One of the stories I remember about Bowman-Gray in the early day is that, because it was also a football stadium, they used the football scoreboard for the races as well. The leader would be "Home", second place would be "Away", and third place was "Yards to go".
The first NASCAR-sanctioned event took place on May 18, 1949, and was won by Fonty Flock.[3] The track was opened by NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and Alvin Hawkins, and remains operated by members of the Hawkins family to this day.[4] By the end of the inaugural Bowman Gray season 11 races had been run and five more were rained out. Tim Flock won the track championship with a season that included four wins. As the racing had become extremely popular at the track, an additional 7,000 seats were added in 1953, raising the seating capacity from 10,000 to 17,000.[5] The track has hosted numerous series throughout the years including the NASCAR Grand National Series (now NASCAR Cup Series), NASCAR Convertible Division, NASCAR Late Model Short Track Division (now NASCAR Xfinity Series), NASCAR Grand American, Dash Series, NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Division, and NASCAR K&N Pro Series.[6] The first Grand National event took place in 1958 and it was won by Bob Welborn.[7] Other winners include Glen Wood, Rex White, David Pearson, Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Junior Johnson and Marvin Panch.[7] Richard Petty won his 100th race at the track. The Grand National Series first raced at the track in 1958 and hosted a total of 29 Grand National races through 1971
Bowman Gray stadium is a different atmosphere from any other Track 👍, I was a Crew member on a Stadium Stock car ,and also on a Sportsman car for many years 👍, for anyone who has never been to a Saturday night at Bowman Gray is Missing out, a lot of action on the track,in the stands and in the pits.
I've always wanted to come see a race at Bowman Gray. If it's not too far i might try to hit the Petty Museum & Bowman Gray on the same trip this summer.
The cool pic @4:26 looks like Maurice polishing one of the Plymouth Valiant's PE entered in the Daytona "Continental" races for Compact cars maybe 1960-'61 ?
The stadium was built in 1937 as a public works project to provide jobs during the Great Depression. The first event at the new stadium was a football game in the fall of 1938 between Wake Forest College and Duke University. In the beginning, the stadium's sole use was for collegiate football until trotter horse racing was added on the 0.250-mile dirt oval. The first auto racing at Bowman Gray was a type of midget car racing on the dirt quarter mile track from 1939 through 1949. The track was paved in 1947, after a promoter got the City of Winston-Salem to agree to pay to have the track paved in exchange for restitution of payments through a percentage of future income from races. However, after the track was paved the promoter fled before any payments were made to the city.[2] Stock car racing at Bowman Gray Stadium was started by Bill France Sr. and Alvin Hawkins, two men who were founding fathers of NASCAR. The track was NASCAR's very first weekly track and the very first paved track that NASCAR raced on. The track would run weekly NASCAR sanctioned events during the summer months
To Ritchie's comment, yes Miss Betty Jane Zachary was Miss Bowman Gray Stadium 1956, the inaugural year of the pageant. She later married Bill France, Jr.
And to sad story of Bobby Myers' death at Darlington in 1957, he was at the wheel of a second Petty Oldsmobile entry that day. And though this video is about Bowman Gray, that 1957 Southern 500 field included additional Petty connections. Gwyn Staley drove Julian Petty's Chevy, and the last place finisher was Thaddeus Alvin "T.A." Toomes.
Great stories as always...I still belive i have that ol 42 oldsmobile...im correct right ? ..need to find and re unbox it . I belive it was only sold at NAPA stores ..at least by me it was ...i belive i also still have a ol book with petty cards ..like baseball cards havent seen it in years but know i have it . Matter of fact ..im a big hot wheels collector an just yesterday found ..2 more them old 1998 era Kyle pettys ol hot wheels car decal on front ...48 car storqge case ....i swear i got 20 those things ...even made a custom case for Adam out of a old 45 sprint bumper sticker .
Really love the channel guys. Just was curious if you guys would ever have Jimmy Hensley on the show? Was a big fan of his when he was racing, would love to hear some stories from yalls time racing together with the 43 truck.
