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BacktotheRootsDaytona.com

from the

Co-founders Phaedra Lee

& Zetta Baker

EDITOR

call Back to t at Main Street Station we en ev the g cin du pro to lly recognized Every year I look forward to get this event nationa ars ye 8 for rd ha d rke isibility cloak the Roots. We have all wo It feels like there is an inv t. ee Str in Ma on y tor his t making it a because of racing's rich us and share in this even it vis ers rac st be the d at times but we have ha eed Weeks in Daytona. e fans during annual Sp rac for n tio na sti de it vis mustal ts after the annual festiv to the Bike Week even st ho y, e da cam the be t in ee ck Str ivity. Ba When Main street was alive with act the , ach the be is n the tio m fro Sta t was removed ls like Main Stree d. Now it sometimes fee people were more unite a quiet, desolate street. only pulse still ticking on the people who fearlessly fast so for me go to d like ver ne I’ve . re that. I’m lucky I’m fascinated by racing gest people, and I admi on str the are er ng da courageously brave the ople. s to get to know these pe racing histor y and hope Back to the Roots loves ing ort na pp yto su Da in ed de olv ma t inv Everyone azing events tha ir re people on to the am made their vacation the this event will turn mo le rld. The peop who wo the . d lid un so aro are s ts ou roo Beach fam w unless your of attention. You can’t gro vocation are deser ving we have for meeting are in the excitement sh to en os ch ve ha u celebration of a We are happy yo ts and put on a show in roo ing rac r ou tify for to together each year ay. tor y that still prevails tod resolute, innovative his histor y and can experience racing u yo so le op pe to k tal learn about So relax and enjoy. Go modern racing. As you nt, rre cu o int e tiv ec rsp who haven't perhaps bring a new pe free to share with those l fee , us th wi s sse cce su the dangers, rules and we know as race fans. ill thr the red ve co yet dis about ng all of you and hearing I look for ward to meeti your story.

Phaedra Lee

Zetta Baker

Phaedra Lee

Bob Hissom

our mission Back to the Roots Daytona is an annual event celebrating the history and culture of auto racing and preserving the memory of Bill France Sr. and his contributions to the sport.

Back to the Roots Daytona promotes awareness of and helps maintain a community link to the history of racing by bringing everyone together at the annual events.

The annual Back to the Roots Daytona celebration is held at the 316 Main Street Station historic garage, a gathering place where Bill France Sr. once owned and operated the garage and promoted his events. It is now an entertainment venue for meeting friends, hearing live entertainment and hosting a variety of charitable and community events.

The vision of Back to the Roots Daytona is to unite the Legends of Auto Racing and share stories, history and memorabilia with today’s fans and enthusiasts so that they feel a part of racing history.

celebrating back to the roots day!

David Axelrod Buz and Gwen McKim Tim Leeming Rick Ramponi Hank and Bonnie Goodrich Jennifer Mason and Robert Rhea Sue and Ronnie Rohn Skip Pollack & Crew Tony Cassata Dani-Jo Maynard Erl Bob Coolidge Olin Hopes Joe McGovern Dick Hildebrand

Jim Turner David Kadetz Ray Turner Don Bok Charles Poindexter Richard Poindexter Terry and Patti Anderson Bill Watson Bahia Shrine of Daytona Motor Racing Heritage Assoc.

Joe Gibbs Racing Earnhardt Racing Hendrick's Racing

Special thanks to photographers Don Bok, Jay Anthony and Mikey Milardo for their work in capturing the commemorative spirit of Back to the Roots events.

Bill Myers fueling the start of many generations of racers who are still passionate about the sport.

Our roots are planted in speed and moonshine.

watered by

the good

beach at CAR's most successful drivers on the Herb Thomas (right), was one of NAS net."

Hor the "The Fabulous Hudson Daytona in the 1950s pictured with

ounder of the the beaches of Daytona. Glen was co-f Glen Wood with the #22 race car on 1998, he was In d.

Woo ard Leon with his brother, legendary Wood Brothers Racing team Drivers. named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest

ol' days

CAR’s Beach and Road Race in 1958, for NAS Curtis Turner won the last Daytona an Holm 39 laps driving this # 26 convertible Convertible series, leading 29 of the Moody Ford!

Awards Brunch Program 2020 Welcome Remarks.................................................Phaedra Lee with Main Street Station Introduction................................ Roland Via with Motor Racing Heritage Association Master of Ceremonies..............................Buz McKim, NASCAR Hall of Fame Historian Pledge...........................................................................................................................Doc Batsleer Singing of the National Anthem.....................................................................Martine Bizier Prayer.................................................................................................................................Ray Turner

Alan Kulwicki Driver/Owner Award: Jimmy Means

In memory of NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, 1992, Alan Kulwicki, a driver, engineer and team owner/driver.

Presented by: Mike Skinner

Promoter Award: Jim France

To honor a person who can share racing with the masses by organizing and promoting races.

Presented by: Tiger Tom Pistone and Ed Clark

Fireball Roberts Hard-Charger Award: Jeff Hammond

In memory of Glenn “Fireball” Roberts and his dedication to the sport of racing.

Presented by: Waddell Wilson

Red Vogt Mechanic & Engineering Award: Robert Yates

The Red Vogt Award honors the achievements of auto racing’s Master Mechanic, Red Vogt, and his skills with Raymond Parks cars & teams.

Presented by: Ernie Irvan and June Wendt

Smokey Yunick Mechanics Achievement Award: Pete Taylor

A racing pioneer, mechanic, car designer, innovator and crew chief, Smokey Yunick did it all including research and development, and owning the “Best Damn Garage In Town.”

Presented by: Don Miller

Bobby Allison Award: Ernie Irvan

Presented to an individual who continues to strive to be the best in racing along with building the racing family.

Presented by: Bobby Allison

Awards Brunch Program 2020

Woman in Racing, Behind-the-Scenes Award: Zetta Baker In honor of the women for their support and commitment to the sport of racing.

Presented by: Rhonda Glasnak

Tim & Frances Flock Driver’s Achievement Award: Dink Widenhouse In memory of Tim Flock, who was a two-time NASCAR champion driver from a racing family with Ethel Mobley, Bob and Fonty Flock. This award also honors the dedication of his loving wife, Frances, who continued his legacy until her passing in 2019.

Presented by: Bill Blair and Joy Flock

Pioneer in Racing Award: Robert Hart

This award is dedicated to a life-long passion and commitment to the sport of racing.

Presented by: Roland Via

Back to the Roots Award: Hank Goodrich

Given to a person who preserves and shares the passion of racing history. Awardee must have made a commitment to knowledge, community and love of the sport.

Presented by: Phaedra Lee

Daytona 200 Motorcycle Award: Hollingsworth Family

T​ his award is in honor of Bill France's first beach motorcycle race held in 1937, on Daytona’s Beach.

Presented by: Doc Batsleer

Tim Sullivan Motor Racing Heritage Association Award: Olin Hopes Tim Sullivan was a founder of the Motor Racing Heritage Association and had a long involvement in the Motorsports industry. He tirelessly worked to bring sponsors into NASCAR and present the sport to the masses.

Presented by: Motor Racing Heritage Association, President, Roland Via

The 8th Annual

Legends7

Historic North Turn

Beach Parade

By Rhonda Glasnak

The 8th Annual North Turn

LEGENDS BEACH PARADE

celebrated one of racing history’s most iconic women whose 100th birthday was February 9, 2019.

Vicki Wood holds the record for the fastest beach driver, hitting 150.375 mph during NASCAR-sanctioned time trials in 1960. It’s is safe to say her record will always stand.

Vicki had the special honor of being the Grand Marshal. She led the historic parade in grand style in the beautiful T-Bird convertible pace car driven by Dargan Watts and owned by Dale Hardie from Savanna, Georgia. Vicki was in great company.

She was joined by NASCAR Vice Chairman, Mike Helton, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Hosts Chocolate Myer and Dave Moody, along with ISC Past-President, Joie Chitwood III, and Legend driver Roy Hendrick just to name a few.

The beach was lined with approximately 8,000 cheering spectators as the 56 vintage race cars and Indian motorcycles paraded down Atlantic Ave. and made their way onto the worlds most famous road/beach course. The 4.2 mile NASCAR course is considered the Holy Grail of racing by all who entered the field and still holds true today. Racing events took place on the old course form 1948 -1958. The new Super Speedway opened in 1959, and the car races were moved where they are still enjoyed today.

s d n e g e L n r u T h t r o N l A n n ua

beach

parade

2020 honored award recipients

Jimmy Means Jimmy’s hair is white now, far different from the dark-haired young man that entered the sport of stock-car racing in the early 1970s. Jimmy was then racing the late-model division in Tennessee and Alabama, winning many races as well as track championships at Huntsville Speedway and the Historic Nashville Speedway. His success in those early years led him to accept the offer of a ride in the Premier Series of NASCAR in the 1976 Daytona 500 in a Chevrolet owned by Bill Gray. Jimmy would leave Daytona with a 40th place finish in the 500 after the engine in the number 5 car failed, but even so, Jimmy had led one lap of the race. That season would see Jimmy run 18 more races for Gray with a best finish of 11th on two occasions.

