a09.30.04_050_UNK_TRN_0050G_1.jpg (46148 bytes)

Photo ID # a09.30.04_050_UNK_TRN_0050G_1
Car #: #50 & ?
Driver (s) : R
Location: Trenton
Date: 1950's or early 60's
Photographer: John Reilly
Photo provided by: Garden State Vintage Stock Car Club (GSVSCC)
Comments: Here's a photo that shows what NASCAR Stock Car Racing was like back in the late 50's and/or early 60's.
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Comment:

09/06/04 Harold Stover Fielden's "Forty Years of Stock Car Racing - Volume 1" lists Trenton Speedway's inaugural NASCAR event occurring in the Northern 500 Memorial Day race at the New Jersey State Fairgrounds on May 30th, 1958.

The picture shows the flagman waving the "checkers" for the race winner, # 22, Fireball Roberts, in a Frank Strickland 1957 Chevrolet, because the # 50, driven by Mario Rossi, another ' 57 Chevy finished 17th, 51 laps down to the leader.

This race is also notable because Frankie Schneider qualified on the pole, but withdrew from the race, and then was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR for "actions detrimental to the best interests of stock car racing and for unsportsmanlike conduct" by Executive Manager Pat Purcell. This situation was a disagreement over "appearance money". In 1957, the big "3" automakers pulled out of team sponsership of NASCAR, which prompted the France family to institute the concept of "travel" or "appearance money". Bill France, in order to ensure a large field of drivers ( NASCAR at the time was in competition with the AAA Championship trail) for his July 4th, 1957 "Raleigh 250" at Raleigh, NC, promised EACH competitor "at least" $300 in "travel money" if they ran at his show. Schneider also won the pole for the Raleigh race and finished 2nd on the lead lap. Quick check of the race purses and payouts shows that Frankie's payday ( $ 2,475. ) for the July 4th race in ' 57 was the most money paid for finishing second for the whole season, $ 25. more than for finishing second at France's own Daytona "beach" race.

Me thinks that since Frankie also won the pole for the "Memorial Day" Trenton 500 1958 race, that France was not going to pay him the same amount as his July 4th, ' 57 feat, Schneider complained, and poor Frankie was "sent packing" in "the best financial interests of Stock Car racing". Very plausible, Yes ? ?

Before Memorial Day, Schneider finished 29th at Daytona( $50 ), 4th at Fayetteville NC ( $ 275. ), 2nd again at Fayetteville NC ( $ 470. ), 27th at Martinsville VA ( $75. ), WON at Manassas VA ( $ 600. ), 4th at Old Bridge NJ ( $ 250. ) and 4th at Roanoke VA ( $ 250. ) before winning the pole at the New Jersey State Fairgrounds. The "Northern 500" took 5 hrs, 54 min. and 56 seconds to complete. Schneider's ' 58 stats, 7 starts, 1 win, 5 top fives, and 5 top tens Total Purse $ 1,970.

My father took my brother and myself to the last "Northern 300" won by Bobby Allison (# 12 Coca Cola Chevy) in 1972.  I want to think that Trenton was also scheduled for July in 1973, but was rained out and ultimately never rescheduled, nor was NASCAR GN or Winston Cup ever to visit Trenton again. Anyone remember if the race was rained out, or was it just dropped from the new ' 73 Cup schedule ? ? ?

10/30/04 3-Wide I was probably there in 73 too, but don't remember the details.  I do remember how exciting it was to go into the pits after the race and get to stand by the drivers and their cars.  It was the only shot we ever had of seeing the "big time" drivers up close!
11/27/04 Harold Stover On page 123, of "LEGENDS OF THE TRACK" by Duane Falk ($30.00), one paragraph blurb on Trenton, says "1973 time trials were completed (unfortunately, no qualifying order or rundown was offered as evidence), however, race was postponed due to inclement weather, and GRAND NATIONAL/WINSTON CUP cars and stars (like the Wood Brothers " 21 ") would not venture to Trenton, or any other part of the Garden State (Old Bridge and Linden (airport) included).

Besides for "Legends of the Track" by Duane Falk, other books on Harold's wish list include:  "Tales From Pit Road (w/Buddy Baker and Greg Fieldens) $19.95 and "Charlotte Motor Speedway - A History from beginning construction through its legendary legacy of residence near Queen City" $24.95

     
     
     

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