Regional Drivers Who Tried the Big Time at NASCAR'S Bigger Leagues

     Catamount - and Northeast racing, in general - has produced more than its share of topnotch drivers. In the formative years of stock car racing, it was a little more possible to attempt participation in either the Grand National / Winston Cup / Nextel Cup level or in whatever its top support division was at the time. These divisions have included the Permatex Late Model Sportsman division, its descendant divisions, the Grand Touring / Grand National East division, and today's Busch Grand Nationals and Craftsman Trucks.

Courtesy of Legends of 
NASCAR Site

Red Byron's car was nearly stock in 1949.

Courtesy of Pascal "Magnum"

This 1953 Grand National Ford is more of a specialized racer, but it still not very high tech.

Courtesy of Legends of 
NASCAR Site

Cotton Owens' Pontiac was typical of the early Grand National car.


    Back in the earlier days, practically anyone who felt they were capable of driving a race car adequately could put together an effort to run in the NASCAR lead division. In fact, the earliest Grand Nationals ran all over the country and were not far from the family car. In the 1950's and the earlier 1960's, it was quite possible for ordinary race car drivers or teams to field a Grand National car, as these cars were not very hard to construct. Obviously, as the Southerners began to learn tricks of the trade, it was more and more difficult for people from our region to compete with drivers having the inside track.

    By the 1970's Northeastern drivers had varying success going South. The modified teams actually held the advantage over the Southerners; but, the late model teams struggled because they were competing against the Emmanuel Zervakises, the Mike Laughlins, the Banjo Matthews, and all the other high - powered car builders and team owners.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE NORTHEAST DRIVERS WHO HAVE TRIED OUT THE "BIGS"

Cam_Gagliardi_DaytonaWreck_Magnum.JPG (51404 bytes)
Courtesy of Pascal 
"Magnum"

Cam Gagliardi, of 
Lockport, NY had bad luck qualifying this Buick in 
the early days of Grand 
Nationals at Daytona


Otto Graham Site

We now know where he got that number from. Later Mike McLaughlin would use it.

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Catamount Yearbook

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Dick Nephew, of 
Mooers Forks, NY
tried Daytona driving for 
Allie Swires of Glens 
Falls

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Nephew_Swires_Daytona_OnTrack_NephFamily.jpg (62295 bytes)

Nephew Family Photos

 

 

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Catamount Yearbook

Jean-Paul Cabana, then 
from Montreal, drove this 1959 Pontiac at Daytona before 
selling it to Jack DuBrul

CabanaDaytonadanslePermatex300b.jpg (78436 bytes)

Courtesy of Pascal 
"Magnum"

Cabana in action in the Permatex 300 around 1962. 

 Charland_Studebaker_Daytona_WimbleinBack.JPG (126489 bytes)

Catamount Yearbook

Rene Charland, of 
Agawam, MA with a 
Studebaker Sportsman at Daytona. This car ended up on the sign at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway when it opened. In the background you can see Bill Wimble's car.

charland10_Grand_National.jpg (25551 bytes)

Vintage NE Modified Site 
Photo

Charland with his Grand National car around 1964.

 
Danish_oncar_Daytona.jpg (59950 bytes)

Danish Family

Steve Danish brought 
his regular car to the Beach Course in the 1950's

Courtesy of Pascal 
"Magnum"

Bill Wimble also brought 
his regular ride to try 
out at Daytona.

 Beaver_Bahre86_Daytona.jpg (242640 bytes)

Dragon Family

Beaver Dragon's Bob Bahre-owned Permatex Sportsman

Beaver_Bahre_86_CrewPushing.jpg (166113 bytes)

 

 Dick_Skillen_Davis.JPG (159555 bytes)

Neal Davis

Dick Skillen, of Claremont, 
NH triedthe Grand Nationals 
for almost an entire year
 in the mid 1970's

 
Francis_Affleck_cropped.JPG (41586 bytes)

Courtesy of Pascal
"Magnum"

Francis Affleck, an 
inexperienced Quebec 
driver, ran cars for Bill Hollar around 1974 until he was 
killed in a race.

 Dion_Grand_National_Car.jpg (43882 bytes)

Denis LaChance Photo

Dave Dion, Hudson, NH
tried the Grand Nationals for a few races with his own car
in the 1970's.

 

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"Magnum's site photo

Randy LaJoie is one of the region's more successful competitors - particularly in Busch Grand Nationals

 Kevin-Kodak.gif (16918 bytes)

Lepage Website Photo

Kevin Lepage, from 
Shelburne, VT has stuck 
with the big leagues longer 
than any other regular Catamount driver.

71.Lepage.VTB.jpg (222353 bytes)

Vt Teddy Bear 
Handout Photo

 
dubrul_in_pontiac.jpg (394557 bytes)

Courtesy Of Bob Novak

Jack DuBrul shows his 
Daytona car around 
Thunder Road

 Hough_Schneider_GN_Magnum.JPG (100122 bytes)

Pascal "Magnum" Site

New Jersey legend 
Frankie Schneider raced
 in the very early Grand Nationals

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Reed Trucks Website

Jim Reed, Peekskill, NY 
was an early Grand
National success story

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Source Unknown

Don MacTavish's career 
in the NASCAR bigs 
was cut tragically short

 
moonshine29russtruelove2.jpg (29319 bytes)

Legends of NASCAR

Russ Truelove is another Northeasterner in the early Grand Nationals

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Pete Hamilton was 
one of the Northeast's 
most successful GN  
drivers.

 Richie_Panch.JPG (53974 bytes)

Catamount Yearbook

Richie Panch may 
have been born in 
Florida, but he 
started with us.

 AubesBuick.jpg (42841 bytes)

Andy Boright Photo

Jamie Aube won a Busch
North title and tried the Craftsman Trucks

 

Courtesy of Jeff Pearl's Site: Dave Dykes Page From Past

Bill Slater at Daytona

      

The Permatex race that involved three local drivers. Beaver finished 22nd, Francis Affleck
 finished 33rd, and Jean-Paul Cabana ended up 39th - after problems.

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