Jimmy would return to the Gray team in 1977, running twenty-six races with six top ten finishes. .Jimmy decided, in 1978, that it would be a good thing for him to own his team, and he became one of the independent drivers without whom NASCAR would most likely not have survived.

In that 1978 season, the only race in which he did not compete in his own equipment was the Winston 500 when he drove for Bill Champion. Jimmy continued his trend upwards in the sport as each year seemed to bring him higher in the season-ending points standing. In 1981, without competing in every race, Jimmy finished fourteenth in the standings, and in 1982, marking his first season competing in every event, he finished 12th in the standings. The 80s melted into the 90s and Jimmy continued to compete as an independent even after a horrific crash in 1984 at Talladega, a track where he had finished 7th the year before in which he suffered injuries causing him to miss several races. .Finally, after 455 starts in the Premier Division, events at Daytona in 1994 prompted Jimmy to announce his retirement from driving . You don’t have to finish in the top echelon of NASCAR, to have significant impact on the sport as Jimmy did both from his own driving and from the dozens of drivers who drove Jimmy Means equipment over those years. Jimmy often relinquished the driver’s role giving other drivers a chance as he participated strictly as the owner. The list of those drivers is far too long to impart here, but there are many names on that list that any race fan would immediately recognize. . hen the 1995 season dawned, Jimmy was, for a brief time, team manager for the number 15 W Bud Moore Ford driven by Lake Speed. From 1995 until 2001, Jimmy moved through the racing world using his knowledge and creativity to bring younger drivers along. It was 2001, when Jimmy Means Racing returned to what was then the Busch Series through a partnership with Moy Racing. Many of the subsequent races were of the “start and park” category, something Jimmy Means was not extremely happy with. In 2011, Jimmy Means Racing was back full time in what was then the Nationwide Series. .The accomplishments of Jimmy Means and the contributions he has made to stock-car racing would fill many pages, if not volumes, were space so permitting here. To sum up, Jimmy Means is receiving the Alan Kulwicki Award because Alan was a true independent racer who achieved great success winning the 1992 Championship. Alan is gone now, but still today, when the big haulers rumble into the race tracks, Jimmy Means is there imparting his knowledge and skills.

No, Jimmy Means did not win a Championship in the premier series of the sport but what he has earned from fellow competitors and fans is true respect. In the end, that outshines the glitter of those Cups.

2020 honored award recipients

Jeff Hammond To encounter Jeff Hammond in a venue outside of racing, the first impression would probably be that he is the CEO of a Fortune 500 Company.

Jeff’s always perfectly-styled hair, the twinkling eyes and the almost-always tanned face seems to give that impression. But make no mistake, Jeffrey Hammond (aka Hollywood Hammond) is all about stock-car racing. Just maybe, instead of the Fortune 500 CEO, Jeff could be considered Hollywood movie star material. Coincidentally, Jeff’s boyhood heroes were his father and John Wayne, Wayne being a Hollywood icon of some repute. .Jeff played high school football at North Mecklenburg High School, located in Charlotte, NC, and was named 1973-74 Prep Football All-American for his position as cornerback. He went on to play college ball for legendary Auburn coach, Pat Dye, until Jeff suffered an injury in 1975, which ended his football career. So much the better for stock-car racing. Jeff’s racing career actually began as a tire changer for independent racer Walter Ballard. That position was soon changed to jack man, a position that would assist the Junior Johnson entry piloted by Cale Yarborough to three consecutive championships in NASCAR’s premier division. .In 1981, ol' D. W. took Yarborough’s place behind the wheel of the Junior Johnson owned car. D. W. convinced Junior that Jeff was much more than a jack man and suggested Jeff be promoted to crew chief for the number 11 entry. Starting the 1982 season, the trio of Junior Johnson, Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Hammond became a force to be reckoned with each race.

The trio went on to win two more Championships and 43 wins with Jeff serving as crew chief.

There remains no doubt that Jeff Hammond ranks among the greatest crew chiefs of all time. .When a major network entered the broadcast scene in 2001, Jeff was hired on as a color commentator and went on to become a well-respected broadcaster by the fans, and recognized by the industry in 2006, when he received his first Emmy nomination for outstanding sports person as a studio analyst. Jeff’s broadcasting career has now spanned television and radio where he has served as host or co-host of numerous productions. .Jeff remains deeply involved in racing in efforts to train pit crew members in Mooresville, NC. It is not likely one would find a more qualified individual for such a task. Remember earlier when the Fortune 500 company CEO was mentioned? Jeff actually is a motivational speaker for several of those Fortune 500 companies. .Jeff’s interests outside of racing include rodeos, a real passion for horses, team roping and hunting. All of those things bring to mind that childhood hero of Jeff’s, right Pilgrim?

celebrating racing history BacktotheRootsDaytona.com

2020 honored award recipients

Robert Yates (Award received by Robert's son, Doug Yates) It was April 19, 1943, when the Reverend John Clyde Yates and his wife welcomed twins Robert and Richard Yates into the world. Robert was barely a teenager when he moved to live with his sister’s family in Wake Forest, NC. It was during the this time when he ventured into drag racing with a car he owned. He graduated Wake Forest High School as a straight-A student, and went on to graduate from Wilson Technical College with a degree in mechanical engineering. Whether it was Wilson Technical College that taught him what he needed to know about mechanical engineering, or an inborn-knowledge of things mechanical, Robert was on his way to greatness in that field.

Robert began with the Holman-Moody Ford operation in 1967, first as the team air gauge manager before moving up to building racing engines. His engines would provide power for both the famed Wood Brothers Team and Junior Johnson’s Team. In 1972, Junior Johnson hired Robert to build the power plants strictly for the Johnson Team. Between 1969 and 1975, Robert Yates Engines would earn 30 victories for drivers Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison. 1975 saw Robert move over to the DiGard team where his engines powered the efforts of drivers such as Ricky Rudd, Greg Sacks, Bobby Allison, and Darrell Waltrip. A Yates engine powered Bobby Allison to his 1983 Daytona 500 win. A little-known fact about Robert Yates is that he built the engines that powered Richard Petty to both his 199th and 200th victories in NASCAR. .Although Robert ventured away from building racing engines in 1986 to work on development of Ethanol synthetic fuel, by August of 1986, Robert was back doing what he loved—building those powerful engines. He returned to be team manager for Ranier-Lundy Racing while at the same time starting his own engine-building business. After two years with Ranier-Lundy, Ranier decided it was time for him to leave racing, and Robert had the opportunity to purchase that team, a move strongly encouraged by young Davey Allison. It was 1988, and the Robert Yates-Davey Allison Duo was beginning a successful run to racing dominance. Then, half way through the 1993 season, Davey lost his life in a helicopter crash. .Robert hired Ernie Irvan to drive the number 28 Davey had made so famous. For half of the 1994 season, the battle for the championship was nip and tuck between Ernie and Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Once more, however, tragedy struck as Ernie Irvan was severely injured in a crash at Michigan Speedway. Once more, on the lookout for driving talent, Robert was able to hire Dale Jarrett to replace Ernie while Ernie recovered. In 1999, the team of Robert and Dale captured the NASCAR Premier Division Championship. .For the 2000 season, Robert would field two cars, the famous 28, and the number 88. Dale Jarrett and Ricky Rudd would pilot the Yates entries. Between the start of the 2000 season and the end of the 2002 season, Jarrett and Rudd would combine to give Robert Yates Racing 11 wins, 71 top-five finishes, and 114 top tens with both drivers finishing all three seasons in the top ten in the year-end point standings. .Elliot Sadler was hired in 2003 as a teammate for Dale Jarrett . Sadler proved to be a good choice as he finished in the top 10 in the Daytona 500, and went on to win at Texas Speedway. Sadler also won at California Speedway that year as well as winning four poles. By this time in the sport, there was no doubt about the quality of Yates’ work. .Jack Roush and Robert Yates had been tough competitors with each other for many years. In 2004, with some backing by Ford Motor Company, the team of Roush-Yates came into existence.

That combination produced engines to get the job done, and the 2004 Championship went to that team and well as winning 19 races in the first year a half of the partnership. .The list of accomplishments of Robert Yates, both personally and professionally, are far too many to list here. Just as Red Vogt brought excellence to engine building in the formative years of NASCAR, Robert Yates built on that legend to the extent that the Robert Yates name will forever live in racing. For one thing, his son, Doug Yates, carries on the tradition of providing powerful engines that win races.

