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The Tri-State Racing Report

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11/08/2024

On this date in 1981, Neil Bonnett won the Atlanta Journal 500 at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia. Driving the Wood Brothers #21 Warner Hodgdon / National Engineering Ford, Bonnett led 200 laps of the 328-lap NASCAR Winston Cup Series race. Darrell Waltrip finished second in Junior Johnson's #11 Mountain Dew Buick, with Cale Yarborough in M.C. Anderson's #27 Valvoline Buick, Bobby Allison in Harry Ranier's #28 Hardee's Buick, and Jody Ridley in Junie Donlavey's #90 Truxmore / Sunny King Ford rounding out the top five.

In a year dominated by Buick and other GM brands, it was just the 7th victory for the Ford Motor Company in 1981. Of those 7 wins, Bonnett would score 3 of them.

Rick Wilson's 11th-place finish would be a career-best for him at that point in his Cup Series career.

Ronnie Sanders, Mike Alexander, Billie Harvey, Bruce Hill, Dick May, Bobby Wawak, and Bob Schacht failed to qualify for the race.

📸: ISC Images and Archives via Getty Images

11/08/2024

On this date in 1998, Jack Sprague won the Sam's Town 250 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada. Driving Rick Hendrick's #24 GMAC Chevrolet, Sprague led 25 laps of the 169-lap NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. Ron Hornaday Jr. finished second in Dale Earnhardt's #16 NAPA Brakes Chevrolet, with Jimmy Hensley in Richard Petty's #43 Cummins Dodge, Jay Sauter in Richard Childress' #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet, and Greg Biffle in Jack Roush's #50 Grainger Ford rounding out the top five.

It was Sprague's 5th victory of 1998 and the 13th of his Truck Series career.

Modified legend Mike Stefanik would record his first top-ten in the Truck Series in his debut race, finishing 8th in Dale Phelon's #66 Carlin Ford.

Rob Morgan, Danny Bagwell, Chris Horn, Austin Cameron, David Starr, Jerry Robertson, Ricky Logan, Mike Clark, Richard Hinds, and Milan Garrett would fail to qualify.

Photo Credit: Historic Motor Racing Programmes

11/08/2024

On this date in 1998, Jeff Gordon won the NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Driving Rick Hendrick's #24 DuPont Refinishes Chevrolet, Gordon led 113 laps of the curfew-shortened 221-lap NASCAR Winston Cup Series race. Dale Jarrett finished second in Robert Yates' #88 Ford Credit / Quality Care Ford, with Mark Martin in Jack Roush's #6 Valvoline / Cummins Ford, Jeff Burton in Jack Roush's #99 Exide Batteries Ford, and Todd Bodine in Joe Falk's #91 Litte Joe's Auto Chevrolet rounding out the top five.

It was Gordon's 13th victory of 1998 and the 42nd of his Winston Cup career. Between 1995 and 1998, Gordon would record 40 wins, 86 top-fives, and 98 top-tens in 127 races.

With driver Todd Bodine behind the wheel, Joe Falk would record his first top five as a car owner in the Cup Series. He wouldn't record another until 2014.

Rich Bickle, Rick Mast, Steve Grissom, Andy Hillenburg, and Harris DeVane would fail to qualify for the race. It was DeVane's only attempt to qualify for a Cup Series race.

Photo Credit: Historic Motor Racing Programmes / Sam Bass

11/08/2024

To the surprise of no one except maybe the employees of Trackhouse Racing, they have lost their appeal of the suspension and fines assessed to them for their race manipulation at Martinsville.

11/08/2024

On this date in 1976, Al Unser won the Bobby Ball 150 at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, AZ. Driving Vel Miletich's #21 American Racing Wheels Parnelli-Cosworth, Unser led 62 laps of the 150-lap USAC Championship Car race. Gordon Johncock finished second in Pat Patrick's #20 Goodyear Wildcat-Drake Goosen and Sparks, with Mario Andretti in Roger Penske's #68 Norton Spirit McLaren-Offy, Wally Dallenbach in Pat Patrick's #40 Goodyear Wildcat-Drake Goosen and Sparks, and Roger McCluskey in Lindsey Hopkins' #7 1st National City Travelers Checks Hopkins-Offy rounding out the top five.

It was Unser's 3rd victory of 1976 and the 31st of his USAC Champ Car career.

Bill Puterbaugh's 8th-place finish would be his final top-ten finish in Championship Cars.

Ed Crombie, Bill Simpson, Mike Mosley, Janet Guthrie, Tom Frantz Ken Nichols, and Tom Sneva failed to qualify.

Though entered, AJ. Foyt would withdraw from the event.

Photo Credit: Historic Motor Racing Programmes

11/08/2024

On this date in 2004, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Havoline at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, AZ. Driving the #8 Budweiser Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc., Earnhardt Jr. led 118 laps of the 315-lap NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race. Ryan Newman finished second in Roger Penske's #12 Nextel Txt2Win MVP Dodge, with Jeff Gordon in Rick Hendrick's #24 DuPont Chevrolet, Kevin Harvick in Richard Childress' #29 Goodwrench Chevrolet, and Kasey Kahne in Ray Evernham's #9 Dodge Dealers / UAW Dodge rounding out the top five.

