History repeats...

There have been many changes to a sport centered on tradition. Some say the core fan has been left behind for the glitz of turning a profit, others say it is a natural progression of the sport in general. All debates aside, one thing remains constant – history is rich and continues to be written.

NASCAR’s return to its roots has many fans anticipating roaring engines at Atlanta Motor Speedway this coming Labor Day weekend. Although not the Southern 500, being in the south and not in southern California has many fans seeing a slight turn back toward tradition.

There have been traditional events that have been celebrated and iconic drivers who are recognizable even decades after their time, but there are also history makers that seemed to slip under the radar of race fans. One thing is certain, history tends to repeat itself.

With rumors of Danica swirling around stock car racing we are reminded female presence on the track leaves little to be desired. We tend to forget the pioneers like Sara Christian. Driving a car owned by her husband Frank, Sara qualified 13th for the inaugural NASCAR race at Charlotte Speedway in 1949. The Atlanta housewife only drove a portion of the race before Bob flock climbed behind the wheel to complete the race in 14th place. Sara was considered NASCAR’s most famous female driver. She began racing in 1948 and quickly earned respect by proving herself able to handle a car at high speeds. Late in the ’48 season Bob Flock, known for his rough character, sponsored her through his Bob Flock Garage.

Sponsors and commitments hold the reigns on many of the sports superstars. However, getting paid comes with responsibility. Today’s superstars are well aware of the commitments and demands of racing, Herb Thomas decided he could do without the demands. Thomas was the first driver to reach $100,000 in winnings and is perhaps the first superstar of NASCAR. Thomas began his career much like drivers of today. He started racing Modifieds, but with little success. In 1956 Thomas started the season for owner Carl Kiekhaefer, but returned to a self-owned team. Thomas felt his owner was too demanding by sending him all over the country. Regardless of his view on demands Thomas remains on the all-time best list with 48 wins in 230 starts.

Car owners seek excellence that will result in success and domination. We see that in many teams on the track today. Historically owners have not changed. Carl Kiekhaefer had those expectations and experienced that success, although briefly. Many records held by Kiekhaefer and his teams still exist. One of the most impressive was a win streak during the 1956 season where one of his cars won 16 consecutive times. Kiekhaefer’s dominance caused rumblings in the garage. The eccentric owner claimed his teams were the victims of sabotage when they failed, and were singled out when won. Kiekhaefer had numbered days in NASCAR. He feared his association in racing would harm his other business ventures and left the sport.

With success and domination present in the sport comes the occasional rift with the powers that be. Those that battle authority have limited success and that has not changed. Marshall Teague challenged authority and paid nearly $600 in fines in order to be reinstated in time for the 1952 race at Daytona Beach. Teague had a long rift with founder Bill France after he defied NASCAR and raced in the Mexican road race that was forbidden by the sanctioning body. The rift between Teague and France lasted until Teague’s death in 1959. Teague was a talented not only behind the wheel, but under the hood as well. In 1951 he won five races and provided technical assistance for ’51 champion Herb Thomas.

One decision that caused a rift between NASCAR and its core fans was a foreign manufacturer entering the sport. What most fans forget is that foreign makes were introduced long before Toyota even approached the block. Foreign entries in racing’s elite series were introduced in the mid 50’s when the Grand National circuit tried its hand at both left, and right hand turns. The ‘International 100 Mile Race’ took place at the two mile, five turn course at the Linden, N. J. airport. It was not the first occasion for foreign cars, but the most publicized. The field had 21 foreign and 22 domestic makes. Jaguars, MGs, Morgans, Austin Healeys and Porsche competed with heavier Oldsmobiles, Plymouths and Fords. The race was successful, but it would be later when road courses and permanent foreign manufactures were made permanent.

What was once permanent on the schedule is no more. The Southern 500 has long left Darlington, but the legacy of the egg shaped track is still celebrated once a year. The birth of Darlington International Raceway and the Southern 500 is vital to the sports southern roots. At age 14 Harold Brasington became smitten with auto racing. The farmer from South Carolina traveled to Indianapolis to see the Memorial Day spectacle and was impressed by the crowds that turned up to see 500 mile racing.

It was during his occasional trips north to Indy he began to build a dream of building a track in South Carolina. Brasington did not have the resources to harbor a dream of this magnitude, but others did. J. Sherman Ramsey owned a plot of land large enough for the vision of Brasington and with the help of businessmen Barney Wallace and Bob Colvin Brasington’s dream started to become reality in 1949.

With his dream of a track underway he began to pitch a 500 mile race, but he had limited success initially with France. With the involvement of the Central States Racing Association France finally agreed to cosanction an event at the new Darlington track. A field of 75 started the inaugural Labor Day event that boasted a crowd of 25,000. The race was not only a huge success, but became a part of NASCAR’s formative years.

Fans that say the formative years have past may be right – to some extent. Time moves on and things change. Then again, history does tend to repeat itself. If the NASCAR history books are an indication of what is yet to come then the time to get excited for the future is now.