For another, Robert was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in the class of 2018. Robert was taken from us by cancer, passing away on October 2, 2017. The entire world of racing mourned that passing.

2020 honored award recipients

Pete Taylor W. O. (Bill) Taylor was a NASCAR Official when the first Southern 500 was run in 1950. Bill took along his nephew, Pete Taylor, and as if the racing bug wasn’t already deep inside Pete’s blood, that day would seal the deal on a lifelong mission to be the best engine builder of his era. Problem may be that “his era” is not yet ended as he still works with his engines.

While the 1950 Southern 500 may have lit the fuse with Pete, it was 1956 when he was hired by Holman-Moody to build engines for the fast Fords of the error. Everyone involved even the slightest bit in stock-car racing knows of the success of the Holman-Moody Fords. At the time Pete was employed there, the Holman-Moody team was the only team that operated its own engine shop. Pete, and his best friend, Joe Rumph, kept building those engines to take the Fords to Victory Lane time after time. .Along about 1959, Pete determined that he should open his own engine shop, and that he did.

Over the course of just a year or two, he was building engines for some of NASCAR’s finest teams with the finest drivers. While “name dropping” is not a trait of Pete’s, he did mention Marvin Panch, Jim Reed, LeeRoy Yarbrough and Bobby Isaac among those powered to victory by Pete Taylor engines. Pete kept the then Grand National boys supplied with the power to win. In fact, Bobby Isaac won 17 times in 1969 with Pete Taylor engines. Seems Pete had the skill and knowledge to outshine his fellow engine builders with competitors’ teams. .The year was 1984, as Pete recalls, when he began to tire from his heavy workload—a heavy work load self-imposed it should be added. So many teams had their own engine builders, and it seemed as if Pete’s talents weren't needed. Not so fast! Pete packed up his equipment and built a garage in the backyard of his home, and moved everything there. He did some engine work for LeeRoy Yarbrough’s modified racer and LeeRoy would win time after time. Pete tells the story of how LeeRoy showed up at Pete’s shop with a pickup truck load of junk, which LeeRoy expected Pete to turn into winning equipment.

As the years rolled on, Pete moved into another line of engine building. He began to work with a Restoration company out of Ft. Mill, South Carolina, building engines for the classic and vintage cars of decades long passed. Pete flatly states that the oddest and most difficult engine he had to rebuild was for a 1922 Marmon. In fact, Pete successfully rebuilt two of those engines. .Although it’s difficult for Pete to rate one achievement above another, he is proud of LeeRoy Yarbrough leading 304 laps of a 334 lap race on a major speedway to win. Pete worked with Harry Hyde during the very successful season for Bobby Isaac. .Even after all these achievements, Pete still “tinkers” with the flat head Fords. He builds them as he has always built engines; strong, durable, and fast. When it concerns engines, when Pete speaks, people listen. He still has the strong and authoritative voice that assures his clients that he’s the man to get the job done. The Smokey Yunick Award is a really big deal, but one can’t help but wonder when there will be a Pete Taylor Award for future engine magicians.

2020 honored award recipients

Ernie Irvan A couple of years ago the sports pundits all over the country were hailing “the greatest comeback in sports,” referring to a guy who chases a little white ball around grassy areas trying to get it in a hole. Obviously, none of those pundits ever took the time to research the name Ernie Irvan, or they would have truly known of the greatest comeback in sports! On August 20, 1994, Ernie crashed at Michigan Speedway and sustained injuries, specifically brains injuries, that had doctors giving him a 10% or less chance of survival. Surely, Ernie would never race again if he were even able to recover. In this instance, the word “never” is about as wrong as one could be. .Ernie started his racing career in California in go-karts and at the age of 9. By the age of 15, he won the California Championship, and his success in carting continued as he finished second in the nation at the karting championship in 1974. At the age of 16, Ernie turned to stock-cars, racing at Madera and Stockton California, and was a consistent winner at both venues. When Ernie’s graduation class from high school walked across the stage to receive their diplomas, Ernie was racing. The diploma could be delivered to him later. .In 1982, with $700.00 in his pocket (increased by $200.00 in Las Vegas) Ernie and his loaded pickup truck and trailer headed to North Carolina. Ernie wanted his chance to race in NASCAR’s major league. When he arrived in Charlotte, he supported himself through many odd jobs, one of which was welding grandstand seats at Charlotte Motor Speedway. During that time, Ernie raced a Firebird Late Model at Concord Speedway and won 9 times over the two years. .Ernie met Marc Reno and the two of them became partners in a effort to help Ernie realize his dreams. On September 13, 1987, Ernie made his Premier Series debut at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in a car sponsored by Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet. The engine in the number 56 Chevy overheated on lap 25 and Ernie’s debut was cut short. Ernie did get noticed by car owner D. K. Ulrich who put Ernie in a car for a few races with moderate success. .The 1988 season started with Ernie pursuing Rookie of the Year honors, still driving for D. K. He would fail in that effort, losing to Ken Bouchard by three points, at that time the closest Rookie of the Year battle in NASCAR History. The 1990 season dawned with the Ulrich Team experiencing the loss of sponsorship, so Ernie went to Junie Donlavey but at only 3 races. The sponsorship for the Donlavey team fell through leaving Ernie to move to the Morgan-McClure Team, driving the number 4 bright yellow Kodak car. Ernie was now in a ride that could win races, which he proved with several memorable finish leading up to his winning the 1991 Daytona 500. In addition to the Daytona 500, Ernie also won at Watkins Glen on the famous road course, but the victory was bittersweet as the sport lost journeyman driver J.D. McDuffie in an accident. .The 1992 season would see Ernie win three more times, Sonoma, Talladega and the July race at Daytona. In 1993, Ernie would once more win at Talladega. Back with Robert Yates Racing after a legal battle with Morgan-McClure to do so, Ernie returned to his hard-charging ways. The 1994 season saw Ernie in a nip and tuck battle with Dale Earnhardt for the points lead. Both drivers had three wins and were only 27 points apart (Earnhardt leading) when Ernie went onto the Michigan track for Saturday morning practice. Then the crash. First reports from the hospital seemed to give no hope for Ernie’s survival. The remarkable recovery of Ernie Irvan had him cleared by NASCAR to return to the driver’s seat in September, 1995, barely 13 months after the accident. .The track was North Wilkesboro, the date was October 1, 1995, and Ernie qualified 7th, and was leading by lap 125, and would lead the next 31 laps. Ernie finished sixth that day. He had returned.

In 1996, Ernie took the number 28 Robert Yates Ford and qualified on the front row for the Daytona 500. He also won the 125 mile qualifying race. Ernie won at New Hampshire and Richmond and

2020 honored award recipients finish the season in the top ten in points. In 1997, this time it was Ernie who conquered that same Michigan Speedway and won the June race. .As the 1998 season progressed, Ernie was with a new team, MB2, driving the Skittles Pontiac.

Success was floating just outside the reach of the MB2 Team, but Ernie kept trying. But on August 20, 1999, which was five years from the day of his previous life-threatening injury at Michigan, the track struck again, once more forcing Ernie to be airlifted to the hospital with serious injuries though not as bad as the previous. September 3, 1999, Ernie announced his retirement from driving after a career that saw 15 victories, 22 poles, 68 top five finishes and 124 top ten finishes at NASCAR’s highest level.

Ernie’s son, Jared, continues the Irvan competitive spirit on the race tracks. Ernie continues his love of the sport that almost took his life. There are so many levels of achievement for which Ernie can be really proud. One thing is for certain, the greatest comeback in sports was definitely not by a golfer.

Zetta Baker

Zetta Baker exemplifies someone with a passion for a certain thing that happens to make a difference in the world of motorsports. Saying it all started innocently with a research project on her father-in-law at the time, Cannonball Bob Baker, seems small when the result of that research started a life-long effort to ensure racing history—accurate racing history—would be available to anyone interested in how stock-car racing grew into the huge sport it has become. Her research on Cannonball also encouraged her to document the early days of the sport and assured legends and heroes from those early days would not be forgotten. .In 1993, Zetta founded an organization known as The Living Legends of Auto Racing. Her original intent was a one time event, including a Banquet, that would recognize the many pioneers of the sport. When it was over, Tim Mclecky asked Zetta what was next, to which Zetta replied “that’s it.” Fortunately for race fans and pioneers, Tim convinced Zetta she needed to continue what she had started, and that’s exactly what she did! In 1995, The Living Legends held their first parade of vintage race cars on the beach in Daytona. The parade of those cars occurred also at Daytona International Speedway for a few years, all due to the drive of Zetta Baker to make things happen. .Not content with what she had already accomplished, Zetta went on to co-found Victory Lane Racing as well as Back to the Roots. She was instrumental in the formation of Motor Racing Heritage and served as it’s first President, having to relinquish that position when her career in real estate became too time consuming to give what Zetta felt was proper attention to the group. Zetta has a son, Hank, who is currently racing stock cars. Her grandson, also named Hank, is the third so named Baker to drive race cars, and ran his first race in late 2019, looking forward to more races in 2020. Race fans in the state of Florida are familiar with the Hank Baker name, or names, as the association with stock car racing is imbedded in the sport. Whether or not the name of Zetta Baker is as well known among the current day fans is debatable, but there is no debate that among the fans of racing history as well as the men and women that made that history, Zetta Baker is a well known name. .As one of 12 children, Zetta never really discovered racing until she was 15 when she attended a race at Orlando Speed World. Her love of racing was a part of her life then, and as with most race fans, once bitten, the passion remains. But it was when she became dedicated to keeping this history alive that her love blossomed into a lifetime of doing whatever is necessary to honor those to whom all race fans owe so much. Zetta, we present you with this award for all you do, and because you so clearly love the sport.

