Who doesn't love a first-time winner? There are a couple in today's Throwback Thursday, including a first-time NASCAR Cup Series winner.
1961 - A.J. Foyt won a USAC National Midget event on this date in 1961 at Anderson Speedway (IN). We mention this because the track is celebrating 75 years of racing and this is just one of the many special events in the track’s history. Foyt won nine times that season on the USAC Tour and he got one of the two races at Anderson. Foyt also won at Anderson back in 1960.
READ MORE: Redbud 400 at Anderson will Celebrate ASA Legacy
1972 - It was a super Saturday at New Asheville Speedway (NC) in 1972 when Bob Pressley held off Jack Ingram to win the Permatex 200. Pressley won a lot of races at the track, and by our count at least five 200-lap events. The track opened in 1960 and closed in 1999. You can still see the remains of the track to this day in Asheville area.
THE THIRD TURN: 1972 Permatex 200 at New Asheville Speedway
1985 - Kentucky Motor Speedway was the backdrop for a Dave Mader, III win in 1985. On this day, the 1978 Snowball Derby winner beat out 1977 Snowball Derby winner Ronnie Sanders in the NASCAR All American Challenge Series. Alabama drivers Hut Stricklin, Stanley Smith and Mickey Gibbs were the rest of the top five. Mader would return to win the race again the next year.
THE THIRD TURN: 1985 WBKR/Cook's Chevy Land 100 at Kentucky Motor Speedway
1995 - In 1995, the Hooters Late Model Tour was a thing of beauty before it transformed into the Pro Cup Series. The best drivers from around the region went to bat at 20 venues all around the states. On this day in 1995 they went to Five Flags Speedway (FL), where the crafty veteran Bobby Gill won for the second time in nine races. In a 100-lap contest he beat Dick Anderson and Daniel Keene for the win in Pensacola. Ronnie Sanders was fourth and Mario Gosselin was fifth.
THE THIRD TURN: 1995 USAR Hooters Late Model Series at Five Flags Speedway
2001 - Ben Rowe has won a lot of races in his day, but on this day in 2001 he notched his first career PASS North win at Speedway 95 in Hermon, Maine. Rowe won six of the 10 races in 2001, but poor finishes outside his victories led to him not winning the championship. Rowe beat local driver Gary Smith from Bangor for the win. Larry Gelinas was third after leading 107 laps.
THE THIRD TURN: 2001 Pine Tree 150 at Speedway 95
2019 - Alex Bowman scores his first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Chicagoland Speedway (IL). Bowman led 88 laps in car no. 88 to score the victory ahead of Kyle Larson and Joey Logano. This was the NASCAR event contested at Chicagoland Speedway to date.
THE THIRD TURN: 2019 Camping World 400 at Chicagoland Speedway