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Randy Ayers Nascar Modeling Forums
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George Andrews
Joined: 30 Jan 2018 Posts: 460
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2022 10:10 am Post subject: NASCAR Hall of Fame |
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This years' inductees are Matt Kenseth, Kirk Shelmerdine, and HERSHEL McGRIFF !!! Yes -- YES -- YES !!!
At age Ninety - Four , Hershel has waited FAR TOO Long for his day. I'm still researching the claim that Hershel raced against ALL FOUR generations of the Petty Family; if so he would likely be the only driver - dead or alive - that can make that claim. He also raced FOR the Pettys, kinda - sorta , in the 1973 Daytona 500, running a new Petty Enterprises 1972 Plymouth to a 5th place finish. He would return to run 4 more Cup races in 1974 in a Petty Enterprises Dodge. McGriff also raced stock cars in Australia, AND at the World Famous 24 Hours of LeMans in 1976 !!!
After winning the 1950 Mexican Road Race in a bone - stock Oldsmobile, McGriff would run the 1st Southern 500, where he was noticed by car owner Frank Christian. Even though he only drove half the events, McGriff still earned 4 wins and finished 6th in 1954 season points. High finishes in selected events in 1951 - '54 earned him an offer from Carl Kiekhaefer in the all - conquering Chrysler 300's !!! Hershel would turn down the ride to return to Oregon, raise a family, and run the company sawmill town in Bridal Veil. The ride he turned down would carry Tim Flock to the 1955 NASCAR Championship. Woulda - Shoulda - Coulda...
Hershel McGriff would return to NASCAR Racing in the 1969 Permatex 300 at Riverside Raceway, ( was there EVER a better Sponsor Name for " The Saturday Race " -- at Riverside, Daytona, or wherever ??? ), winning the event and earning a Lifetime Tire Deal with Goodyear !!! ( McGriff is 1 of 5 drivers reputed to have had this deal, I'm sure A.J. Foyt was another; perhaps Mark Donohue too ??? )
Through out the 1970's & '80's Hershel McGriff competed on NASCAR's Grand National West / Winston West Series, finally winning the season championship in 1986 ( along with 12 straight Most Popular Driver awards ). Though he never won any of the combined West / Cup races at Riverside, he would win 14 " Stand - Alone " Winston West or Southwest Tour races at the famed California road course, the most wins among professional drivers.
While Ray Elder may have won more West Series Championships, and Jack McCoy more races, Hershel McGriff has more style, charisma, and popularity with the fans - to this very day !!! I hope he is able to attend the West Series' 1000th Race in August at Evergreen Speedway, Monroe, WA. I want to see "... The driver of the ZERO - FOUR Pontiac - from BRIDAL VEIL OREGON - HERSHEL .. MCGRIFF !!! " - one more time.
Last edited by George Andrews on Mon May 09, 2022 10:38 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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DaveVan
Joined: 27 Jan 2018 Posts: 1582
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2022 11:33 am Post subject: |
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Totally agree with 2 of the 3............................... |
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TonyK
Joined: 21 Feb 2018 Posts: 116
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Posted: Sun May 08, 2022 7:34 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for posting this. Was a big fan of his and enjoyed watching him at Portland Speedway. A fan of his son Doug also. |
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George Andrews
Joined: 30 Jan 2018 Posts: 460
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2022 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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DaveVan -- I too am wondering about the 2nd " driver " I listed for the next HOF class... |
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TN Vols fan
Joined: 18 Jan 2022 Posts: 289 Location: Crossett, AR
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Posted: Tue May 10, 2022 8:23 am Post subject: |
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I'm not trying to be argumentative, but am I missing something? Kirk went into the NASCAR H.O.F. as a crew chief, not a driver. He, along with Dale, Sr and the team, won four NASCAR Cup Series championship's. I think that Kirk is well deserving of his induction as a crew chief. _________________ "Many men fish all their lives without knowing it is not the fish they are after." Henry David Thoreau
"I am, Sir, a brother of the angle" quote from The Compleat Angler, lzzak Walton 1654 |
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Tom M. Board Moderator
Joined: 01 Feb 2018 Posts: 606
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Posted: Tue May 10, 2022 10:09 am Post subject: |
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TN Vols fan wrote: | I'm not trying to be argumentative, but am I missing something? Kirk went into the NASCAR H.O.F. as a crew chief, not a driver. He, along with Dale, Sr and the team, won four NASCAR Cup Series championship's. I think that Kirk is well deserving of his induction as a crew chief. |
I'm not sure Shelmerdine was the "driver" being addressed. |
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TN Vols fan
Joined: 18 Jan 2022 Posts: 289 Location: Crossett, AR
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Posted: Tue May 10, 2022 11:40 am Post subject: |
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Tom M. wrote: | TN Vols fan wrote: | I'm not trying to be argumentative, but am I missing something? Kirk went into the NASCAR H.O.F. as a crew chief, not a driver. He, along with Dale, Sr and the team, won four NASCAR Cup Series championship's. I think that Kirk is well deserving of his induction as a crew chief. |
I'm not sure Shelmerdine was the "driver" being addressed. |
You might be correct, driver #2 was mentioned. As Kirk's name was #2 listed in the first sentence I guess I just assumed. _________________ "Many men fish all their lives without knowing it is not the fish they are after." Henry David Thoreau
"I am, Sir, a brother of the angle" quote from The Compleat Angler, lzzak Walton 1654 |
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George Andrews
Joined: 30 Jan 2018 Posts: 460
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Posted: Tue May 10, 2022 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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My apologies to all; I did not realize Kirk Shelmerdine was going in as a crew chief. I was thinking of his brief driving career. He is certainly deserving of the HOF nod for his efforts at Richard Childress Racing. |
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