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Darlington Record Club

April 11, 2024

The Unocal-Darlington Record Club was a club in the NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series from 1959 to about 2001, based at Darlington Raceway. Membership was achieved by setting qualifying records during time trials for the annual Southern 500 held on Labor Day weekend. During its heyday, it was considered one of the most prestigious and exclusive clubs in motorsports.[1][2][3]

The Darlington Raceway's unconventional "egg" shape

The club was sponsored by longtime NASCAR sponsor Pure Oil, which in 1965 was acquired by Union Oil, and later Tosco Corporation (1997), Phillips Petroleum (2001), and after a merger, ConocoPhillips. At some time after the 2001 season, the club was quietly retired, as NASCAR made rule changes that effectively eliminated its usefulness. The club ended permanently when ConocoPhillips ended its sponsorship and was replaced by Sunoco, and the Ferko lawsuit resulted in the lineal Southern 500 being removed from the schedule until the lineal changes of 2020, with the lineal Southern 500 returning to its fall date in 2021.

The original eight charter members were selected in 1959: Dick Joslin (Dodge), Marvin Panch (Ford), Joe Caspolich (Oldsmobile), Bob Burdick (Thunderbird), Speedy Thompson (Chevrolet), Richard Petty (Plymouth), Elmo Langley (Buick), and Fireball Roberts (Pontiac). Roberts was selected as the first president; Former Darlington Raceway president Bob Colvin contributed in creating the club.[4]

Membership qualifications edit

Drivers were awarded membership in the club based on official time trials for the Southern 500. The fastest single driver of each car make (e.g. Chevrolet, Ford, etc.) each won the membership. The general requirements for eligibility were as follows:[1]

  • Car making the qualifying attempt must be a current model year car.
  • At least three cars from each car make must be entered for that make to have an automatic berth in the club for that year.
  • The fastest single driver from each of the various car makes qualified for the club, provided their speed was within 2% of the fastest overall car in the field.

Special provisions were made for other cars:[1]

  • If only one car from a particular make is entered, that driver was only eligible if he set a track record for that car make; and was within 2% of the fastest overall car in the field (i.e., the pole position winner for the race)
  • If the car was not a current model year chassis, that driver was only eligible if he was the overall fastest driver for that make (i.e., faster than all the current model year chassis of that same make); and he was within 2% of the fastest overall car in the field.

By 2000, the "within 2%" rule was tightened to "within 1%."[2]

Drivers who qualified for the club attended a special dinner and reception and received a special blue blazer. Drivers who entered the club by setting an overall Darlington track record, however, received the more prestigious white blazer. A ring,[5] a plaque and a cash award were also presented. Entry into the club was a lifetime membership, but only active members participated in actual duties. The reception dinner was held on the Friday of Labor Day weekend (two days prior to the Southern 500), and would recognize the drivers who qualified based on the previous year's event.[1][2]

Only records set in the September Southern 500 were recognized for the club. Any records set during the spring race, or support races (added in 1983 to the Southern 500 weekend) were not eligible.[1][2]

Competition Board edit

Once the membership was established, the active members of the club were eligible for the annual Competition Board. All active members who qualified for the race within 2% of the fastest car in the field (later 1%) were placed on the board. The board's primary responsibilities were to assist NASCAR in training rookies for racing at each race during the season.[1][2]

Once the Competition Board was established, the board members voted amongst themselves to select the Club President and Club Vice-President. Each had a tenure of one year. The president's duties primarily were to lead the rookie training, and conduct the annual Darlington Raceway rookie orientation meeting and further rookie test that they had to pass (similar to the Indianapolis 500) before attempting to qualify at Darlington for either race. Likewise, they were not allowed to qualify on the first day of time trials, and were relegated to the second round only (starting 21st or lower).[1][2][3]

In 1977, Darlington Raceway began adding support races that helped inexperienced drivers gain experience in shorter events with less-powerful cars. The Baby Grand National series ran 150 kilometer (94.5 mile) races for four-cylinder cars, which ran until 1984. In 1982, the second-tier series (now the NASCAR Xfinity Series) added a 200 mile race for the Rebel 500 weekend, and in 1983 another second-tier race was run on Southern 500 weekend as a 250-mile race (owing to Blue Laws in South Carolina, the race was set to the state's 250-mile minimum for Sunday races). In 1984, support races for the second-tier series were added to both weekends. Since these drivers had gained experience at Darlington through support races (up to 294 laps of experience in two lower-tier races each year), the rookie panel and NASCAR decided in 1993 to abolish both the rookie test and the first-round rookie prohibition, as Cup Series rookies had typically made four or more starts through support races, if they had at least two full seasons of support series events. When the rule was abolished in 1993, the three primary rookies had each made at least four Darlington starts through the two second-tier series races each of the previous two seasons. Since then, the current tertiary Craftsman Truck Series also a single race at Darlington (two in 2021), allowing drivers to gain even more experience. [3][6]

Record Club by car make edit

Note that in 1959 & 1960, the Ford Thunderbird was categorized separately from Ford.

