It's already felt like a trip back in time with the start of the Racetrack Revival at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Nevertheless, there's no reason not to have a Throwback Thursday, right? Here are some moments from August 4 in the racing world.
- Langhorne Speedway (PA) was truly unique for those who raced it. The 1-mile track was a complete circle. On this date in 1940, Henry Banks drove his Buick to 200-lap win on the dirt surface. Langhorne was a staple on the NASCAR schedule, but the roots date back to 1926 when the track opened. The track last hosted a NASCAR race in 1957 and it closed in 1971.
- Way back in 1974 on this date, Richard Petty won the first NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway. The first race went on 192 laps before it was shortened for rain. The race was pretty much taken care of and Petty led 152 laps and had put all but the top four cars down a lap. Bobby Baker was second and Cale Yarbrough was third. An interesting note was that Petty actually went to Pocono in 1973 to run and win a USAC Stock Car race. that allowed him to have a little bit of information ahead of the 1974 race.
THE THIRD TURN: 1974 Purulator 500 at Pocono Raceway
- The Belleville Midget Nationals always create a path for up and coming stars in the racing world. On this day in 1990, a young driver named Jeff Gordon won the race on the Belleville High Banks (KS) on his 19th birthday. The track was built in 1910 and is still hosting big events to this day. Gordon won 18 times during the 1990 season and went Busch racing the next year. We don't know if any birthday can top this one, but we hope Gordon has a good one this year.
THE THIRD TURN: 1990 Belleville Midget Nationals
- In his heyday, Steve Park was a terror in the Northeast. On this day in 1996, he won the Polar 150 at Thompson International Speedway (CT). Park led 69 of the 150 laps and scored the win from the eighth starting spot. Jerry Marquis was second and Rick Fuller was third. Park won five times that year and he won twice on the Busch North circuit, catching the attention of Dale Earnhardt. He was recruited to run the DEI Busch Series ride the next season.
THE THIRD TURN: 1996 Polar 150 at Thompson International Speedway
When George Brunnhoelzl, III drove the NASCAR Southern Modified Tour, there was one track he struggled at, Bowman Gray Stadium (NC). On this day in 2012 he got the job done leading 174 of the 204 laps to snag the win. "GBIII" had good finishes, but this was the only time he parked it in victory lane. Tim Brown was second and Canadian Cole Powell was third on this night. Brunnhoelzl would run four more races at the Stadium under the NASCAR Southern Modified Tour banner and not post any top-five runs.
THE THIRD TURN: 2012 Strutmasters.com 199 at Bowman Gray Stadium