2020 honored award recipients

Dink Widenhouse When one engages in a conversation with Dink Widenhouse, one will be entertained as well as learn a great deal about what it takes to make a true racer. Dink is unique today, and was certainly unique in the days he raced. .Dink’s brother Bill decided to build a race track in Concord, NC, when Dink was 15 years old and still in high school. To be certain there would be enough cars to make a good field, the brother pressed Dink into building and driving a car. Dink tells the story that he worked on the car after school and the car was coming along, but one day when Dink came into the garage after school, the car was painted and was lettered with the number B-29, a number to become famous across South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, as well as competing on the sands of Daytona Beach. The B-29 is believed to have come from the fact that brother Bill’s car was already number 29 (the highway on which the garage was located) and, as the timing was not too long after WWII, the B-29 was well known as a powerful bomber for the U.S.A. .Dink’s career spanned 20 years on the dirt tracks around the Carolinas and Virginia as Dink preferred the dirt tracks over asphalt. Winning races was a Dink Widenhouse trait, so much so that a track in Virginia once placed a “bounty” on Dink for another driver to beat him. Dink doesn’t recall who finally won the bounty or even how many races it took, but to this day, Dink has a twinkle in his eye when the subject is brought up and a little chuckle as he mentions it. .During his high school days, Dink would leave school on Monday and head straight to Buddy Shuman’s Garage to buy parts of his race car. He would work on the car the rest of the week to get it ready for race weekend. While he had some success in his own car, Dink credits James Russell, who owned Russell’s Garage, for putting him in a winning car. The subject of how many races he won brings another little chuckle as Dink says he has no idea. A check of several on-line sites will state a low of 200 to a high of just over 600 wins. He goes on to explain that every time he got in the car, he expected to win. In his mind there was no question that victory would be his, and so many times it was. .As his career progressed, Dink began to drive for Marion “Preacher” Cox out of Hemingway, South Carolina. Cox was a car builder and mechanic well known for winning equipment. Dink would drive for Marion Cox for 5 years, building more and more wins. In fact, one season at the speedway in Myrtle Beach, SC, Dink won every race.

The goal for Dink every race was to win enough money to keep racing. He didn’t exactly make a living off racing, but he was paying the expenses. Dink turned down racing in what was then known as the Grand National Division of NASCAR, because dirt tracks were his home and dirt tracks were where he wanted to be. .Two children came along for the Widenhouse family, and Dink decided it was time to give up the sport. He and Ralph Earnhardt were good friends as well as tough competitors. The two were in Columbia, SC, for a race on a tough half-mile track, and Dink told Ralph this was going to be his last race. Whether Ralph took that as an extra challenge to beat Dink that night or not is subject to conjecture, but during the race the two tangled and both cars sailed out of the speedway. Dink’s racing career was over by his own choosing, and his own timetable. He had done everything in racing he wanted to do and, as he states, there was nothing else to challenge him in the sport. So, the helmet was hung up and Dink became the epitome of a fine husband, and father. Anyone who has every met Dink Widenhouse has met a true legend—a pioneer of the sport of stock car racing.

2020 honored award recipients

Robert Hart Robert Hart is the son of Clyde Hart. That is important to know because it was Clyde Hart who had the vision, in 1964, to build a half mile dirt track on 55 acres of land ruled by rattlesnakes and armadillos. Clyde chose the name “Daytona Raceway.” Clyde was the kind of man who wanted to be of help to others, maybe especially others in the racing business, and it was his aim to make this track a drawing card for all who raced anywhere around the area. .That is exactly what he did. The track, starting out as dirt, but was found to be unsuited for dirt so six months after opening, the track was paved, and one of the finest half-mile paved tracks anywhere in the Southeast became known as New Smyrna Speedway. In 1966, the first of the World Series of Asphalt Stock-Car Racing events was held at the track, and has become a world- renowned event. The list of drivers who have competed in that event reads like a list of NASCAR greats. .Back when the speedway opened, other tracks were known for sometimes not paying what they had advertised to pay competitors. Such was not the case with Clyde. His track always paid what was advertised and always did exactly what he had told competitors he would do.

A handshake deal with Clyde Hart was as good as a 50-page legal document. . hen that first race took place in 1964, young Robert Hart took a seat in the grandstand W and cheered on the racing action, probably not even imagining what lay in store for him in the years ahead. When his father passed away in 1998, Robert took the role his father had held. After so many years of being an integral part of speedway operations, Robert would follow in his father’s footsteps and maintain the Hart-family reputation of fairness, helpfulness, and honesty.

In 2013, Robert made New Smyrna part of the NASCAR Home Track Series. The Home Track Series only added to the luster of the speedway and to the reputation of Robert Hart. The Hart Vision continues to enhance the track, and Robert is the one with the vision to make new adventures happen. The track supports several charitable causes with special events.

Although a recession and a hurricane known as Michael caused loss of revenue, it was never an option in Robert’s mind to close the track. Improvements continue to be made as needed to the point that the track has been re-paved three times. .It may seem that this award is more directed to New Smyrna Speedway than Robert Hart, but how do you separate the two? Robert Hart is a man who has contributed so much of his life to maintaining what his father started, so much so that his father’s old Ford pickup truck remains parked on the banking outside turn one because that is the place where Clyde parked it. . obert has stated that the thing he enjoys most about owning and operating the track is R getting to know so many people. It is safe to assume that those people think it’s a big deal to them too. Robert has propelled his father’s dream into the next dimension of racing. Robert continues to keep his word and to see that racing continues. Thank you Robert, for being who you are. You are truly a pioneer in racing and one to whom race fans owe much.

2020 honored award recipients

Hank Goodrich The story of Hank Goodrich is actually more of a two-pronged love story than anything else. There is his love for his wife Bonnie, and his love for vintage stock cars that bring with them the history of the sport of stock-car racing.

Fortunately for both Hank and Bonnie, they share the love of auto racing and its history. A little background on Hank Goodrich is due at this point. .Hank’s parents moved the family to Daytona Beach in 1955, and Hank was soon enrolled in Sea Breeze High School. One school day in 1956, someone from Volusia County came by his class asking for volunteers to help with the beach races. Hank was a ready volunteer for his duties at the beach from 1956 through 1958. Whether or not that ignited the flame that would burn so brightly in later life is not quite certain, but surely it played a part in what Hank would become. .Hank’s first car, which he recalls with passion, was a 1949 Ford Convertible he acquired in 1957. There was something about that Ford that resonated with Hank, but in 1958 he had to leave the car behind as he joined the Navy where he would serve his country with honor for 4 years. When he was discharged he returned to Daytona and soon thereafter met his charming Bonnie, and in April of 1963, they were married. .Hank began a career in ITT with a major company with headquarters in London. Fortunately for Hank and Bonnie, they were transferred only as far as Seattle. Part of Hank’s duties was representing his company at boat shows across the country which required a great deal of traveling. When the company decided to move its headquarters to Manhattan, Hank decided his 14-year career would end right there. Hank returned to Florida and went into business with his nephew building custom homes in the Orlando Area. .In 2004, Hank and Bonnie returned to Daytona Beach, and Hank and his brother-in-law, Allen Espy, went into the racing business. Hank was the driver and Volusia County Speedway, the 1/2-mile dirt track with quite the reputation, was the venue. Hank is quick to say one of the highlights of his driving career was winning a major feature event at Volusia in 2007.

