Tribute to Herb Thomas Night
Fayetteville Motor Speedway
August 4th, 2012

  Fayetteville Stages Herb Thomas Memorial Race by Gene Hobby of the Historic Speedway Group
   Laverne Zachary, Ray Lamm, also of HSG, and myself, were invited to the late Herb Thomas Memorial at the Fayetteville, NC Speedway, Saturday night, August 4th. Herb is to be inducted into NASCAR's Hall of Fame in January 2013. Joey, Herb's son, had a nice display of trophies and pictures that drew a very nice crowd with a lot of memories and conversation with Joey. Larry Long, race announcer and editor of Fast Lane Racing News, passed out Herb Thomas t-shirts also.   There were several former drivers, crew chiefs, car owners and team sponsors from Fayetteville in attendance. Present were drivers Glen McDuffie and J.D. Blue, who had been inducted into the Fayetteville Speedway Hall of Fame several years ago. Coy Blue was also there along with Martin Roberts, "The Van Man'. Martin had sponsored several race teams around Fayetteville in the past. Race driver, Jim Wilmore, had his racer displayed up behind the stands on the paved lane in front of the announcers booth. Glenn McDuffie made himself at home by climbing in the racer and checking things out - ha.   The attendance was good and everyone really enjoyed some of the best dirt racing around. Larry Long did a super job pulling this all together. All the people mentioned, plus more, will be headed to our event, Racer's Reunion and Car Show, at the Occoneechee Speedway in Hillsborough, NC on September 29th.   PS.... We want to thank Larry very much for all the plugs he gave us over the intercom system, before and during the races.

During the Herb Thomas Memorial Race at Fayetteville, NC on 8/4, Ray Lamm mentioned to Glen McDuffie that we would get him a ride in one of Billy Biscoe’s modifieds at our Racers Reunion and Celebration in Hillsborough on 9/29. "Five Parade Laps Around the Old Speedway". I ok’d it with Billy last week to do just that.  I met with Glen on Friday, 8/17, and he was very pleased to be taking part in our special event.  He also wants to join us for the Old Timers Banquet on Sunday, 9/30.  He will be teammates with Reb Wickersham of the Grand National Division of the late 50’s through the mid 60’s.  Reb and his wife, Gail, are flying in from Newberg, Oregon, as they do every year.  Glen is the brother of the late J.D. McDuffie who was a very dedicated and a true independent Grand National race driver from Sanford, NC.  Glen is a member of the Fayetteville Speedway Hall of Fame for late model sportsman drivers.  See ya’ll there
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