It was Earnhardt Jr's 6th victory of 2004 and the 15th victory of his Cup Series career.

Mike Garvey, Tony Raines, Mario Gosselin, Stanton Barrett, Ryan McGlynn, Kirk Shelmardine, and Geoff Bodine failed to qualify.

Photo Credit: Historic Motor Racing Programmes

11/06/2024

On this date in 1988, Alan Kulwicki would give the fans something to remember him by, by winning the inaugural Checker 500 at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, AZ. Driving his #7 Zerex Ford, Kulwicki led 41 laps of the 312-lap NASCAR Winston Cup Series / NASCAR Winston West Series race. Terry Labonte finished second in Junior Johnson's #11 Budwieser Chevrolet, with Davey Allison in Harry Ranier's #28 Havoline Ford, Bill Elliott in Harry Melling's #9 Coors Ford, and Rusty Wallace in Raymond Beadle's #27 Kodiak Pontiac rounding out the top five.

It was Kulwicki's 1st career Cup Series victory in his 8th career start The 1986 Cup Series Rookie of the Year, Kulwicki would celebrate his victory by performing what he referred to as his Polish Victory Lap, an image that would become part of NASCAR lore.

Of the Winston West contingent, Chad Little would be the highest-finishing driver, finishing 19th in George Jefferson and Fred Stoke's #19 Coors Extra Gold Ford.

Butch Gilliland, John Krebs, St. James Davis, Scott Ga***rd, Jack Sellers, Jim Danielson, Bob Howard, and Harry Jefferson failed to qualify.

Photo Credit: Historic Motor Racing Programmes / RBA Enterprises

11/06/2024

On this date in 1955, Jimmy Bryan won the Second Annual Bobby Ball Memorial at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix, Arizona. Driving Al Dean's #1 Dean Van Lines Kuzma-Offy, Bryan led 44 laps of the dust-shortened 97-lap AAA Champ Car Series race. Johnny Thompson finished second in Peter Schmidt's #44 Kuzma-Offy, with George Amick in Lindsey Hopkins' #78 Lesovsky-Offy, Andy Linden in the #45 D-A Lubricants Kuzma-Offy, and Pat O'Connor in the #29 LaVilla Templeton-Offy rounding out the top five.

It was Bryan's 6th victory of 1955 and the 12th victory of his career in Champ Cars. In 10 starts in 1955, Bryan would record 8 top-five finishes.

Keith Andrews, Sam Hanks, Jimmy Davies, Earl Motter, Jimmy Daywalt, Ray Crawford, Mel McGaughy, Eddie Sachs, Elmer George, and Foster Campbell failed to qualify for the race.

Photo Credit: Historic Motor Racing Programmes (Featuring 1954 winner Jimmy Bryan)

11/06/2024

On this date in 1988, Al Unser Jr. won the Nissan Indy Challenge at Tamiami Park in Miami, Florida. Driving Rick Galles' #3 Team Valvoline March-Chevrolet, Unser Jr. led 82 laps of the 112-lap CART PPG IndyCar World Series race. Rick Mears finished second in Roger Penske's #5 Pennzoil Penske-Chevrolet, with Didier Theys in Dick Simon's #22 Uniden / GFE Lola-Cosworth, Kevin Cogan in Andy Kenopensky's #11 Machinist's Union / Schaefer Beer / Pl***oy Fashions March-Cosworth, and Danny Sullivan in Roger Penske's #9 Miller High Life Penske-Chevrolet completing the top five.

It was Unser Jr's 4th victory of 1988 and the 8th victory of his career in CART.

Didier Theys' 3rd-place finish would be his best finish in CART, and his only podium finish.

In just his second CART start, Bernard Jourdain's 6th-place finish would be a career-best for him in the series.

Howdy Holmes would make his final IndyCar start in Alex Morales' #21. Following his retirement, Holmes would take on the role of president of his family's company that had also acted as his sponsor, Chelsea Milling Company, which makes Jiffy Mix products.

Jose Romano would be the lone driver who failed to qualify for the race.

Photo Credit: Historic Motor Racing Programmes (Program features 1987 Nissan Indy Challenge winner Michael Andretti)

11/05/2024

NASCAR fines Trackhouse Racing, Richard Childress Racing, and 23XI Racing $100,000 and 50 Owners Points for Actions Detrimental to Stock Car Racing. Crew Chiefs Phil Surgen, Justin Alexander, and Bo**ie Barker suspended for the season finale at Phoenix, along with the spotters for all three drivers and the three teams competition directors.

Drivers Ross Chastain, Austin Dillon, and Bubba Wallace also fined $100,000 and 50 Driver Points Points.

All three teams will appeal.