Sources:[1][2]

Alphabetical member list edit

Bold indicates track record member (white blazer)

*Posthumous induction. Irwin won pole and set the track record in 1999 during Pepsi Southern 500 qualifying, but was killed at during Cup practice at the Loudon July race ten months later.

Sources:[1][2][7]

One of the award plaques presented to Bobby Allison was featured on the television program American Pickers. It was acquired for display at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.[8]

Club presidents edit

Tenure runs for 12 months, from September to September of each year.

See also edit

Sources edit

  • The Official NASCAR Preview and Press Guide, 1994 & 2001 edition
  • Rookies get scoop on each track from veteran Rudd, August 31, 2000
  • Brooks, Allison, Tyner To Be Inducted Into Record Club

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i The Official NASCAR Preview and Press Guide 1994. Charlotte: UMI Publications, Inc. 1994.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h The Official NASCAR Preview and Press Guide 2001. Charlotte: UMI Publications, Inc. 2001.
  3. ^ a b c d Rudd, Ricky (2003-08-27). "Manic Monday". Sports Illustrated.
  4. ^ . Archived from the original on 2011-09-17. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  5. ^ . FireballRoberts.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-17. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  6. ^ "Martin paces 2nd day of qualifying". Times Daily Tennessee Edition. Florence, AL. March 26, 1988. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  7. ^ Racing-Reference.info - Race Results at Darlington Raceway
  8. ^ "NASCAR Challenge". Top NASCAR Races. Season 2. 2011-04-11. History Channel.

