In 1977, Richmond Raceway was a throwback to the pioneer days of stock car racing in the South.
By that, I mean that while it had progressed from dirt to asphalt, little else had changed at the 0.542-mile track. It had wooden grandstands and steel guardrails. The press box was small and decidedly primitive – a lack of telephones, for example. There was no media center and only a few suitable parking spots in the infield, or anywhere else, for that matter.
All this, along with a lack of fan amenities, wasn’t anything unique to Richmond. It was pretty much the same at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, for example. And though they were not short tracks, let’s include Darlington Raceway and Rockingham Speedway.
However, this needs to be said: these tracks staged some of the most competitive, controversial and exciting races in NASCAR’s history. They have contributed greatly to the sanctioning body’s lore and tradition.
To list such events at these tracks would be a long process simply because there are so many. Besides, it is unnecessary. I daresay you know most of them anyway. Or perhaps you’ve attended a few.
As I’ve detailed in the past, there are two past Richmond races that I covered that are noteworthy to me.
The first is the 1984 Miller High Life 400, won by a battered and bruised Ricky Rudd, who suffered several injuries after a frightening, spinning crash in the Busch Light Clash at Daytona International Speedway two weeks earlier.
When Rudd came to Richmond, his bloodshot eyes were black and taped open, his bruised ribs were encased in a flak jacket and he looked more like a man who should have been in a hospital rather than a racetrack.
Remarkably, Rudd won the race. Fans and competitors were cheering; some were crying.
I’ve never forgotten it. And after a lengthy conversation with him a couple of weeks ago, I assure you Rudd hasn’t either.
The 1986 Miller High Life 400 had, up until that time, the most controversial finish in Richmond’s history. A battle raged between leaders Dale Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip for the victory.
On the last lap toward the third turn, Earnhardt turned Waltrip and sent him plowing hard into the guardrail. Two other cars got involved and thus handed the victory to a startled Kyle Petty, who had just moved into the top five. The win was the first of Petty’s career.
Controversy raged and NASCAR took a…
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