1990
Kyle Petty wins the Goodwrench 500 over Geoffrey Bodine at the North Carolina Speedway , Rockingham, NC.
2001
Jeff Gordon wins the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 over Dale Jarrett at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway , Las Vegas, NV.
ONE DAY
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