The Story of Buddy Arrington (1938-2022)
From a lead-footed teenager racing his friend’s hot rods to a veteran owner-driver in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Buddy Arrington only wanted to run Chrysler products – even when his was the only Dodge Mirada or Chrysler Imperial in the field. Through lean times and brutal injuries across more than 500 starts, the one-time moonshiner from Martinsville and his iconic #67 became perhaps the fastest independent in the sport and a fan favorite. This is his story.
SPECIAL THANKS
*Bryan Hallman at the BRH Racing Archive, including photos by Jerry Haislip and Bill Niven.
*Be sure to check out Kevin Schwarze’s five-part Joey Arrington interview on “Super Cars Today TV” at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZwz09PjXZQ. Plus his interview with ARCA driver Brad Smith here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJuxmng1SIA
CHAPTERS
0:00 - The Hot Rodder
4:10 - Injuries
11:36 - Last of the Moonshiners
14:37 - The Pettys
18:49 - Magnum
23:26 - A Consistent 1982
28:33 - The Decline
38:18 - Retirement
MUSIC
“Come With Us” – Nat Keefe & Hot Buttered Rum (YouTube Music Library)
VIDEO CREDITS
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjZQnMo0uMCFs4Z_8JC-hfocb-ixZLvJ2
ARTICLES
*Beattle, Leal. “Racing full time makes points for Arrington,” The Journal Herald, August 27, 1982.
*Bruce, Kenny. “Sponsors turn NASCAR’s wheels,” Kingsport Times-News, June 7, 1987.
*Buck, Johnny. “HEMI Driver Buddy Arrington makes RRML Hall of Fame,” ShopHemi.com, October 23, 2009.
*Cunningham, George. “All Night Job Pays Off,” Charlotte Observer, April 22, 1964.
*England, Terry. “Buddy’s the last of his kind,” The Windsor Star, October 7, 1983.
*England, Terry. “Chrysler picks its racing spot,” The Windsor Star, October 7, 1983.
*Hester, Wayne. “Dean, Buddy must listen from hospital,” The Anniston Star, August 11, 1974.
*Higgins, Tom. “Driver Arrington’s condition is ‘good,’” Charlotte Observer, July 6, 1969.
*Higgins, Tom. “Arrington: Driver of the year?” Charlotte Observer, July 11, 1982.
*Higgins, Tom. “Richmond streaks to Michigan pole; Baldwin critically injured,” Charlotte Observer, June 15, 1986.
*Higgins, Tom. “Arrington announces retirement,” Charlotte Observer, December 5, 1986.
*Isaacson, Melissa. “Financial mismatches of racing,” Orlando Sentinel, February 16, 1986.
*Jordan, Jack. “Rain fails to dampen Tim Richmond’s parade,” The Scranton Times, June 9, 1986.
*Kindred, Dave. “For Buddy Arrington, racing isn’t a way of life – it’s life itself,” The Greenville News via The Washington Post, March 15, 1981.
*Martin, Gerald. “Independent driver experiences tough life,” The News and Observer, February 22, 1970.
*Martin, Gerald. “Today, Arrington’s only business is racing,” The News and Observer, October 7, 1973.
*Martin, Gerald. “Arrington pays painful price for daring love affair,” The News and Observer, March 16, 1975.
*Martin, Gerald. “Arrington roaring again, forgetting pains of past,” The News and Observer, May 7, 1978.
*Martin, Gerald. “Drivers skid on hard times,” The News and Observer, September 6, 1981.
*Martin, Gerald. “Arrington’s victory chase pushes his limits,” The News and Observer, July 18, 1982.
*McDermott, Don. “Was Petty ‘Lucky’ to win Delaware 500 Title?” The News Journal, September 15, 1975.
*Parrish, Will. “In the pits: Service manager gives time, talents to help NASCAR driver,” Charlotte Observer, February 16, 1986.
*Phelps, John. “Petty victor at Martinsville, Waltrip still a bridesmaid,” Daily Press, April 28, 1975.
*Saraceno, Jon. “Arrington a racing anomaly,” Florida Today, February 18, 1984
*Schmitz, Brian. “Winning’s out of the question for low-budget racers,” Orlando Sentinel, July 1, 1982.
*Smith, George. “Arrington and ‘the law,’” The Anniston Star, April 30, 1981.
*Strong, T. “Buddy Arrington: The Mopar Marathon Man,” Mopar Enthusiast, Year Unknown.
*Vehorn, Frank. “First number,” The Greenville News, May 2, 1976.
*Vincent, Charlie. “An instant on the MIS track takes charge of driver’s life,” Detroit Free Press, June 15, 1986.
*Wepfer, Bert. “Independent. . .the call finally came for Arrington,” Clarion-Ledger, February 15, 1981.
*Wepfer, Bert. “NASCAR circuit means life on the road for driver’s wife, too,” Clarion-Ledger, February 15, 1981.
*Young, Rick. “Alabama Gang: 1-2-3 at Talladega?” Alabama Journal, July 27, 1979.
