Throwback Thursday – November 17
Georgia race fans remember this date well, as for those who were around recall that this was the day that Fireball Roberts rode on the 3-mile road course known as Augusta International Raceway (GA). The track was opened in 1959 and closed in 1970, and its only NASCAR Cup Series race was held on this date in 1963. Richard Petty led 56 laps before having mechanical problems. Fireball Roberts led 14 laps and beat Dave MacDonald for the win. Parts of the track are still able to be seen today.
THE THIRD TURN: 1964 The First 510 at Augusta International Raceway
– Speaking of Richard Petty and Georgia, on this day in 1968 Petty won the Georgia 500 at the Middle Georgia Raceway. Petty started fifth in the 30-car field and led 362 laps to win the race over David Pearson. Those two drivers were the only two drivers on the lead lap as third-place runner James Hylton was 10 laps off the pace. One other piece of information for this race was that the points for this race counted for the 1969 season.
THE THIRD TURN: 1969 Georgia 500 at Middle Georgia Raceway
– Many people forget that Ricky Rudd won the season finale at Riverside International Raceway (CA) in 1985. There was so much attention on the points battle that went to Darrell Waltrip who finished seventh. Bill Elliott who had won 11 races that year finished 31st ending his bid for the title. The race was highly combative with nine different leaders.
THE THIRD TURN: 1985 Winston Western 500 at Riverside International Raceway
– The start of the 1991 season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway gave Dale Earnhardt his fifth NASCAR Winston Cup Series title. Mark Martin had been on the verge of a win all season, and finally sealed the deal to close out the year. Martin led 190 laps that day.
THE THIRD TURN: 1991 Hardee's 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
– In one of the craziest "What just happened?" moments in PASS South history, Ben Rowe passed on Corey Williams on the final turn at Concord Speedway (NC). A car had spun near the third turn and Williams slowed on the track to the point where he might have thought a yellow was coming out. Rowe then zipped past and stole the win. Now the track is gone and this is just one of the great memories from the tricky Concord triangle.
THE THIRD TURN: 2007 Mason-Dixon Meltdown at Concord Speedway
– Augie Grill came south to Florida from Alabama and took a big trophy and check back home after he won the Florida Governor’s Cup 200 on this date at New Smyrna Speedway (FL). Grill led 185 laps and would win easily from the outside of the front row. A year later he did it again and went back-to-back.
THE THIRD TURN: 2012 Florida Governor's Cup 200 at New Smyrna Speedway