April 11, 2024
darlington, record, club, unocal, club, nascar, grand, national, winston, series, from, 1959, about, 2001, based, darlington, raceway, membership, achieved, setting, qualifying, records, during, time, trials, annual, southern, held, labor, weekend, during, hey. The Unocal Darlington Record Club was a club in the NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series from 1959 to about 2001 based at Darlington Raceway Membership was achieved by setting qualifying records during time trials for the annual Southern 500 held on Labor Day weekend During its heyday it was considered one of the most prestigious and exclusive clubs in motorsports 1 2 3 The Darlington Raceway s unconventional egg shapeThe club was sponsored by longtime NASCAR sponsor Pure Oil which in 1965 was acquired by Union Oil and later Tosco Corporation 1997 Phillips Petroleum 2001 and after a merger ConocoPhillips At some time after the 2001 season the club was quietly retired as NASCAR made rule changes that effectively eliminated its usefulness The club ended permanently when ConocoPhillips ended its sponsorship and was replaced by Sunoco and the Ferko lawsuit resulted in the lineal Southern 500 being removed from the schedule until the lineal changes of 2020 with the lineal Southern 500 returning to its fall date in 2021 The original eight charter members were selected in 1959 Dick Joslin Dodge Marvin Panch Ford Joe Caspolich Oldsmobile Bob Burdick Thunderbird Speedy Thompson Chevrolet Richard Petty Plymouth Elmo Langley Buick and Fireball Roberts Pontiac Roberts was selected as the first president Former Darlington Raceway president Bob Colvin contributed in creating the club 4 Contents 1 Membership qualifications 1 1 Competition Board 2 Record Club by car make 3 Alphabetical member list 4 Club presidents 5 See also 6 Sources 7 ReferencesMembership qualifications editDrivers were awarded membership in the club based on official time trials for the Southern 500 The fastest single driver of each car make e g Chevrolet Ford etc each won the membership The general requirements for eligibility were as follows 1 Car making the qualifying attempt must be a current model year car At least three cars from each car make must be entered for that make to have an automatic berth in the club for that year The fastest single driver from each of the various car makes qualified for the club provided their speed was within 2 of the fastest overall car in the field Special provisions were made for other cars 1 If only one car from a particular make is entered that driver was only eligible if he set a track record for that car make and was within 2 of the fastest overall car in the field i e the pole position winner for the race If the car was not a current model year chassis that driver was only eligible if he was the overall fastest driver for that make i e faster than all the current model year chassis of that same make and he was within 2 of the fastest overall car in the field By 2000 the within 2 rule was tightened to within 1 2 Drivers who qualified for the club attended a special dinner and reception and received a special blue blazer Drivers who entered the club by setting an overall Darlington track record however received the more prestigious white blazer A ring 5 a plaque and a cash award were also presented Entry into the club was a lifetime membership but only active members participated in actual duties The reception dinner was held on the Friday of Labor Day weekend two days prior to the Southern 500 and would recognize the drivers who qualified based on the previous year s event 1 2 Only records set in the September Southern 500 were recognized for the club Any records set during the spring race or support races added in 1983 to the Southern 500 weekend were not eligible 1 2 Competition Board edit Once the membership was established the active members of the club were eligible for the annual Competition Board All active members who qualified for the race within 2 of the fastest car in the field later 1 were placed on the board The board s primary responsibilities were to assist NASCAR in training rookies for racing at each race during the season 1 2 Once the Competition Board was established the board members voted amongst themselves to select the Club President and Club Vice President Each had a tenure of one year The president s duties primarily were to lead the rookie training and conduct the annual Darlington Raceway rookie orientation meeting and further rookie test that they had to pass similar to the Indianapolis 500 before attempting to qualify at Darlington for either race Likewise they were not allowed to qualify on the first day of time trials and were relegated to the second round only starting 21st