Full Throttle

(NOTE: This is another in a series of posts on the “Good Old Days” of NASCAR, this week’s entry centers on the State of Michigan site of this weeks Sprint Cup event at Michigan International Speedway.)

Cale Yarborough won the first NASCAR race at MIS on June 15, 1969, in a thrilling duel with LeeRoy Yarbrough as the two drivers battled door-to-door for most of the final 150 laps. But that historic event at what was Lawrence H. LoPatin’s dream turned sour was only a continuation of a long history of NASCAR in the Great Lake State.

The Grand Rapids Speedrome located in Comstock Park, MI , a suburb of Grand Rapids, operated from 1903 until sold to the State with it’s final closure in 1966. While early Modifieds, Midgets and Sprint cars dominated action at the one mile dirt oval, with famous names such as Louis Chevrolet, Ralph DePalma and Barney Oldfield gracing its winners circle, NASCAR in its earliest form made its presence felt also.

Marshall Teague driving one of the Famous Hudson Hornets won a 200 lap NASCAR event on the then reconfigured one half mile of the “drome” as it was called by the locals in July 1951. Dick Rathmann, Fonty and Tim Flock and Lloyd Moore completed the top five.

Three years later, July 1954, Lee Petty beat Buck Baker, Dick Rathmann, Ray Duhigg and Jim Reed across the line. in the final NASCAR event held as the “Drome.

As a sidenote to the 1954 season, flame-proof coveralls are made available to NASCAR drivers for $9.25 each by Treesdale Laboratories. It is the third NASCAR-specific product offered that season. The $35 GenTex 70 helmet and special racing tires priced at $37.90 each from Pure Oil Co. had already been offered.

Moving to the Eastern side of the State, Michigan State Fairgrounds in Detroit, Michigan (Operating Dates: 1899-1966) held two events in 1951-52.

Tommy Thompson won the first Motor City 250 in a self owned 1951 Chrysler. Joe Eubanks, Johnny Mantz, Red Byron and Red Byron finished out the top five. Others competing that day were Curtis Turner (9th), Lee Petty (13th), Midwest Ass’n for Race Cars (MARC) (Now ARCA) Series veterans Les Snow ( 21st) and the legendary Iggy Katona (22nd)

Tim Flock won the second event at the Fairgrounds with Buddy Shuman, Herb Thomas, Bill Blair and Pat Kirkwood in trail.

Monroe Speedway (Monroe, MI Operating Dates: 1949-1954) was located very close to present day Flat Rock Speedway. Tim Flock completed the 200 laps of the half mile dirt oval in the lead followed by Herb Thomas, Lee Petty, Fonty Flock and Ray Duhigg. ARCA star Iggy Katona competed in this event as well finishing in eighth place in a ‘51 Oldmobile.

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