Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2008
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
PAGE 3B
Down The Stretch
Petty's crash marked memorable 500
T hough it occurred two
decades ago, I can still
remember how it all
unfolded like it was yesterday.
It was February 14, 1988. My
family and I had gathered to
watch the 30th running of the
Daytona 500 on television.
It promised to be an interesting
race from the start. The cars were
being hampered by carburetor
restrictor plates for the first time
after a frightening crash the year
before at Talladega had almost
landed Bobby Allison’s car in the
grandstands. Along with that,
some of the car manufacturers
had reshaped their car models
during the off-season, and some
drivers had found issues in getting
those cars to behave properly on
the racetrack.
It was just after the halfway
point, and leader Darrell Waltrip
continued to hold the point as
CBS broke away for a commer
cial. When they returned, they
launched into a pre-produced
piece on 1987 Winston Cup
champion Dale Earnhardt. The
scene had just shifted to long
time race commentator Chris
Economaki sitting on the porch
of Earnhardt’s childhood home,
when CBS suddenly cut back to
the track.
The first thing we heard was the
voice of long-time commentator
and former cup champion Ned
Jarrett, saying “Bad trouble, bad
trouble!”
We saw one car flipping end
over end along the front stretch
catch fence. The back end of the
car was riding the fence, while the
front nosed down on the racing
surface. As the car tumbled over
and over, parts flew in all direc
tions.
It was at
that point
that the
number on
the side
of the car
suddenly
registered in
my mind. It
was 43, the
number of
seven-time
Daytona
and cup champion Richard Petty.
Almost at the same time, I heard
my mother and grandfather say
“Oh my God!”
Petty’s car finally came to rest
just outside of the tri-oval area of
the track, but his ride wasn’t over.
With debris littering the track, a
pack of cars, already at a reduced
speed, drove into the area. A cut
tire sent Brett Bodine’s Ford out
of control, and slamming into the
now stationary car of Petty, send
ing it spinning wildly.
The front stretch was littered
with crashed cars, and smoke
hung heavy in front of the cam
eras as lead commentator Ken
Squire explained to fans what had
just happened. CBS’ cameras
closed in on Petty’s car momen
tarily, and then cut away until
word of Petty’s condition came
down.
A replay showed the back of
Petty’s car breaking loose, slid
ing sideways off of the fourth
turn. He was then struck from
behind by journeyman driver Phil
Barkdoll, and then by former
Indianapolis and Daytona winner
A.J. Foyt. The contact from these
two pushed Petty’s car sideways,
allowing air to get underneath his
Pontiac, lifting it up into the air
at 200 miles an hour, and starting
the tumbling, side over side crash.
Pit reporter, and now lead
Fox commentator Mike Joy
quickly interviewed Wisconsin
driver Alan Kulwicki. Kulwicki
explained that he hadn’t actually
been involved in the accident, but
a cut tire from the debris littering
the track had sent his Ford into
the wall.
As the camera pulled back
briefly after the Kulwicki inter
view, Joy’s face showed the fear
and worry that many fans felt at
that moment.
In the infield, it was pandemo
nium. Pit reporter Dave Despain
had made his way through the
crowd to the infield hospital, and
had spoken with Foyt, Barkdoll
and Bodine about their condi
tions, and about the accident.
Moments later, Petty’s cousin and
long time crew chief, Dale Inman,
came out and gave the report that
Petty was okay, suffering only an
injured ankle.
During the clean up from the
crash, Economaki had speculated
that the crash would probably end
Petty’s career. Jarrett was quick
to respond, saying the legend
ary driver would rather retire at
a moment of his choosing, rather
than the result of an accident.
Almost as if in answer, Petty
returned the next week at the half
mile Richmond Fairgrounds track
to finish third. It would be five
more years before he would hang
up his helmet for good.
But on Valentine’s Day, 1988,
King Richard caused everyone’s
hearts to skip a beat.
Brandon Reed is a reporter for
MainStreet Newspapers. Contact
him at brandon@mainstreetnews.
com.
brandon
reed
Region ... continued from page 1B
The Leopards, who struggled with youth and inexpe- Coach Mike Ruth returns several starters for the next
rience this season, fell to the host East Jackson Egales season as several players will have more experience at
98-64 in the late contest Monday night. the varsity level.
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High School Wrestling
Pham finishes career undefeated at home
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
The Banks County High School
wrestling program saluted its seniors
last week and the accomplishments
each had made in recent seasons.
An Pham, Nathan Ward and Bobby
Hewell have eached helped take the
Mat Leopards to a new level of suc
cess in recent seasons. Pham in fact
finished his career undefeated in
home matches.
BCHS competed in four match
es last week against Washington-
Wilkes, Winder-Barrow, Starrs Mill
and South Forsyth.
The Mat Leopards defeated
Washington-Wilkes 63-18, Winder-
Barrow 78-6 and Starrs Mill 57-21.
The lone setback of the week was
against Class AAAAA South Forsyth
(53-15).
Demetric Dempson was undefeat-
ed in the four outings while Hewell
was 3-1. Freshman Matthew Patton,
competing at 171, earned a key win
against a state-ranked senior from
South Forsyth.
Coach Kasey Hanley’s team fin
ished the reglar season with 30 dual
meet wins, a new school record.
The mat Leopards will compete
this weekend at area hosted by
Morgan County High School.
SENIOR
NIGHT
Banks County
High School's
Dustin Worley
goes for a
basket against
Dawson
County Friday
night. Worley
was one of
three senior
Leopards rec
ognized prior
to the varsity
games.
Photo by
Lyn Sengupta
BCHS Boys Basketball... continued from page 1B
"We had some good play out of
our guards at times, but we seem
to have lost our swagger,” Ruth
said. "We kind of walk around with
our heads down. If things don’t go
exactly how we want then we lose
our confidence.”
One bright spot in the game against
Dawson County was the play of
sophomore Kevin Daniel, who fin
ished with 18 points. It was Daniels’
first action in several games since
suffering a left ankle injury.
"We played well for a while,” Ruth
said. "We were trying to keep their
3-point shooters in check but they
ended up having one player who
drove in and seemingly scored at
will.”
The game with Dawson County
closed out the regular season.
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