or lower 1 2 3 In 1977 Darlington Raceway began adding support races that helped inexperienced drivers gain experience in shorter events with less powerful cars The Baby Grand National series ran 150 kilometer 94 5 mile races for four cylinder cars which ran until 1984 In 1982 the second tier series now the NASCAR Xfinity Series added a 200 mile race for the Rebel 500 weekend and in 1983 another second tier race was run on Southern 500 weekend as a 250 mile race owing to Blue Laws in South Carolina the race was set to the state s 250 mile minimum for Sunday races In 1984 support races for the second tier series were added to both weekends Since these drivers had gained experience at Darlington through support races up to 294 laps of experience in two lower tier races each year the rookie panel and NASCAR decided in 1993 to abolish both the rookie test and the first round rookie prohibition as Cup Series rookies had typically made four or more starts through support races if they had at least two full seasons of support series events When the rule was abolished in 1993 the three primary rookies had each made at least four Darlington starts through the two second tier series races each of the previous two seasons Since then the current tertiary Craftsman Truck Series also a single race at Darlington two in 2021 allowing drivers to gain even more experience 3 6 Record Club by car make editChevroletYear Driver Speed mph 1959 Speedy Thompson 123 3871960 Rex White 125 6981961 Dave Mader 125 5781962 Rex White 127 4621963 Junior Johnson 133 4141964 J T Putney 126 8401965 Jim Paschal 134 7391966 Bobby Johns 135 9891967 Bobby Johns 138 5771968 Bobby Allison 138 3891969 Bobby Johns 142 0081971 Charlie Glotzbach 147 5191972 Bobby Allison 152 2281973 Bobby Allison 149 4341974 Benny Parsons 147 3121975 Benny Parsons 151 6321976 Darrell Waltrip 152 8621977 Darrell Waltrip 153 4931979 Donnie Allison 154 5061981 Ricky Rudd 151 8891983 Neil Bonnett 157 1871985 Benny Parsons 155 8571986 Tim Richmond 158 4891987 Terry Labonte 156 3131988 Dale Earnhardt 160 1981989 Ken Schrader 160 0211990 Dale Earnhardt 158 4481991 Dale Earnhardt 161 3171992 Ernie Irvan 161 9921993 Ken Schrader 161 2591994 Ken Schrader 166 8281995 Dale Earnhardt 166 5011996 Jeff Gordon 170 8331997 Ken Schrader 169 8011998 Jeff Gordon 168 2611999 Jeff Gordon 170 7922000 Mike Skinner 169 2112001 Jeff Gordon 167 916 Ford Thunderbirdsee noteYear Driver Speed mph 1959 Bob Burdick 122 7141960 Elmo Langley 122 244FordYear Driver Speed mph 1959 Marvin Panch 118 2011960 Joe Weatherly 124 8811961 Fred Lorenzen 128 4371962 Fred Lorenzen 127 8981963 Fireball Roberts 133 8191964 Fred Lorenzen 135 7271965 Junior Johnson 137 5281967 Darel Dieringer 143 4261968 Lee Roy Yarbrough 144 0541969 Donnie Allison 151 1771971 Walter Ballard 142 1141975 Buddy Baker 152 6631976 Buddy Baker 152 9911979 Bobby Allison 154 8811982 Bill Elliott 153 8911983 Buddy Baker 155 1881984 Ricky Rudd 154 0991985 Bill Elliott 156 6411986 Cale Yarborough 156 1191987 Davey Allison 157 2321988 Bill Elliott 160 8271989 Alan Kulwicki 160 1561990 Bill Elliott 157 7771991 Davey Allison 162 5061992 Sterling Marlin 162 2491993 Bobby Labonte 160 3031994 Geoff Bodine 166 9981995 John Andretti 167 3791996 Dale Jarrett 170 9341997 Bill Elliott 170 5131998 Dale Jarrett 168 8791999 Kenny Irwin 170 9702000 Jeremy Mayfield 169 4442001 Kurt Busch 168 048 PontiacYear Driver Speed mph 1959 Fireball Roberts 123 7341960 Cotton Owens 126 1461961 Fireball Roberts 128 6801962 Fireball Roberts 130 2461963 Bobby Johns 132 5651964 Bunkie Blackburn 129 5891965 Bobby Johns 133 5851966 H B Bailey 134 3101967 H B Bailey 136 4101968 H B Bailey 133 9011969 Roy Tyner 136 9521971 David Pearson 147 5691975 H B Bailey 139 1071981 Harry Gant 152 6931982 Ricky Rudd 153 3681983 Tim Richmond 155 7291984 Tim Richmond 154 5981985 Tim Richmond 154 9481988 Rusty Wallace 159 7611989 Rusty Wallace 159 6681990 Rusty Wallace 157 5041992 Rusty Wallace 159 8491993 Rusty Wallace 158 9351994 Bobby Labonte 166 4331995 Ward Burton 165 6651996 Rick Mast 169 7131997 Bobby Labonte 170 6611998 Ward Burton 168 6771999 Ward Burton 170 8452000 Johnny Benson 169 4092001 Ken Schrader 167 254 DodgeYear Driver Speed mph 1959 Dick Joslin 112 9101960 Jim Whitman 117 7101961 T C Hunt 121 9881962 Larry Thomas 123 7731963 David Pearson 131 2041964 David Pearson 135 9791966 Lee Roy Yarbrough 140 0581967 Buddy Baker 142 7331968 Charlie Glotzbach 144 8301969 Bobby Allison 151 4821971 Buddy Baker 145 9091972 Richard Petty 149 0721973 Richard Petty 147 8481974 Richard Petty 150 1321975 Richard Petty 152 8391976 Dave Marcis 152 8391978 Earle Canavan 147 2472001 John Andretti 167 493 PlymouthYear Driver Speed mph 1959 Richard Petty 123 1241960 Richard Petty 125 0741961 