Memories Shared From Past Drivers and Fans With Today's Drivers and Fans At Sumter Speedway Family Race Night

SUMTER, S. C. - The drivers and fans of yesteryear met with the fans and young drivers of the present on Saturday night, February 21 at the Sumter County Fairgrounds for the third annual Sumter Speedway Family Race Night, presented by longtime Speedway official, Jim Skinner.

Billy Baker, former track champion

  Nearly 100 fans and drivers were treated to a meal of bar-b-que, compliments of Skinner, and everyone enjoyed hearing the stories from the drivers who competed as far back as 1956. The honored guest was Rex White, who competed at Sumter Speedway in 1960, which is the year he won the Grand National (now Nextel Cup) title. White finished sixth in a race won by Ned Jarrett. Jarrett pocketed $770 for winning and White earned $200 for sixth. Other notable drivers who competed in the event were David Pearson, Junior Johnson, Buck Baker, Lee Petty and his young son, Richard, who place seventh that night.

  The highlight of the evening was the unveiling of a long-lost episode of the 1973 The Alcoa Hour which part of the documentary of the lives of Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough was filmed at the ancient dirt oval.

Former track champion Ray McCoy - Frank Hurst, track announcer from 1957 until 1964 - Former track champion Billy Baker

  Those in attendance included former Grand National drivers Gene Stokes, Billy Baker and Chuck Lattuca as well as former Sumter Speedway champions Ray McCoy and Albert Lee.

Gene Stokes, who won the 1959 Pure Oil Economy Run at Daytona while driving barefoot. That's the reason for no socks and his pants legs being rolled up. Stokes won $5,000 for his efforts, while Lee Petty won $11,000 after winning the Daytona 500

Father Jerry Ward was also in attendance. Father Ward competed at Sumter as well as Boot Hill Speedway near Shreveport, La. while serving as a chaplain in the Air Force, and was known as the "Honking Padre'" in his racing days. He was a runner-up in voting for the "Dream of A Lifetime" ride at Charlotte Motor Speedway many years ago when the track offered a Grand National ride to the driver who tallied the most votes.

A couple of the winners included Harry Gant and Wendell Scott. Harry Pritchard, whose father, H. C., along with Baker, competed in the first race at Sumter in 1957, was on hand as well. The younger Pritchard started racing in the late 60's and is still a regular on Saturday nights.

  Frank Hurst, who was the first announcer at the track in 1957 and served this capacity until 1964, was present as well and shared many stories, especially those when Ralph Earnhardt and "Little Joe" Weatherly had their friendly "feud" in the early 60's.

  White was asked what had changed in racing since his days of competing and his answer was, "Everything has changed, but mainly, the cost has gone completely through the roof. When I won the championship in 1960, my car cost about $6,000 and now the tire bill for a single race is far more than that. We raced on dirt tracks along the east coast and competed on asphalt tracks at Darlington, Charlotte, Atlanta and Daytona. Sometimes, we raced three times a week," he added. "When I started, a pit pass was $2."

  White said Martinsville Speedway was the toughest track for him since the straights were so long and the turns were so tight. "We didn't have power steering, so we had to manhandle those big, heavy cars for 500 laps. That's 2,000 turns, but we would put the cars into a broadslide in turns one and three and guide it through two and four with the accelerator, but even so, my hands would have blisters that would sometimes start to bleed before the end of the race. No one wore gloves back then. Drivers had to feather the brakes, because the pads were not as they are now and not many drivers finished 500 laps with any brakes at all," he concluded.


Rex White with 17-year-old Mini Stock driver and future champion, Cody McAllister
  One young driver, high school junior Cody McAllister, was in awe in being among the legends of the past. "It's hard to believe I am racing on the same track where all these famous drivers competed years ago. I hope Mr. Skinner does this again next year, 'cause I can't wait to come back," he added. The 17-year-old McAllister competes in the Mini Stock division against the 54-year-old Harry Pritchard. McAllister said he hopes to add his name to the list of track champions in his second full season of racing.

  Skinner said he was a little disappointed in the turnout, but was pleased that everyone who attended seemed to enjoy themselves. "Maybe, next year, I should charge admission. People don't think you get much for free anymore, so if we charge for it, maybe more people will show up," he said with a laugh.

  Track General Manager Dargan Watts said, "This is a tremendous occasion! I haven't seen some of these people in 30 years and I didn't even recognize a couple of the drivers. We're hoping to put together an 'Old Timers' race in the summer and I asked them if they would want to compete, and they all said, 'Sure, let me know'. This is a tremendous undertaking for Jim, and he has chased down so many of the drivers, but many of them had other plans for tonight. Hopefully, there will be more former drivers and a standing-room-only crowd next year," Watts remarked.

  Sumter Speedway will kick off its 48th season on April 3 and will offer races in Late Model, Thunder & Lightning, Mini Stock, Pure Stock and Street Stock divisions. Races will be every Saturday night through September 4. A special program will be wrap up the season on November 27.



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