11/05/2024

On this date in 1995, Dale Jarrett won the Jiffy L**e Miami 300 at the Miami-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex in Homestead, Florida. Driving his #32 Hudson Technologies Ford, Jarrett led 2 laps of the 200-lap NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race. Tim Fedewa finished second in Ray DeWitt's #55 Florida State Seminoles Ford, with Jason Keller in Joe Keller's #57 Budget Gourmet Chevrolet, Michael Waltrip in Chuck Rider's #30 Pennzoil Pontiac, and Mark Martin in Jack Roush's #60 Winn-Dixe Ford rounding out the top five.

It was the first Busch Series event at what is now Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Jarrett's victory would be the 11th and final of his Busch Grand National Series career.

Fedewa's 2nd-place finish would be his last top-five for RaDiUs Motorsports.

Dale Fischlein, Ricky Craven, Randy LaJoie, Kyle Petty, Pete Orr, Shane Hall, Mark Green, Patty Moise, Ernie Irvan, Tom Peck, Tony Stewart, Andy Belmont, Lester Lesenski, Jim Bown, Billy Bigley Jr, Kenny Kagle, Jabe Jones, Chris Diamond, Jerry Nadeau, and Glenn Allen Jr. failed to qualify.

Photo Credit: Historic Motor Racing Programmes

11/05/2024

On this date in 1989, Thierry Boutsen won the Foster's Australian Grand Prix at the Adelaide Grand Prix Circuit in Adelaide, South Australia. Driving Frank Williams #5 Canon Williams FW13-Renault RS1, Boutsen led 57 laps of the time-shortened 70-lap FIA Formula One World Championship event. Alessandro Nannini would finish second in Benneton Formula's #19 Benetton B189-Ford HBA4 with Riccardo Patrese in Frank Williams' #6 Canon Williams FW13-Renault RS1 completing the podium.

It was Boutsen's 2nd Formula One victory.

Satoru Nakajima would set the fastest lap of the race at 138.180 kph (85.86 mph.)

It would be the final race in Formula One for René Arnoux, Eddie Cheever Jr, and Piercarlo Ghinzani.

Jonathan Palmer, Luis Pérez-Sala, Bertrand Gachot, and Pierre-Henri Raphanel would fail to qualify, while Stefan Johansson, Michele Alboreto, Bernd Schneider, Roberto Moreno, Oscar Larrauri, Aguri Suzuki, Yannick Dalmas, Gabriele Tarquini, and Enrico Bertaggia failed to pre-qualify.

Photo Credit: Historic Motor Racing Programmes

11/05/2024

Christopher Bell with an interesting statement following yesterday's fiasco at Martinsville.

11/04/2024

On this date in 1972, Bobby Unser won the Best Western 150 in honor of Bobby Ball, held at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, AZ. Driving Oscar Olson and Dan Gurney's #6 Olsonite Eagle-Offy, Unser led 96 laps of the 150-lap USAC Championship Car Series race. Mike Mosley finished second in Ralph Wilke's #98 Vivitar Eagle-Offy, with Mario Andretti in Vel Miletich's #9 Viceroy Parnelli-Offy, Al Unser in Vel Miletich's #4 Viceroy Parnelli-Offy, and Johnny Rutherford in Don Gerhardt's #16 Thermo King Eagle-Offy rounding out the top five.

It was Unser's 4th victory of 1972 and the 16th USAC victory of his career.

Photo Credit: Historic Motor Racing Programmes

11/04/2024

On this date in 1979, Neil Bonnett won the Dixie 500 at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia. Driving the Wood Brothers #21 Purolator Mercury, Bonnett led 54 laps of the 328-lap NASCAR Winston Cup Series race. Dale Earnhardt finished second in Rod Osterlund's #2 Osterlund Enterprises Chevrolet, with Cale Yarborough in Junior Johnson's #11 Busch Beer Oldsmobile, Bobby Allison in Bud Moore's #15 Hodgdon / Moore Ford, and Darrell Waltrip in Mike DiProspero and Bill Gardner's #88 Gatorade Chevrolet rounding out the top five.

It was Bonnett's 3rd victory of 1979 and the 5th victory of his career.

National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Buck Simmons would make his NASCAR debut in the event, driving Kennie Childers' #12 Ramey's Chevy City Chevrolet. Qualifying 26th, Simmons would finish 14th in his debut, his best finish in 8 Cup Series starts.

Fellow National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Freddy Smith would make the last Cup Series start, finishing 18th in the #00 Petty's of Spartanburg Chevrolet.

Months after beating a field of 100 drivers that included F1 legend Ayrton Senna, 1978 FIA World Karting Champion Lake Speed would attempt his first NASCAR race. Though Speed would fail to qualify, within a decade he would find himself a consistent and competitive independent on the Winston Cup Series circuit,

Photo Credit: Historic Motor Racing Programmes

11/04/2024

It is past time to get rid of the playoffs. We have seen Elton Sawyer on TV having to explain things about the playoffs more than he was on TV for his driving career, and he was on TV quite a bit.

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