Then, one night, Volusia entertained a Vintage Race. Hank was immediately attracted to the vintage-car racing in the Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association, and it was not long until he had his own vintage racer, a 1934 Ford Sedan with all the “extras” to ensure a winning car. Yes, Hank won several times in DAARA during his 8-year career, and is very proud of that accomplishment. .Hank’s driving came to an end when he had a pace maker implanted. Nevertheless, he has a street-legal 1937 Ford which is eloquently known as Golden 5. It was the end of Hank’s driving but not the end of his involvement in the sport. It became very important to both Hank and Bonnie that they do everything they could possibly do to see that stock-car racing history is not only preserved, but preserved with factual information. .Hank and Bonnie travel to many events around the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida to support the early days of racing. Both are involved with several historic preservation organizations as well as participating in the Beach Parade of vintage cars each year. Hank and Bonnie’s participation and support of Back to the Roots, along with their other endeavors, fully qualifies Hank to be this year’s recipient of the Back to the Roots Award. Hank really didn’t expect to be recognized for doing something he loves so much and doing it with the person he loves so much. Hank and Bonnie make quite a team and Back to the Roots is fortunate to have their support.

2020 honored award recipients

Jim France There's a myth (not true) that in 1839 when Abner Doubleday “invented” the sport of baseball. In 1880, Rugby player Walter Camp modified the rules of Rugby to establish the sport of American football. In order to keep athletes in shape during the winter months, James Naismith came up with the game known as basketball in 1891. That’s a little lesson in sports history.

For those who will read this biography, the sport of auto racing has been around since the early 1900s, but it is true that it took a man named William Henry Getty France, better known as Big Bill, to bring together a group to called NASCAR which gave the sport real credibility. Since that start on February 21, 1948, NASCAR has seen tremendous growth throughout the U.S. and has established itself on the world-wide stage. .Through the years, the sport has seen good times and bad. Bill France, Jr. helped guide the sport to compete head-to-head for a following with the NFL, which many consider the premier sport in America. It has always been said that once the sport of auto racing is in your life, it never leaves you. The past two decades of the sport have seen what started as a slow decline and escalated into free fall. There was more talk of the decline of NASCAR than the past weekend’s race. Then, through a twist of fate, the mantle of Chief Executive Officer was bestowed upon one James Carl France, better known as Jim. What Jim France has accomplished in the sport in one season (2019) leaves no doubt the Promoter Award should be in his office in NASCAR headquarters. .Jim is the son of Big Bill and although his leadership style is quite different than his father, the results of his leadership are making a huge, positive difference. Television ratings are up for most of the races and attendance has been steadily on the upswing. From all indications, that trend is on track to continue. Jim is the quiet type who might have preferred to remain in the shadows, but with his new role with NASCAR, the light he is emitting from those shadows is sunshine bright. .A little background may be in order now. Jim was born in Daytona Beach on October 24, 1944. He was raised in Daytona Beach, graduating from Seabreeze High School, after which he earned a business degree from Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida, in 1968. Jim was only 14 when he began working for his father at International Speedway. Ever since those teenage duties, Jim France has been a force in the NASCAR organization. His contributions and numerous titles he has held and positions he directed have always bettered the sport.

He has been known as Advisor, and now as CEO and Chairman. Jim also has a knack for surrounding himself with competent people to help move the sport along, and that itself is a sure sign of great leadership.

Jim founded the Grand American Road Racing Association in 1999, which helped move sports- car racing to an even wider following in the U.S. The Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona is one of the benefits sports-car fans have because of efforts by Jim France. Jim has been deeply involved with the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) Series, and brought that series to prominence. .The question floating around the sporting world today concerns whether or not NASCAR is finished—ready to be put to rest. Now that James Carl France is in control, it’s that question that can be put to rest. Just when the sport needed real leadership, Jim has taken command.

Based on his past performance in so many areas of motorsports, the future of the sport looks very bright. Jim receives this promoter award not just because of what he has accomplished already, but it is clear he has only just begun! Yes, Jim France, you are a promoter, but more than that, you are the man race fans needed when all looked lost. You are the man drivers and teams needed to be sure the sport has a future. You are the man your Daddy would be so proud of. From all the NASCAR fans, thank you.

2020 honored award recipients

Olin Hopes The story of this year’s Tim Sullivan Award recipient is one worthy of a book if not a movie. Olin’s life has been a life well lived, and to hear the excitement in his voice as he recalls some of his many adventures reinforces his passion for racing that remains to this day. So, where to start? The beginning is always a good starting point and that beginning, for Olin, was in Amsterdam, New York. However, life in the cold climes would not last long for the newborn as his father, a dairy farmer by trade, moved the family to Daytona when Olin was six months old. Olin tells the story of his father, already in Daytona, sending word to his wife that she needed to sell everything, load up the family in the Nash touring car and head south. That trip took five days and involved travel on many dirt roads.

Olin and the family would return to New York to assist his sister in a time of need. He stayed in New York for three years before returning to Florida for reasons very specific to the young man. New York required the age of 18 for a driver’s license while Florida allowed one to obtain the license at 16. .Back in Daytona, when Olin came home from school one day, in 1946, he saw several cars across the street from his house with numbers on them. He asked his dad what they were and was told they were race cars. Olin found out that the Daytona Beach race was coming up that weekend and that kids under 10 were admitted free with their family. Knowing his parents were not likely to attend, Olin devised a plan to get into the crowd of spectators. He rode his bike to the beach, hid it in a secure place and walked along the beach until he spotted a couple obviously bound for the race. He walked beside them until they got to the gate and took the couple’s hand and got in free. The man who let Olin fake his fathership just laughed when they got inside and told him, “I know what you’re doing.” This would be the first of Olin’s many racing-inspired adventures. .Olin served in the U.S. Navy by his choice. He somehow knew his “draft notice was coming so he chose the Navy over all the other branches and “Anchors Away” as his theme song. Returning to Daytona Beach, Olin was passing Smokey Yunick’s “Best Damn Garage” when he saw a tractor-trailer unloading big boxes. Olin was driving his 1940 Ford Coupe and stopped in to see what was in the boxes. They were, he reports, experimental Corvette engines and Olin immediately asked Smokey about buying one, although he barely had money in his pocket. .Somehow, with the prompting of the guys unloading the truck, Smokey said that he would sell one of the engines to Olin and the deal worked out. The engine was loaded into the trunk of the 1940 Ford and Olin headed home. Soon after, after some extremely hard work, Olin drove up to Smokey’s with that engine fully installed. Needless to say, Smokey’s amazement cemented his and Olin’s long relationship. .There are so many stories to tell about Olin but with the limited space allows only a mention of some highlights. Drag racing is one of those highlights. Olin was racing his Ford with the Corvette engine on the drag strips, but that wasn’t fast enough for him. Olin and his high school friend, Jerry, decided to build a “slingshot” racer and did just that. The slingshot was 92 inches long and weighed 1,154 pounds.

Olin drove the first run down the quarter-mile at 160 mph in 9 seconds and that was in 1959. .Olin worked for Ray Fox for six and half years, during which time he contributed to engines for Junior Johnson, David Pearson, Tiny Lund, Buck and Buddy Baker as well as LeeRoy Yarbrough. After the stint with Ray Fox, Olin began building engines for racing boats. After that, it was 23 years with the telephone company before his retirement. Perhaps the crowning achievement of Olin’s amazing life, at least thus far, was his involvement in establishing the Living Legends of Auto Racing Museum located in South Daytona Beach. Olin thought of all the racing history in Daytona and wanted a place to exhibit memories of that history. Olin and Bob Coolidge put up the first money to back the museum. .These days, after an injury left Olin with a debilitated left arm and leg, he has a shop in his back yard where he, in his own words “piddles.” With Olin doing the “piddling,” you never know what you’re going to get. One thing is certain, however, if Olin thought it up or even contributed to it, you know it’s first class all the way. .There is so much more to learn about Olin Hopes who will accept this year’s Tim Sullivan Award. Perhaps in another place, time will permit those stories.

