Throwback Thursday: May 19

Today's Throwback Thursday features a pair of NASCAR Hall of Famers, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon. Check out what they accomplished on May 19 and more below.

- On his way to the top level of NASCAR Bob Welborn snatched a victory on this day in 1955 at the Peach Bowl Speedway in Atlanta, Georgia. The race was on the NASCAR Short Track division schedule which saw Welborn win three times before finishing second in points. In 1958, Welborn won five NASCAR Cup series races.

- Sherman Utsman made his mark in NASCAR history on this day in 1962 when he won a Modified race at the Bristol Motor Speedway (TN). Utsman was chased across the line by Ken Rush, Paul Radford, Charlie Williamson and Bud Harless. Utsman was a staple in the northeast area of Tennessee and passed away in 2019.

- Larry Detjens was a winner on this day at the Wisconsin State Championship on 1974. Wisconsin International Raceway was the backdrop for the four race series. Detjens won the first race over Mile Miller and Jim Sauter.

THE THIRD TURN: 1974 Wisconsin State Championship Race No. 1 at Wisconsin Int'l Raceway

- This date was extra special for Butch Lindley who won a 75-lap race at Kingsport Speedway (TN) in 1978 and then the prestigious Sundrop Winston 200 a year later at Hickory Motor Speedway (NC). Both were NASCAR Late Model Sportsman events. Ironically, Gene Glover finished second in both races to Lindley. Glover was third in 1978's Late Model Sportsman championship to Lindley, but he returned to win the NASCAR Late Model Sportsman title in 1979.

- After limited NASCAR Cup Series success in 1982 and 1983, Mark Martin returned to the ASA National Tour. In the third race of the year, Martin found victory lane at Slinger Speedway in a 300-lap event. The win was his only ASA win of 1984, but he had four other runner-up finishes. Martin did win four ARTGO races that year and the Slinger Nationals championship.

THE THIRD TURN: 1984 Coca-Cola Badger 300 at Slinger Super Speedway

- On this date in 1990, Jeff Gordon conquered the Winchester Speedway (IN) high-banks for the first time in his career. In a 30-lap contest Gordon passed Bob Cicconi on lap 10 and never looked back in the USAC Sprint Car Series. Gordon won one of the three heat races before winning the feature. Gordon would win another USAC Sprint car race and a Midget race at Winchester later that season.

THE THIRD TURN: 1990 Magnus Oil Classic at Winchester Speedway