OTHER SOURCES
*Buddy Arrington’s Obituary (NorrisFuneral.com)
*Racing-reference.info
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BTW: INDIANAPOLIS (7/31/22)
Happy Birthday, LASTBRO!
Support the stream: https://streamlabs.com/brockbeard
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LASTCAR Trackside Footage - Sears Point 2022
Footage from both myself and LASTBRO, including the Truck Series, ARCA West, and Cup Series races.
0:00 - Brad Perez with the LASTCAR logo
0:43 - Truck Series qualifying
0:53 - ARCA West Series
3:06 - Truck Series race
6:00 - Cup cars in garage
6:17 - Race start from Turn 11
7:07 - Bubba Wallace falls out
7:15 - Lap 1 from Turn 7
7:57 - Restarts from Turn 7
9:56 - Kyle Busch spins
10:55 - The final lap from Turn 11
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BTW: CHARLOTTE (5/28/22)
Including the Indy 500 and Monaco GP!
Support the stream: https://streamlabs.com/brockbeard
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The Story of Mike Potter
Mike Potter is a name that may not come to the minds of many NASCAR fans, but the favorite son of Johnson City, Tennessee enjoyed a lengthy part-time career in the Winston Cup Series. The son of longtime NASAR team owner Jess Potter, Mike served with the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam and worked as a truck driver before he got into racing. He favored some of the series’ most difficult tracks, including Bristol and Darlington, but was most determined to start the Daytona 500. The pursuit of this dream led to the greatest moment of his career.
MUSIC
“Crops” - Telecasted
VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjZQnMo0uMCE7_oveuB55wywjVnNXUhVj
SPECIAL THANKS
*Bryan Hallman, BRH Racing Archives
*Aaron Creed, Super Cup Stock Car Series PR Coordinator
*Thomas Williams, for his photos and contacting Mike
*Jay Coker, for sharing his photos from Woody Delbridge
*Dave Sports, for his footage from SpeedWeeks 1992
ARTICLES
*Beard, Brock. “5/21/83: Mike Potter and family share deep ties with NASCAR and native Tennessee,” LASTCAR.info, April 20, 2017.
*Bobo, Jeff. “Moonshine sparked 50 years in NASCAR for Potter family,” Times News (Kingsport, Tennessee), August 20, 2007.
*Bruce, Kenny. “JC’s Potter has dream come true,” Kingsport Times-News, February 16, 1992.
*Higgins, Tom. “NASCAR Officials hope Elena won’t dampen race spirits,” The Charlotte Observer, September 1, 1985.
*Higgins, Tom. “Twin 125s may be especially frantic,” The Charlotte Observer, February 11, 1988.
*Lipps, Pete. “Racing Day,” Letter to Editor, Johnson City Press, March 22, 1992.
*Lipps, Pete. “Support Potter,” Letter to Editor, Johnson City Press, February 25, 1992.
*Pierce, Robert. “Local driver trying to break into NASCAR racing,” Johnson City Press, March 28, 1980.
*Smyth, Jimmy. “Field set for today’s Southeastern 500,” Johnson City Press, April 1, 1979.
*“Super Cup Continues Ties to Stock Car Racing’s Roots While Looking Ahead to Next Series Race at CNB Bank Raceway Park,” SuperCupStockCarSeries.com, June 23, 2014.
UNCREDITED ARTICLES
“1992 Daytona drive profiles,” Austin American-Statesman, February 16, 1992.
“Daytona 500 Speeds,” The Tampa Tribune, February 11, 1990.
“Daytona 500 Qualifying,” South Florida Sun Sentinel, February 12, 1992.
“Earnhardt, rain claim Southern 500,” Clarion-Ledger, September 7, 1987.
“Hooters 500 Speeds,” Star Tribune, November 14, 1992.
“Hot Waltrip steams past competition,” The Charlotte Observer, August 23, 1981.
“Mike Potter hoping for GN career,” Kingsport Times-News, March 26, 1981.
“Richard Petty loses to the rain; Parsons loses best run in wreck,” The Charlotte Observer, September 7, 1987.
OTHER SOURCES
*Danny Casteel
*eBay
*Facebook – Mike Potter’s page
*Getty Images / RacingOne
*Racing-reference.info
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NASCAR Broadcast Prawblems #3: Vince, Rick, Adam, and The Camera
Presenting a comprehensive look at both NASCAR's four lead play-by-play analysts, the current production work for both FOX and NBC, and what lessons can be learned from older broadcasts. Features an in-depth analysis of the 2022 XFINITY broadcast at Atlanta.
STARTING GRID VIDEOS (2008-2011): https://www.youtube.com/user/nadeau1064/playlists?view=50&sort=dd&shelf_id=5
BROADCAST COMPARISONS (2013): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY8YITWeXkk&list=PLjZQnMo0uMCGUuntallMsBd2L5nLijrW7
THREE BEFORE FEBRUARY (2019): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ibggCOGqpo&t=2s
TERRIBLE BROCKCAST (2019): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o03tnjgg51c&list=PLjZQnMo0uMCHg0QQJ-amIP5REdIIaT9H3
MAULER'S CHANNEL (MOVIE REVIEWS): https://www.youtube.com/c/MauLerYoutube
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