A history of racing achievement award recipients alan kulwicki award 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Frank Warren Mike Skinner Sterling Marlin Richard Childress Jimmy Means

Clifford Davey Allison award 2016 Friday Hassler 2017 Reb Wickersham 2018 LeRoy Porter

Bobby Allison Award 2020 Ernie Irvan

Tim Flock Award (now the tim & frances Flock award)

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Jimmie Lewallen Neil Castles Rex White Curtis Turner Dink Widenhouse

Pioneer In Racing Award 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Don Garlits Tiger Tom Pistone Ken Ragan Humpy Wheeler Robert Hart

Smokey Yunick award 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Lou Larosa Bud Moore Waddell Wilson Ralph Johnson Pete Taylor

Red Vogt Award 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Olin Hopes Jess Potter Buddy Parrott Kenny Troutt Robert Yates

Fireball Roberts Award 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Dink Widenhouse Johnny Allen Darel Dieringer Wayne Shugart Jeff Hammond

Women In Racing Award 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Frances Flock Trisch Yunick Alma McKim Sue Rohn Zetta Baker

Back To The Roots Award 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Buz McKim Joe McGovern Charles Poindexter Bill Blair Jr. Hank Goodrich

Tim Sullivan Award 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Wood Brothers Vicki Wood Bobby Woods Don Garlits Olin Hopes

Promoter Award 2019 Ed Clark

Media Award

2017 Preston Root 2018 Don Bok 2020 Jim France

Motorcycle 200 Award

2018 Joel Cook Sr. 2019 Bob Coy 2020 Hollingsworth Family

People's Choice

2019 Travis Turner

David Ragan Lee Petty Bill and Anne France Dr. David Axelrod AJ Foyt Ken Schrader Clyde Hart Don Miller Cotton Owens Frank Warren Billy Thurston American Legion Post 120 Cale Yarborough Jim Cowan Don Reinhart Joan Freburger Bob Rueschle Cliff Champion John Andretti Jimmy Johnson Corky Vereen Robert Cothran Frances Flock Roy Hendrick Dennis Powell Tom Chaffin Tom Gurley Ray Lamm

rcycle g and moto n ci ra r fo t ven stination e k into a de e e W e ik B build Rat helped Big Daddy s. enthusiast

en gets mer Fred Lorenz Fa of l al H R A NASC bird Linda from Miss Fire ch oo sm y or ct a vi erb Nab, ’s crew chief, H ed Fr as hn ug Va in 1963. looks on back

on his Yunich working Young Smokey . s in his shop innovative idea

Dick Foley, the only Canadian racer to ever compete on the beach and in the Daytona 500 (The Great American Race) in 1959 and 1960. Dick became a track owner and promoter.

Grand National driver Tig er Tom Pistone in a '64 For d that he raced on dirt and asphalt on over 6 tra cks, oftentimes winning.

Tiny Lund tossing his friend, Tiger Tom Pistone.

(They were great friends.) On the track, however, they were fierce competitors.

The

strange story Milton and Murphy of

By Dan Smith

The sport of auto racing would not be nearly as popular without the wild cast of characters who have populated it over the years. Everyone remembers the antics of the great Barney Oldfield and NASCAR fans know all about Tim Flock and his monkey ride along, but the story of Tommy Milton and Jimmy Murphy has been mostly forgotten.

Murphy was just out of high school when he opened a car and motorcycle shop in Los Angeles. As time passed, he became a ride along mechanic for some of the world's top drivers.

His own racing career was spotty at best until 1920. That year, Jimmy secured a job working the pits for the famous Duesenberg driver Tommy Milton. Milton had been working for a year to build a car to try for the World's Land Speed Record at Daytona Beach. Now, in the Spring of 1920, he was finally ready for his attempt to top the mark of 149 m.p.h. held by his arch rival Ralph De Palma.

He arrived at Daytona Beach with a full crew in order to get his car running at peak performance. As it turned out, Tommy had a prior commitment to run a road race in Havana.

He gave his men implicit instructions on what needed to be done, and then left for Cuba.

Jimmy Murphy was but one of the crewmen left behind to get Upon his return, the car in shape, but while Milton was gone, Murphy convinced the Milton was fit race officials that he was the one that was supposed to drive the big, to be tied when twin-engined Duesenberg. He set a new record at 152 m.p.h. he earned that Upon his return, Milton was fit to be tied when he learned that his mechanic had broken the World's Land Speed Record his mechanic in Milton's car. He fired Murphy and set out to check over the had broken the car but was devastated to learn that the racer had sustained World's Land Speed serious damage. With time running out, Milton and his crew Record in his car. worked feverishly to get the car ready for another run.

On the morning of April 27th, Tommy started down the beach with the car running nicely, but halfway through the measured mile, flames and smoke poured from the louvered hood. It was the moment of truth. Milton knew it was now or never and held his foot into it as he guided along the surf in case he might have to ditch. Once he cleared the traps he had the record at 156 m.p.h.

Tommy Milton would go on to become the world's top driver. Jimmy Murphy would gain some fame as a winner at the Indianapolis 500, but would soon perish at age 30 in a crash at Syracuse. Milton and Murphy were an unlikely pair but because of what happened here 100 years ago their names will forever be linked in the annals of racing history.

Emil Reutimann

By Buz McKim

Sons carry on racing family's legacy after father's stellar career tragically ends too soon.

Emil Reutimann was the patriarch of a multi-generational auto racing dynasty.

The family has been associated with the town of Zephyrhills, FL, for decades, where Emil once owned the local Chevrolet dealership. His expertise came on the dirt tracks throughout the southeast where his familiar white and blue #00 Chevy coupe was usually found near the front of the field. He used a GMC truck 6-cylinder engine and regularly whipped the fanny of his V-8 competitors. But Reutimann’s career came to a tragic end.

On September 14, 1973, 56-year-old Emil, his youngest son, 17-year-old Dale, and family friend, Gordon Stone, were traveling to Golden Gate Speedway where Dale was scheduled to compete. Just south of Zephyrhills on Highway 301, a drunk driver crossed the center line of the two-lane road colliding with the Reutimann vehicle. No one survived the accident.

But the Reutimann legacy was carried on by Emil’s other two sons, Buzzie and Wayne, both remarkable dirt-track stars. At 78, Buzzie still competes on a regular basis.

More recently, third-generation driver David Reutimann, competed and won on NASCAR’s premier circuit.

Emil competed in an era when drivers built their own cars and relied on their own ingenuity to beat the competition. The fact that his GMC “6-banger” won constantly in the day of dominant Chevrolet V-8s proves that.

As a tribute to this remarkable competitor and his son, the Emil and Dale Reutimann Memorial, one of the southeast’s richest and most prestigious dirt track events, is held each year.

to celebrate Founders take a moment . ing rac for their enthusiasm

Vicky Wood signs the fundraising car for the late Sam Bass at Racing's North Turn.

People's Choice award Travis Tiller accepting the by popular demand.

Ernie Irvan has a great time attending his first event with his dog, Stewie.

, Buz McKim and Mike Skinner, Phaedra Lee rd was awarded the Richard Childress. Richa 2019.

Alan Kulwicki Award in

Custom trophies are presented each year at the Annual Marvin Panch Awards Brunch.

celebrating racing history

WILL KING OF THE

CAGLE DIRT TRACK

By Buz McKim

For many decades, the name Will Cagle was synonymous with great dirt track action.

He began driving on the short tracks around his native Tampa, Florida in the early 1950s while still in his teens and by 1959 began moving annually to the northeast during the summer to take on the biggest names in the sport.

He won the 1960 track championship at New Jersey’s Alcyon Speedway and soon competed in the annual Modified-Sportsman event at Daytona International Speedway.

Then, in the winters, he went back home and won 1962 Super Modified titles in Georgia and at Golden Gate Speedway in his hometown.

In 1965 he began competing at the famous dirt track at Middletown, NY, where he won five consecutive championships through 1970, and captured 46 feature wins. Cagle also won four prestigious Eastern States 200s in 1966, 1968, 1970, and 1971.

More track championships came at Nazareth, PA, in 1967, and East Windsor, NJ, in 1969, as well as Race of Champions at Langhorne, PA, in 1966. He has competed in USAC Silver Crown dirt cars, NASCAR Sportsman Division events at Daytona in 1960, 1964 and 1965. He also took a sixth-place finish in the 1975 Permatex 200 modified event on Daytona’s 3.85-mile asphalt road course.

Check out these world-class stats beginning in the early 1970s. Cagle was a regular on New York’s DIRT Modified circuit and won: 53 races and six track titles at Canandaigua; 70 races and five championships at Rolling Wheels in Elbridge; and, 84 races and three track titles at Cayuga County Fair Speedway in Weedsport. In all, Cagle won 26 track championships, three Mr. Dirtcar titles (1976, 1978, and 1979) and four consecutive (19741977) Super DIRTcar Series titles.

He also had a brush with Hollywood when he gave legendary actor and talented racedriver Paul Newman a private “test session” on June 3, 1976, in his No. 24 Chevy-powered Pinto at the then-named Weedsport Speedway series in NY. In 1985, after suffering a severe leg injury due to a broken driveshaft, he retired from driving to become the General Manager at Orange County Fair Speedway from 1986 through 1997, and also promoted Florida’s East Bay Raceway and USA International Speedway.

His racing nature took over his life once more in 2007, when Cagle came out of retirement to compete in a scaled-down Masters Class Legends coupe version of his No. 24.

David and Adam Ragan join Chocolate Myers with his wife, Caron, alongside Zetta and Phaedra.

on American Legi t. every even

Make sure to ge t lots of autogr aphs in your collectible prog ram.

ts colors at Post 120 presen Champion driv er, Bobby Allis on, enjoys the day signing autogr aphs and meeting ra ce fans.

Photographer Ray Lamm with promoter Phaedra Lee and a collectible piece presented at auction.

Richard Trivette catches up with fellow drivers and signs autographs for race fans.

