Rare Pontiac Paint Schemes – Morgan Shepherd

10/31/2017 – Morgan Shepherd has one of the longest careers in Cup on record – spanning 32 years (1970-2014) and – as a recent blog posting noted – will always have a place in Pontiac’s NASCAR Record Books.

By 1999, Morgan’s career was definitely on the downslide, he was not able to land a first-tier ride and was scoring the odd ride while trying to fund his own racing effort.  One of those latter efforts was for the big-purse 1999 Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.   Morgan attempted to qualify his self-owned Pontiac Grand Prix sponsored by FAIN Motorsports, Wendy’s, and Peckers, but unfortunately could only qualify 50th fastest, thereby missing the race.

Pontiac in Cup, 1956 – Race 5

10/30/2017 – Pontiacs make their first appearance of the 1956 Grand National season at the Arizona State Fairgrounds, Phoenix, on January 22, 1956.  West Coasters Ernie Young (in a 1953 model) and Jim Cook (in a brand-new 1956 model) bring their Pontiacs over to visit their cactus state neighbors for 150 laps at the fairgrounds’ 1-mile dirt track.

Young manages to complete the race and finish 19th (23 laps down) while Cook has a wheel problem and is forced to retire after only 51 laps and finishes 28th.

1990’s NASCAR – Manufacturer Individuality

10/29/2017 

Driver One Career Cup Qualifying Attempt – Pontiac

10/28/2017 –  Vancouver, Washington, native Mark Walbridge was a regular competitor in the K&N Pro Series West, NASCAR Southwest, and NASCAR Northwest Series who had 0 career Cup starts but 3 career Cup DNQ’s, all in 1989 – North Wilkesboro, Martinsville, and Phoenix.  Out of those 3 attempts, it’s only for the Phoenix race that a sponsor/manufacturer was listed – Hanna Car Wash/Pontiac.  It appears that Walbridge took his (self-owned) Winston West Pontiac (similar sponsor/manufacturer) for a chance to run with the big dogs which, unfortunately, did not work out.

 

Jimmy Spencer Crisco Pontiac

10/27/2017  – The Buddy Baker/Danny Schiff Crisco Pontiac Grand Prix that Jimmy Spencer drove for 16 races in 1989…when stock meant stock, at least in relation to manufacturer body style.

 

Pontiac in Cup, 1955 – Race 39

10/26/2017 – Pontiac wraps up its final presence for 1955 Grand National season at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, Greenville, South Carolina for a visit to the popular .5-mile dirt track on October 6, 1955, courtesy of Doug Cox in his self-owned 1955 Pontiac.

Doug handles himself admirably as he brings his Chieftain home in 14th after starting 24th; this would be his second and final Pontiac start in Cup.

This would be race 39 out of 45 races scheduled for the 1955 season

Dale Earnhardt Wrangler Pontiac

10/25/2017 – Stock.  Car.  Driver.  If Earnhardt had stayed in a Pontiac….if Richard Childress had fielded Pontiacs instead of Chevrolets…

 

Pontiac at Martinsville

10/24/2017 – With the upcoming Chase race at Martinsville, it’s important to recall that one of Pontiac’s most historically significant victories occurred at this legendary racetrack.

Following Pontiac’s official departure/absence from Cup since 1963 (also the season of the brand’s last Cup victory), Pontiac came back into the sport for the 1981 season.  On April 28, 1981, the Virginia 500 was held at Martinsville and Morgan Shepherd brought Pontiac back into victory lane for the first time in NASCAR’s modern era (and for the brand’s overall 3rd win at Martinsville since Joe Weatherly and Junior Johnson took Pontiacs to victory lane in 1961) when he wheeled Cliff Stewart’s Performance Connection Grand Prix to the checkered flag by 15 seconds over Neil Bonnett in the Wood Brothers’ Ford.

 

Pontiac in Cup, 1955 – Race 38

10/23/2017 – Ned Jarrett once again carries the Tin Indian’s banner when the Grand National circuit visited North Carolina’s Raleigh Speedway’s 1-mile paved track on September 30, 1955.

Jarrett, piloting the only Pontiac in the field – Mellie Bernard’s 1955 Chieftain – didn’t get a chance to showcase the Pontiac as the rear-end blew out after only 28 laps, relegating him to a 33rd place finish (out of 37 entrants).

“Gentleman Ned Jarrett”

Pontiac in Cup, 1955 – Race 35

10/21/2017 – The blog already touched on Pontiac’s appearances in the 1954 season here –

https://pontiacracing.wordpress.com/2017/07/27/pontiac-nascar-year-in-review-1954/

So on we move to 1955, where it took all the way to race 35 – out of the 45 race Grand National schedule – for a double-nickel Pontiac with its recently introduced, brand-unique V8 to hit the track.  Future Hall-of-Famer Ned Jarrett and Doug Cox both entered 1955 Pontiacs for the already classic Southern 500, on September 5, at Darlington Raceway.  Jarrett finished 37th (running, 61 laps down) after starting 47th and Cox finished 47th, retiring after 225 laps due to transmission problems.