A Friday Florida Flashback! The intensity only ramps up as we draw closer to the culmination of Speedweeks. Here are some memorable moments from February 18.
1970 - Bob Senneker wins the first of his five career wins at New Smyrna Speedway in the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car racing. Senneker would later go on to win 85 times on the ASA National tour. Senneker’s 1970 win was followed by Larry Rogero’s three-straight wins to post the most wins. However, the consistency of Randy Tissot won him the four-race series title.
1979 - Richie Evans caps off one of the best World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing of all-time with his seventh win in eight starts. Evans was so good that year he missed the February 14th race that week and still won the title by a wide margin. Ron Bouchard was second on the final night and had seven top fives runs that week, but was no match for the Evans victories.
THE THIRD TURN: 1979 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing - Tour-type Modifieds
1990 - Derrike Cope passes Dale Earnhardt on the final lap of the Daytona 500 after Earnhardt cuts a tire, ending the most dominant run of his career. Cope had been strong all week and led the final quarter lap to win his only Daytona 500. Terry Labonte ended up second with Bill Elliott in third.
THE THIRD TURN: 1990 Daytona 500
2000 - The first time the NASCAR Trucks went to Daytona International Speedway, they put on a memorable show with 31 lead changes and Mike Wallace going to victory lane. A scary moment in the race saw Geoff Bodine flip off the catch fence in a fireball. Bodine would race again after the nasty crash. Kurt Busch would finish second to Wallace in his first full season of truck racing. Busch would win four times and finish second in points that year.
THE THIRD TURN: 2000 Daytona 250
-Photo credit: Motorsports Images and Archives