Starting the legacy for Miss Back to the Roots is baby Evelyn Anderson.

celebrating racing history

P R O U D LY S U P P O R T S

BACK TO THE ROOTS Celebrating Racing History Honoring Racing Legends

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BENTLEY WARREN

THE RACER

By Buz McKim

Some call him “biker.” Some call him “entrepreneur.” Some call him the world’s oldest teenager. But everyone calls him “Racer!”

He has competed in nearly every form of motorsport and has made his mark in each.

Born in Kennebunkport, Maine in late 1940, he won his first race, in 1957, at West Peabody, Massachusetts, driving a jalopy.

His first championship came in 1962, in the B-class division at Hudson, NH. Wins have come at 34 different tracks in the U.S. and Canada.

A two-time Indy 500 starter, he competed in 37 Indy car events from 1970 through 1975, scoring three Top 5s and 14 Top 10s. His greatest fame came behind the wheel of the frightening Supermodified which shook the ground at places like Oswego, NY, and Star Speedway in Epping, NH, where he took track championships.

Some of the highlights of his remarkable career include two victories in the prestigious Little 500 in Anderson, IN; the Copper Classic at Phoenix, AZ; Connecticut’s Thompson World Series, and he has recorded a victory as recently as 2006. Warren also worked with actor Paul Newman in the early 2000s on a midget and a Supermodified at Star Speedway. To add to his accolades, Warren was elected to the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame in 2007.

In 2004, Bentley opened a world-class playground for adults.

It’s called Bentley’s Saloon and is a combination biker bar, motel, campground and restaurant located on 80 acres just outside Arundel, Maine. It features a steady stream of car shows, pig roasts, charity rides, rock concerts and any other activity that will ward off the effects of aging. Among his patrons have been former President George Bush and his wife Barbara. Not bad company to hang with. One thing is certain, when Bentley Warren is around, you can bet fun will follow!

Back to the Roots 2020 Featured Race Car

70

COTTON # OWENS

Everett “Cotton” Owens was known as the “King of the Modifieds.”

As a tribute, this 1937 Plymouth with its 1951 Chrysler 331 cubic inch Hemi engine is a replica of the winning car at the 1953 and 1954 Daytona Beach Modified races.

The car was built and is owned by Mike and Debbie Daurity of Sanford, North Carolina.

EST.

1938 the daytona 200

Photo credit: Gary Nelson Photos below credited to theoldmotor.com Motorcycle race Daytona Beach 1949.

February 1920 Harley-Davidson set Thirty Speed Records at Daytona Beach.

It might not be too late If you missed the December 7 Medicare Annual Election Period deadline, we have good news: You may still be able to enroll!

There are several reasons why you may be eligible to enroll in a Humana Medicare Advantage Plan: Moved to a new location?

Lost previous plan coverage?

Newly qualified for Medicare due to age or disability?

And other circumstances that may qualify you!

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Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For accommodations of persons with special needs at meetings call 1-877-3201235 (TTY: 711), 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., seven days a week. Applicable to Humana Gold Plus/H1036-044. At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-877-320-1235 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-877-320-1235 (TTY: 711).

(Chinese): 1-877-320-1235 (TTY :711) Y0040_GHHK4UHEN_20_C

"T"EAMWORK Creating a Commemorative T-shirt our BTTR fans will love.

Don Bok

An exciting day was had during the annual t-shirt photo shoot!

Hank Goodrich allowed us to use his #5 car for the design. We also enjoyed having Hank's wife Bonnie there as legendary NASCAR photographer Don Bok captured the image for the artwork.

Be sure to get your shirt at the merchandise side booth for $20 or 2 for $35!

Attendees enjoy the brick paver induction ceremony. t Roland Via MRHA, presiden about the Blair interviews Bill hine. legging moons ot bo history of

Bahia Shrine Club of Daytona help with the annual auction.

NASCAR driver Bobby Fleming visits from Danville, VA.

NASCAR driver, Honorable David Ragan, ytona 500 winner with Phaedra Lee and Da Geoff Bodine.

Margaret Sue Turner Wr ight accepts the Tim Flo ck award on behalf of her father, Curtis Turner, presented by Joy Flock and Zetta Baker.

7 k o o b r a e Y BACK TO THE ROOTS

Legends caught bench racing at Main Street Station.

Jack Cook, Sr. raced stock cars and motorcycles on Daytona Beach.

Winston Cup legends Travis Tiller and Blackie Wangerin backed by racing crew.

Motorcycle racing legend, Doc Batsleer, meets with fans and shares some fascinating stories.

Doc Batsleer's collection

of rare antique motorcyc

les.

back to the roots'

very own

dynamic

duo founders

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for a photo at Zetta and Phaedra pause ruary 2013. their first BT TR event - Feb

zetta baker phaedra lee

Phaedra, David Ragan an d Zetta catching up at the event each year

If someone asks you if you’ve heard of “The Dynamic Duo,” you might think of Batman and Robin and their Batmobile. But for motorsports, there is no more dynamic duo than Zetta Baker and Phaedra Lee, originators of the Back to the Roots (BTTR) programs. They met in 2012, and found they shared a desire to promote motorsports and its legends. Zetta’s father-in-law was Cannonball Bob Baker who, among his many distinctions, worked for Big Bill France right here at his Station.

Phaedra, as owner of Mainstreet Station, felt it was her responsibility to preserve its history.

Their shared interests were an immediate success and each year since 2012, BTTR activities and attendance continue to grow in numbers and prestige. From the start, Zetta brought in legends like Marvin Panch, who was an active participant, together with personalities like the Wood Brothers, Humpy Wheeler, the Allisons, and so many more. The Shriners came aboard by 2013, to fulfill Phaedra’s and Zetta’s desire to support charitable work.

But the real energy continues to be generated by two women who work together beautifully.

Except when they argue over who is the real “stabilizing force.” Zetta says she loves working with Phaedra because, “She listens to me. She may not do everything I say, but she listens.” As Phaedra tells it, “Zetta pushes me to try new things like getting up on stage to emcee and present awards,” though she admits to sometimes asking Zetta “How much is that new idea going to cost?”

When you see them speeding by you, often side by side, be sure give them a wave and thanks for their super-heroic work as our own Back to the Roots Dynamic Duo.

ANNOUNCING...

OZZIE ALTMAN!

By Tim Leeming as told by Ozzie Altman

Enter the name Ozzie Altman in any of the major Internet search engines and the results would convince you that there are at least twenty Ozzie Altmans with a deep interest in auto racing. In reality, however, there is only the one Ozzie Altman whose influence in motorsports throughout the Southeast seems to exceed the capabilities of just one man. Perhaps the ordinary one man, but not this Ozzie.

Ozzie returned to the States after eight years of active duty service with the U. S. Air Force, seven of those years spent in Europe. Ozzie is very proud of his service to his country and always makes sure people know he was honorably discharged from his duties.

Ozzie's grandfather operated a restaurant at the Magnolia Inn in Byron, Georgia. This is an important part of the story because drivers coming to race at Middle Georgia Raceway would stay at that Inn and eat in that restaurant. That's where Ozzie met and hung out with the likes of Tiny Lund, Richard Petty, Buddy Baker and Bobby Isaac among several others. This is also where he would meet Jimmy Mosteller who would play an important role in his life.

As a kid, Ozzie was a regular at the race track. Bob Harmon, who would become known as "Uncle Bob" to Ozzie, introduced him to the correct way to promote race tracks. Along with Robert Smalley, who promoted the National Dirt Racing Association, Ozzie learned every promotional trick ever conceived. Some of the better known lessons included posting handbills in every storefront that would allow it, as well as going through briar patches, barbed-wire fences and other obstacles to post the signs where it was unlikely someone would attempt to remove them. Ozzie learned those lessons well. The promotional foundation laid for Ozzie by these two gentlemen opened the door to greater opportunities for him.

Next, Ozzie was the mentored by Uncle Bob and Jimmy Mosteller in the area of announcing at the race tracks. Ozzie's reputation in this field is beyond compare. He was track announcer at several tracks over the years, most notably, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, and New Hampshire Motor Speedway among others. All of this after he was the traveling announcer for the Hav-A-Tampa racing series.

He had also worked with a local television station covering most of the races in the Southeast for that station.

Ozzie was a prominent radio D.J. on T Winner Radio located on St. Simons Island, Georgia. His show, known as "Oz in the Afternoon" was a staple for the area, but when the local track announcer "lost his voice" for the Hav-A-Tampa event at Golden Isle Speedway, Jimmy Mosteller pressed Ozzie into service to announce the event. It was from that start that Mosteller hired Ozzie as the traveling announcer for the series. Having to give up his freelance work for NASCAR to handle his new duties was bittersweet for Ozzie, but he has never looked back.