Richard Petty 125 9061962 Richard Petty 127 1431963 G C Spencer 131 0741964 Richard Petty 136 8151965 Curtis Turner 134 4741966 Richard Petty 139 7191967 Richard Petty 143 4361968 Darel Dieringer 144 4431969 Dick Brooks 146 3671970 Dick Brooks 147 6401971 Pete Hamilton 147 662MatadorYear Driver Speed mph 1972 Dave Marcis 147 7461974 Bobby Allison 148 8421975 Bobby Allison 152 663 OldsmobileYear Driver Speed mph 1959 Joe Caspolich 121 8081960 Tiny Lund 118 8401978 Cale Yarborough 152 1821979 Cale Yarborough 152 3581985 Buddy Baker 154 1081986 Buddy Baker 156 6661987 Lake Speed 156 2681988 Lake Speed 158 0461989 Harry Gant 159 3001990 Harry Gant 157 2171991 Harry Gant 160 8431992 Harry Gant 160 811ChryslerYear Driver Speed mph 1961 Buck Baker 126 3391962 Buddy Baker 126 3721963 Neil Castles 119 0331978 Ed Negre 146 322 MercuryYear Driver Speed mph 1961 Curtis Crider 119 8541962 Emanuel Zervakis 126 2271963 Joe Weatherly 132 7701964 Darel Dieringer 134 4191965 Earl Balmer 136 5511966 Darel Dieringer 139 5931967 Lee Roy Yarbrough 140 6251968 Cale Yarborough 144 8301969 Cale Yarborough 151 9851972 David Pearson 152 3421975 David Pearson 153 9011976 David Pearson 154 669 BuickYear Driver Speed mph 1959 Elmo Langley 123 3871982 David Pearson 155 7391983 Joe Ruttman 155 0221984 Bobby Allison 154 4521985 Greg Sacks 154 7731986 Bobby Hillin Jr 156 3971988 Morgan Shepherd 158 1981989 Ricky Rudd 158 6071990 Brett Bodine 157 434 Note that in 1959 amp 1960 the Ford Thunderbird was categorized separately from Ford Sources 1 2 Alphabetical member list editBold indicates track record member white blazer Bobby Allison Davey Allison Donnie Allison John Andretti H B Bailey Buck Baker Buddy Baker Walter Ballard Earl Balmer Johnny Benson Bunkie Blackburn Dick Brooks Brett Bodine Geoff Bodine Neil Bonnett Bob Burdick Ward Burton Earle Canavan Joe Caspolich Neil Castles Curtis Crider Darel Dieringer Dale Earnhardt Bill Elliott Harry Gant Charlie Glotzbach Jeff Gordon Pete Hamilton Bobby Hillin Jr T C Hunt Ernie Irvan Kenny Irwin Jr Dale Jarrett Bobby Johns Junior Johnson Dick Joslin Alan Kulwicki Bobby Labonte Terry Labonte Elmo Langley Fred Lorenzen Tiny Lund Dave Mader Dave Marcis Sterling Marlin Rick Mast Jeremy Mayfield Ed Negre Cotton Owens Marvin Panch Benny Parsons Jim Paschal David Pearson Richard Petty J T Putney Tim Richmond Fireball Roberts Ricky Rudd Joe Ruttman Greg Sacks Ken Schrader Morgan Shepherd Mike Skinner Lake Speed G C Spencer Larry Thomas Speedy Thompson Curtis Turner Roy Tyner Rusty Wallace Darrell Waltrip Joe Weatherly Rex White Jim Whitman Cale Yarborough LeeRoy Yarbrough Emanuel Zervakis Posthumous induction Irwin won pole and set the track record in 1999 during Pepsi Southern 500 qualifying but was killed at during Cup practice at the Loudon July race ten months later Sources 1 2 7 One of the award plaques presented to Bobby Allison was featured on the television program American Pickers It was acquired for display at the NASCAR Hall of Fame 8 Club presidents editTenure runs for 12 months from September to September of each year 1960 61 Fireball Roberts 1961 62 1962 63 Buck Baker 1963 64 1964 65 1965 66 1966 67 1967 68 1968 69 1969 70 Bobby Allison 1970 71 1971 72 1972 73 1973 74 1974 75 1975 76 1976 77 Dave Marcis 1977 78 1978 79 1979 80 Donnie Allison 1980 81 Ricky Rudd 1981 82 1982 83 1983 84 Bill Elliott 1984 85 Ricky Rudd 3 1985 86 1986 87 1987 88 Bobby Hillin Jr 1988 89 Darrell Waltrip 1989 90 1990 91 1991 92 1992 93 1993 94 1994 95 Bobby Labonte 1996 97 John Andretti 1997 98 1998 99 1999 00 Ricky Rudd 2000 01 2001 02 Ken Schrader Jeff GordonSee also editUnocal 76 Challenge Unocal 76 World Pit Crew CompetitionSources editThe Official NASCAR Preview and Press Guide 1994 amp 2001 edition Rookies get scoop on each track from veteran Rudd August 31 2000 Brooks Allison Tyner To Be Inducted Into Record ClubReferences edit a b c d e f g h i The Official NASCAR Preview and Press Guide 1994 Charlotte UMI Publications Inc 1994 a b c d e f g h The Official NASCAR Preview and Press Guide 2001 Charlotte UMI Publications Inc 2001 a b c d Rudd Ricky 2003 08 27 Manic Monday Sports Illustrated Dick Joslin Facts Archived from the original on 2011 09 17 Retrieved 2011 10 07 Pure Record Club Members FireballRoberts com Archived from the original on 2011 09 17 Retrieved 2011 10 10 Martin paces 2nd day of qualifying Times Daily Tennessee Edition Florence AL March 26 1988 Retrieved 2011 10 07 Racing Reference info Race Results at Darlington Raceway NASCAR Challenge Top NASCAR Races Season 2 2011 04 11 History Channel Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Darlington Record Club amp oldid 1201000459, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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