Vintage NASCAR

Memories from the Oval - A motorsports sideblog

[vintagenascar]

Tim Richmond (#27), Neil Bonnett (#12), and Cale Yarborough (#28) photographed racing at Pocono Raceway in 1985.

[vintagenascar]

The program cover for the 1984 Wrangler Sanfor-Set 400 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. The cover features Wrangler sponsored drivers Dale Earnhardt (right in photo, #3 car) and Ricky Rudd (left in photo, #15 car).

[vintagenascar]

The program cover for the final NASCAR Winston Cup race at Riverside International Raceway in 1988. The iconic road course in Riverside, California fell victim to a combination of encroaching residential developments, noise complaints, and rising property value. Following a season of racing on a truncated version of the track, Riverside would close for good in 1989.

A shopping mall was built on the former site of the track, opening in 1992 and still occupying the location today. The final track building was demolished in 2005 to make way for townhouses. Today, nothing remains of Riverside other than memorabilia and memories.

The cars of Terry Labonte (#11), Dave Marcis (#71), and Richard Petty (#43) feature on the cover. Labonte would finish runner-up to Rusty Wallace in the race, Petty would come home in 6th, and Marcis ended the day one lap down in 21st.

[vintagenascar]

4x IndyCar and 1x Formula 1 champion Mario Andretti sits in his #11 Holman-Moody Ford prior to the 1967 Daytona 500. Andretti would go on to win the race, his only victory in NASCAR competition.

Andretti and 1972 Daytona 500 winner A.J. Foyt are the only two drivers to have ever won both the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500.