Trying to summarize the work Ozzie has put into his career in racing would take many pages. He has been track announcer at twenty different tracks he can recall. He has worked, in some capacity, at over 300 racetracks across America. Ozzie contributed so much to so many tracks and racing series that it is impossible to list them all here, but then, after all, those are only statistics and Ozzie Altman is much more than statistics. He is often heard to say, "I love announcing races," and further qualifies that statement by adding that the racing folks are his family, and he is completely at home in their company. There was no "yellow brick road" for Ozzie to follow, but he made his own road paved with golden memories. The life he has lived is so intertwined with racing there is no separating the two.

Ozzie loves Back to the Roots and what it stands for because, in a unique way, Back to the Roots is Ozzie Altman.

Jacksonville

SPEEDWAY PARK

By Sue Rohn

Jacksonville Speedway was designed and constructed by long-time race promoter Eddie Bland, Jr. at a coast of $100,000.00. The cost was shared by ten stockholders, including Bland and Bland, Sr. It opened for competition March 16, 1947, with big cars also known as Indy Cars, and won by Speed Wynn out of Tampa, Florida, then a haven for Indy drivers during the winter months. The Jacksonville track was the first designed for strictly auto racing after WWII and unique that it had short straightaways and long sweeping, banked turns. The surface was packed and graded red clay trucked in and had a depth of six inches minimum.

Competing tracks were, for the majority, horse racing tracks at state fairgrounds with long straights and tight turns. It was considered a half mile but the half was measured from the bottom making it closer to 5/8th in the groove. The new facility (Jacksonville Speedway Park) was constructed on property at Lenox and Plymouth Streets on Jacksonville Westside. The last race was run in 1973, and now rests under an apartment complex.

NASCAR Grand National Series (now Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series) races were held at the track. Herb Thomas won the series November 4, 1951, and March 7, 1954.

Marshall Teague won the series March 3, 1952. Lee Petty won the series February 13, 1955, and November 20, 1960. Wendell Scott won the series December 1963. In addition to auto racing, the track hosted The NASCAR Grand American Series, in 1972, won by David Pearson.

1968 Jax Speedway on Pecan Park Road, Northside of Jacksonville, a 1/4 mile paved oval track opened on the 9th of June. The track operated successfully until 1972, when it closed to make way for a 1/2 mile dirt track.

1969 the 1/8 mile drag strip was stage 2 of the project, being built. The drag strip was also known as Pecan Park Drag Strip.

When opened in 1973, this 1/2 mile dirt oval soon became a major draw to the venue.

When the track was built, soil from Speedway Park was used.

A dirt go-kart track was also built at the venue along with a Mud Bog course. The Mud Bog course only ran for a short time. After decades of use, the property was sold in 2005.

Old race cars love to visit the garage that once kept them fired up for the famous beach and road course.

friend ley with good Dick and Eva Fo Linda Vaugh.

e of the es his knowledg Olin Hopes shar late Junior e designed by th moonshine still erpiece for nt ce ted in this en es pr re n so John t. the 2019 even

The additon of the Main Street Rumble on Sunday makes the 3-day event even more thrilling to experience.

Joe McGovern hugs his friend , the late Bruce Abbott at the 2019 BTTR .

Photographer s enjoy snappi ng candid shots of energe ntic racers and fans.

Lots of racing stories are shared at the old garage.

FATHERS AND SONS: GROWING UP AROUND NASCAR AND AUTO RACING

By David Axelrod They say a major milestone in a child’s life is to achieve a satisfying, adult relationship with their parents. For sons, that is often referred to as “father atonement.” Not that there have to be sins to atone for, but following in the footsteps of a remarkable father can be daunting and can often lead down challenging paths. NASCAR and auto racing have many famous examples: the Earnhardts, the Allisons, and of course, the France family, and dozens more.

But what of boys, like me, who grow up with a father who wasn’t so much famous as truly gifted. My father wasn’t just a motorhead, he was a motorwhisperer. He didn’t just know engines, he could lean toward them, listen intently, and understand what they were saying. He didn’t just fix a car, he spoke its language. Sam Axelrod, born in 1911, probably had a wrench to teethe on. He owned gas stations, parts stores and machine shops most of his life, and took every opportunity manufacturers offered to travel to their factories for expert training. He built stock cars to race at the West Peabody, Massachusetts Speedway—a classic old-time dirt short track.

He was there for the love of it. So much so, that he didn’t win that many races. After he’d get his own car tuned, he’d notice a competitor fretting over some mechanical failure and go tune up that car—often better than his own—and they would win.

As his son, I grew up by his side riding everywhere in the tow truck.

Other dads coached a Little League team and played catch with their sons. My playground was the junkyard. I loved washing up after a day with my dad, scrubbing up with sand soap which, to my mother’s chagrin, always left grease under our fingernails.

If you look up who invented the go-kart, it will tell you it was a fellow in California in 1956. But in 1953, the Beverly Times published a photo of me with my father (to the right), documenting the first-ever go-kart. He cut and bent the hood of a 1940 Hudson for my cart but for some reason, he didn’t bother putting a floorboard in the cart. Safety precautions consisted of his telling me, “Don’t put your foot down.” Its Briggs and Stratton Engine got me up to 35 mph when he drove down a runway at the Beverly airport in his truck to time me.

Dad did a pretty good job keeping his own body running well but by 89, when I visited him, we knew he didn’t have much more time. I told him what a great Dad he had been. How much I admired and loved him.

He always stood by me, even when I switched from engineering in college to being an English major. He was quiet when I published one book after another of poetry. Quiet, not negative, just as he was quiet about showing affection. But, when I told him I loved him that day and gave him what was never his particular taste—a big hug—he stepped back, put out a big, still-strong hand to grip mine, and drew me near to tell me, “I love you, too, David. But I never understood a word of your poetry.”

Sam Axelrod died in December, 2000, having come down as often as he could to visit Daytona Beach for Speed Week. And that’s why I’ve settled here, for the love of autos and racing, and to remember my Dad.

David Axelrod, age 10, with his father, Sam, who invented the go-kart.

FATHERS FATHERS AND AND SONS SONS

If dad does it, and if he brings you If dad does it, and if he brings you there, there, chances are you’ll chances are you’ll want want to do to it, do too.it, too. imagine Richard, watching SoSo imagine Richard, watching his dad, Lee, powering sideways through Daytona’s north turn, wheels digging into sand and shells, defying the the corner’ corner’ss reputation reputation defying as “The Junkyard.”

A son would would as “The Junkyard.” A son have to hold his breath and hope have to hold his breath and hope he’d grow up just like dad, he’d grow up just like dad, not to mention, grandson Kyle. not to mention, grandson Kyle.

Bobby Allison will be hard to beat Bobby Allison will be hard to beat with 84 wins over 22 years. with 84 wins over 22 years.

Then, there’s brother Donnie, Then, there’s brother Donnie, who’s in the Motorsports Hall who’ s in the Motorsports of Fame.

Imagine, BobbyHall lost of Fame.

Bobby lost two sons,Imagine, Davey and Clifford, twothey sons, Daveytheir and Clifford, as pursued passion theysport. pursued their passion forasthe Photos show a love family andPhotos racingshow so strong forofthe sport. a love theofnext generation willsosurely family and racing strongwin.

NASCAR, no beatswin. theBut nextforgeneration willone surely William Clifton France, senior, But for NASCAR, no one beats and Bill, Jr.,Clifton founder of ansenior, empire, William France, whose entire family now shepherds and Bill, Jr., founder of an empire, NASCAR, the Speedway and the sport. whose entire family now shepherds

Dr. David B. Axelrod is Volusia County’s Poet Laureate, editor of the Back to the Roots Program, Secretary of the Motor Racing Heritage Association, and author of the only book of poetry ever published exclusively about growing up around cars and auto racing. The Speed Way (TotalRecall Publications © 2012-2013).

From all of us at Backyard Boys BBQ, Congratulations to the winners of the 5th Annual Awards Brunch!

Stop in and see us • Located on US1 in South Daytona • Open 11-9 daily

The turns along the beach course were hard to navigate and often separated the pro from the novice.

Reb Wickersham, recipient of the 2017 Clifford and Davey Allison Award. We look forward to seeing him at a future BTTR event.

The beaches were filled with drivers and fans waiting for the flag to drop.

This old hot rod parked at the car show makes for a variety of styles that love to race.

Bill France Sr. (center)

r at a Bill Blair honors his fathe ot with sho commemorative photo Sr. at the ir Bla l Bil the trophy won by .

58 19 in final beach race

Jimmy Means' passion still fuels his enthusiasm as an active race car owner.

was entered in the This customized Kaiser Trials held on Daytona 1954 Sports Car Speed g Speed Week 1954.

Beach by NASCAR durin Photo: theoldmotor.com

the famous three-wide finish in the 1959 Daytona 500. Photo: theoldmotor.com

Lee Petty in the No. 42 Oldsmobile went on to finish 2nd in the 1958 convertible beach race.

Photo: theoldmotor.com

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