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Remembering a Talladega Milestone: Richard Brickhouse. By
Michael Smith
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Jeff Gordon’s 50th career Winston Cup victory, coming as
it did at Talladega, brings to mind another driver who
scored a milestone victory at the same facility. Does
anyone remember Richard Brickhouse?
Talladega held its inaugural race in 1969. At that time,
drivers were not accustomed to running sustained speeds
approaching 200 miles per hour. More importantly, tire
manufacturers were not producing a tire capable of running
at speeds approaching 200 miles per hour. At such a
blistering pace, tires were wearing out in just a few
laps.
About the same time Talladega was having its teething
pains, a number of NASCAR’s drivers were forming the
PDA, the Professional Drivers Association. Richard Petty
was the leader of the Association and Buddy Baker was
a member of the board of directors. As one of its first
official acts, the PDA elected to boycott the inaugural
race at Talladega, on the grounds that the facility
was unsafe.
No amount of cajoling from “Big” Bill France could change
the drivers minds. Big Bill even purchased a race car
from the Holman Moody race team to turn hot laps of
his own in an effort to prove the track safe when driven
at a reasonable, tire conscious speed. France’s effort
was to no avail. Richard Petty, David Pearson and nearly
all of the big name drivers of the day packed up their
tools, their cars and their teams, and went home.
Bill France, faced with the prospect of a grandstand
full of fans, and no race, quickly scratched together
a field of drivers who, for whatever reason, were willing
to brave the possible dangers of a tire failure at nearly
200 miles per hour. Richard Brickhouse was one of those
struggling drivers, eager for an opportunity to showcase
his talent on the new track. Brickhouse was placed in
a car vacated by Charlie Glotzbach, who stepped out
to honor the boycott.
The 1969 season would turn out to be Richard Brickhouse's
best year, with 7 top ten finishes, 1 top 5 and a victory
at Talladega. Richard Brickhouse would not win another
NASCAR race after battling to victory in the inaugural
race at Talladega. Some observers believe that Brickhouse's
later career may have been hampered by the fact that
he chose to race when so many boycotted the first Talladega
event.
Brickhouse ran his 39th and final NASCAR race in 1982,
never having reclaimed the magic of that day in 1969
when he stood in victory circle – the first driver ever
to do so at Talladega - and shook hands with Big Bill
France.
So, when you think of great races you’ve watched, or
racing milestones you have witnessed, remember Richard
Brickhouse, whose racing milestone has been somewhat
dimmed by history. Who knows, by choosing to race, along
with a handful of other struggling drivers, Richard
Brickhouse might have saved the sport of stock car racing,
but it’s sad to think he had to sink his own career
to do that.
Incidentally, Buddy Baker would return to Talladega
in March of 1970, and while tire testing, break the
200 mile per hour record. And the Professional Driver’s
Association? Let’s just say “Big” Bill France ended
up winning that fight, shall we? They didn’t call him
“Big” Bill for nothing.
copyright 2000. Michael Smith
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NASCAR
RACING DEPARTMENTS
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NASCAR
AUCTIONS
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NASCAR
RACING WEB SITES
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