Jim Paschal vs Richard Petty: 64 Greatest NASCAR Drivers Round 2

by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

April 10, 2009 7:35 pm UTC 8 Comments

One of NASCAR’s masters of the short tracks has the unenviable draw of the sport’s all-time biggest winner. Somebody has to do it as we try to get through round two and into the Sweet Sixteen in the NASCAR 64 Greatest Drivers Tournament at Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie.

Jim Paschal competed in 421 Cup series races over a 21 year career. He won 25 times and had 230 top tens driving for, at one point, Petty Enterprises as Richard Petty’s teammate on the no. 42, and as the King’s replacement due to injury. Paschal also had success in the red, white and blue AMC Javelins, winning a Cup race in ’69. Jim was a short track master, winning only two World 600s on big super speedways.

Richard Petty. Maybe I’ll just stop there. I mean, he IS called the King. But I can’t, I have a contract. 200 Cup wins, seven Winston Cup championships and 123 poles. All records. So are the seven Daytona 500 victories, 10 consecutive wins and 27 wins in a single season. And he looks fabulous in a cowboy hat.

Jim Paschal edged Handsome Harry Gant in his first round match and the King dispatched the unlucky Rusty Wallace. I suspect that Jim Paschal’s run in the Fast Lap region is about to end. But I could be wrong. Let us know what you think in the comment section.

Filed under: Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, Nascar Legends, Rusty Wallace, The King, The Pettys

Tagged with: AMC Javelin, Harry Gant, Jim Paschal, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers, Rusty Wallace, Winston Cup, World 600

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Harry Gant vs Jim Paschal: NASCAR’s 64 Greatest Drivers Match Up

by Charlie Turner

March 26, 2009 5:48 pm UTC 5 Comments

Handsome Harry gets matched up against a 25 race winner and fellow member of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in a Fast region, first round game of the NASCAR 64 Greatest Drivers Tournament at Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie.

Harry Gant was known as Handsome Harry up until the ’91 season. After that, Mr September was his common nickname. Gant won four straight races that September, tying a modern ers (’72 to the present) record. “91 was Gant’s best season. He finished fourth, won five times, had 15 top fives and led the most laps. He finished with 18 wins and 208 top tens in 474 starts.

Jim Paschal competed in 421 Cup series races over a 21 year career. He won 25 times and had 230 top tens driving for, at one point, Petty Enterprises as Richard Petty’s teammate on the no. 42, and as the King’s replacement due to injury. Paschal also had success in the red, white and blue AMC Javelins, winning a Cup race in ’69. Jim was a short track master, winning only two World 600s on big super speedways.

By the numbers, this looks easy. By the fame, not so much. Leave us your comments.

Filed under: NASCAR, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, Nascar Legends, The Pettys

Tagged with: AMC Javelin, Handsome Harry, Harry Gant, Jim Paschal, Mr September, NASCAR 64 Greatest Driver Tourney, NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers, Petty Enterprises, World 600

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Buddy Baker vs Jack Ingram: NASCAR’s 64 Greatest Drivers Match Up

by Charlie Turner

March 21, 2009 1:27 pm UTC 7 Comments

The “Gentle Giant” goes against one of the Busch Series‘ all-time greats in a first round tilt in the NASCAR 64 Greatest Drivers Tournament at Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie.

Buddy Baker is 6-foot-6, hence the nickname above. He was also flat out fast and so aka “Leadfoot” stuck to him too. Baker had 19 wins and 38 poles, won the ’80 Daytona 500 and consecutive World 600s. He was a beast on the fastest tracks -before restrictor plates – and still holds the record for the fastest ever Daytona win. One of NASCAR 50 Greatest Drivers, he also did TV commentary after retiring from racing.

Jack Ingram won three consecutive Grand National Division championships (’72-’74). He then won two more in ’82 and ’85. His 31 Busch Series wins were the most ever until Mark Martin passed him in ’97. 29 of his 31 wins were on short tracks. Ingram is also one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers.