Central Indiana motorsports ad Anderson Speedway!

Sure do. Tiny Lund drove Marvin Paunch's car and won the '63 Daytona 500 when Marvin was burnt when he wrecked while practicing a sports car.  I forget the particulars but I'm absolutely sure I've got that right. The '63 500 was the first NASCAR race I ever attended.

If you remember the ASA in those day, you remember Denny Miles, L.J. Lines, Ray Fullen, Darwin Blankenship, Don Gregory from Columbus, Paul (or was it Bill?) Baird from Louisville, the Kimmel Brothers from New Albany, Vern Schrock, among others.  Rat Racers...? do the names Jim Neeley, Dennis Bitner or Kenny Cripe ring any bells?  You probably remember the other ASA classification too, Super-Sixes? Who was the guy with the Valiant who used to clean everyone's clock when the 6's first began?  You probably also remember when Rex had his house on Raible Ave on the edge of Edgewood?

In the early days of ASA there were a large number of Anderson drivers trying to step up.  Some managed to have some success in that series before the bigger money came in.  A few are still racing today.  I've got a picture from the newpaper at home, showing Rex Robbins and someone, on the starting line at Sun Valley with a 67 or so Dodge late model.  They were announcing the new ASA organization.  I'll see if I can dig it out and scan it in.

 Does anyone remember the twin Buick Roadmasters that Rex built and competed with at Sun Valley?  He ran those before starting the ASA.  Brothers Jack and Bob Evans were the drivers.  Jack drove #45 and Bob piloted #38.  Dad ended up with the only one that survived, the 38 car.  It was very well done for a figure 8 car.  We ran Chevies, but dad was pretty happy to have gotten ahold of that Buick.  We didn't run it a lot though, as it was getting uncompetetive by then.

i remember when ASA was hashed out, Rex owned station on 8th and by pass,i lived 2 blocks away bought gas and hung out. ed fiddle was dri-power man then, before he started car bright. the evans guys  and several others would jabber jaw about it. i ran with herb rose some so i was pretty well iinformed what was going on but really didnt understand it all. then it happen just another great story about where some things started and still do.

ASA had a rich history...Johnny Benson,(2008 Craftsman Truck Series Chamption), Matt Kenseth, Mike Eddy and Ted Musgrave along with the others that have been mentioned. Some of the drivers just remained local, but not forgotten.  Mark Martin was ASA Rookie of the Year in 1977.  He won the championship in 78, 79, 80 and 86.

When Martin went to NASCAR, he went with an attitude.   He was going to show the old timers how it should be done.   They sent him back to ASA with his tail between his legs.    He finally grew up, went back to NASCAR and has done well.    I have heard that his son Matt, also has an attitude.   Spoiled might be a better term.

I see the attitude thing with Crash I mean Stephen Wallace .

He comes by it natural.    His "can do no wrong" father.

This report from jayski.com is not very good news for motorsports fans . In a money driven sport like auto racing with such close ties to the auto industry you have to wonder if this is just the tip of the iceberg .

The Unofficial NASCAR related Layoff Count since end of season:
(exceptions noted)
Dale Earnhardt Inc -- 116
Ganassi -- approx 100
Ganassi engine shop -- more than 20
Gillett Evernham Motorsports -- 65
Petty Enterprises -- 65
Bill Davis Racing -- 60
Richard Petty Driving Experience -- approx 45
Roush Fenway Racing -- 40-50
Hendrick Motorsports -- 19
Furniture Row -- 25 [approx]
Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies -- 25 [approx]
Wood Brothers -- 22
Stewart-Haas -- 16
Richard Childress Racing -- 15
Red Bull Racing -- approx 15
JTG Daugherty Racing -- 12
Michael Waltrip Racing -- 12
Ernie Elliott Inc [Ganassi engines] -- 9
Joe Gibbs Engines -- approx 5
Hall of Fame -- heard many were let go this week, no number yet
Yates -- Unknown

I'd say it's even worse for the motorsports workers.    NASCAR had a cash cow going for a few years, but being the greedy bunch that they are, they have just about priced themselves out of reach for the average person.   Was listening to the NASCAR channel on Sirius the other night, they were talking about having "payment plans" for tickets at some NASCAR tracks because a lot of people could not afford to buy them any other way.     That is sad.