Maybe this example will explain why Jackie McLaughlin is so highly regarded.

The handicapping system at Alcyon Speedway went something like this - Slowest cars - 1st heat, next fastest - 2nd heat, fastest - 3rd heat. The rule was you had to run the feature in the last car you qualified. The level of competition at Alcyon was extremely high. Consequently, many good drivers would not make the show.

Many owners would ask Jackie to qualify their cars for them. Jackie often qualified 2 cars a night, and sometimes 3. running different cars in all 3 heats. Jackie would climb into a car he had never sat in before, that had failed to qualify 6 weeks in a row, and win or at least finish 3rd or 4th in the heat race, instead of the 12th, or 13th spot the car normally finished in. in the process, he would be turning laps way faster than that car had ever gone before . Owners, drivers and fans would just stand there, mouths hung open, in awe, since no changes had been made to the car.

Unbelievable performances like this, which were accomplished weekly, are part of what made him a legend, not just the feature wins in his regular modified. A great driver, in a great car is always a threat to win, but everybody knew that even in a slow car, Jackie always had a shot at winning. How did he do it? nobody knows, but, no car went slow, when Jackie was in it. It was absolutely amazing!