Start your weekend with a look back at racing moments on August 11 in this week's edition of Throwback Thursday.
- Back when Myrtle Beach was known as Rambi Raceway (SC) it hosted big Modified events like the Beach 96 on this date back in 1962. On the dirt 60 years ago it was the place to be, and Dink Widenhouse was the top dog in a 27-car field that included Ralph Earnhardt and several other drivers from the early '60s.
THE THIRD TURN: 1962 Beach 96 at Rambi Raceway
- On this day in 1972, the father of Ernie Irvan, Vic Irvan, won a 150-lap race on the dirt at Watsonville Speedway (CA). Irvan outlasted Ralph Willis, Butch Bishop, Tom Barbour and Jerry Cecil for the win. Vic Irvan won seven times that season, and six of those came at this track. The track is still active to this day with the quarter-mile being called Ocean Speedway. Ernie's son, Jared, will be racing at North Wilkesboro Speedway in a Super Late Model this weekend.
THE THIRD TURN: 1972 Permatex 150 at Watsonville Speedway
- Way back in 1979 at Anderson Speedway (IN), Ricky Knotts won the Redbud 300 as a part of the ASA National Tour. John Ziegler was second, with Mark Martin third and Mike Eddy fourth. Those four drivers were the only four on the lead lap. Knotts led 58 laps, which was second most to Jody Ridley who had brake rotor issues before halfway. It was the second win of the season for Knotts, who won three ASA races in his career. He had won at Toledo earlier in the year. Ironically, this was the only known trip for Ridley at the Indiana track.
THE THIRD TURN: 1979 Redbud 300 at Anderson Speedway
- When you can see two races for the price of one, it’s always a good day. On this day in 1985 at Catamount Stadium (NY) fans got to see the future of New England drivers in the NASCAR ranks on display. First, in the NASCAR North Tour race, Randy LaJoie came from 21st to score the win over Robbie Crouch and Jamie Aube. Kevin Lepage was fourth and Chuck Bown was fifth. Bobby Dragon was sixth as all of the top six drivers came from outside the top 10 in the 100 lap race.
THE THIRD TURN: NASCAR North Tour - 1985 NASCAR Doubleheader at Catamount Stadium
- The Modified portion was a little less exciting as Jimmy Spencer started on the pole and led all 100 laps. John Rosati was second with Brian Ross and Richie Evans rounding out the top four. 1985 was the first year for the NASCAR Modified Tour and the 29-race schedule was very aggressive. Spencer had four wins, but missed a few races. Evans made all the shows and won a record 12 races at the time and was easily the champion in a year that saw his tragic death at Martinsville.
THE THIRD TURN: NASCAR Modified Tour - 1985 NASCAR Doubleheader at Catamount Stadium
- Competing as a driver/owner in 1996, New York native Geoff Bodine won his final NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Watkins Glen in his home state. Bodine led the final 15 laps that day and outlasted Terry Labonte who would go on to win the NASCAR Cup Series championship later that season. Bodie would run a few more seasons, but the closest he got to another win was finishing third at Daytona in 2002.
THE THIRD TURN: 1996 The Bud at The Glen
- Dave Whitlock was one of the many heroes of the CASCAR Series in Canada for several decades. In 2001 and 2002 he won races on this date. In 2001, it was a 250-lap win at what is now Jukasa Motor Speedway (ON). In 2002 he won a 200-lap contest at Montmagny (QC). Whitlock won 11 races in the series and was the champion in 1998.
THE THIRD TURN: 2001 Mac Tools 250 at Cayuga Motor Speedway
THE THIRD TURN: 2002 Snap-On Tools 200 at Autodrome Montmagny