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Remembering a Talladega Milestone: Richard Brickhouse. By Michael Smith
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Jeff Gordon’s 50th career Winston Cup victory, coming as it did at Talladega, brings to mind another driver who scored a milestone victory at the same facility. Does anyone remember Richard Brickhouse?
Talladega held its inaugural race in 1969. At that time, drivers were not accustomed to running sustained speeds approaching 200 miles per hour. More importantly, tire manufacturers were not producing a tire capable of running at speeds approaching 200 miles per hour. At such a blistering pace, tires were wearing out in just a few laps.
About the same time Talladega was having its teething pains, a number of NASCAR’s drivers were forming the PDA, the Professional Drivers Association. Richard Petty was the leader of the Association and Buddy Baker was a member of the board of directors. As one of its first official acts, the PDA elected to boycott the inaugural race at Talladega, on the grounds that the facility was unsafe.
No amount of cajoling from “Big” Bill France could change the drivers minds. Big Bill even purchased a race car from the Holman Moody race team to turn hot laps of his own in an effort to prove the track safe when driven at a reasonable, tire conscious speed. France’s effort was to no avail. Richard Petty, David Pearson and nearly all of the big name drivers of the day packed up their tools, their cars and their teams, and went home.
Bill France, faced with the prospect of a grandstand full of fans, and no race, quickly scratched together a field of drivers who, for whatever reason, were willing to brave the possible dangers of a tire failure at nearly 200 miles per hour. Richard Brickhouse was one of those struggling drivers, eager for an opportunity to showcase his talent on the new track. Brickhouse was placed in a car vacated by Charlie Glotzbach, who stepped out to honor the boycott.
The 1969 season would turn out to be Richard Brickhouse's best year, with 7 top ten finishes, 1 top 5 and a victory at Talladega. Richard Brickhouse would not win another NASCAR race after battling to victory in the inaugural race at Talladega. Some observers believe that Brickhouse's later career may have been hampered by the fact that he chose to race when so many boycotted the first Talladega event.
Brickhouse ran his 39th and final NASCAR race in 1982, never having reclaimed the magic of that day in 1969 when he stood in victory circle – the first driver ever to do so at Talladega - and shook hands with Big Bill France.
So, when you think of great races you’ve watched, or racing milestones you have witnessed, remember Richard Brickhouse, whose racing milestone has been somewhat dimmed by history. Who knows, by choosing to race, along with a handful of other struggling drivers, Richard Brickhouse might have saved the sport of stock car racing, but it’s sad to think he had to sink his own career to do that.
Incidentally, Buddy Baker would return to Talladega in March of 1970, and while tire testing, break the 200 mile per hour record. And the Professional Driver’s Association? Let’s just say “Big” Bill France ended up winning that fight, shall we? They didn’t call him “Big” Bill for nothing.
copyright 2000. Michael Smith
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