Saturday, March 14, 2009

An idea whose time has come

It's good to see that the folks at Mansfield Motorsports Park and the Automobile Racing Club of America have decided to name the June 20 race at that track the Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA RE/MAX 200.

The decision makes sense for many reasons. First, the track in Mansfield, Ohio, is not far from Richmond's hometown of Ashland, Ohio. Second, this year marks 20 years since Richmond's death in 1989.

"I believe it is time to share his memory with new fans and give his still-existent fan base an opportunity to remember many of his great and precious moments," said Sandy Welsh, Richmond's sister. "This celebration will also provide us the opportunity to draw attention to AIDS, the disease that cut Tim's life short, and assist those that are suffering from this cruel disease. We want to do what we can to motivate the discovery of a cure for AIDS and give Tim's life even more meaning."

Richmond started his brief but brilliant racing career in 1976 when he turned some laps in a Sprint Car at Lakeville Speedway in Lakeville, Ohio. By 1980 he was winning rookie of the year honors in the Indianapolis 500. After moving to NASCAR, he won 13 races and had 42 top-five finishes and 78 top 10s in just 185 career Sprint Cup starts.

Richmond also had an ARCA vicotry on his resume. He won the ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway in February of 1981 in his first career start in that series.

The June 20 race will be ARCA's first race at the half-mile Mansfield track.

"Tim Richmond won the 1981 ARCA 200 at Daytona, and he won in supermodifieds at our Toledo Speedway track," said ARCA President Ron Drager. "We're proud to have played a role in the development of Tim's amazing racing career, and we look forward to helping make the inaugural Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA RE/MAX 200 at Mansfield a success."

18 comments:

TexasRaceLady said...

I still have tapes of some races from the 80s --- watching Tim and Dale go door-to-door is priceless.

I'm happy that, finally, Tim will be remembered and honored. The disease is cruel and hits people in every sector of society.

Anonymous said...

Tim was a controversial figure. He had some very questionable conduct when he wasn't racing but, when in a race car- he was one of the most spectacular drivers ever. He had more raw talent than most of todays cup drivers combined. I guess he had to live the way he raced- all four wheels up in the grey stuff and throttle on the floor................

Anonymous said...

You're right, it's about time for Tim to be honored. He lived his life to the fullest on and off the track. I don't think there will ever be a driver with the good looks, wonderful personality and driving ability that Tim possessed. It was a joy to watch him wheel a racecar.

Ria said...

I'm glad they are remembering Tim - I think it has taken a while but the stigma of Aids is not what it once was, and the man should be remembered by the race community for his racing.

Trucker said...

To a TR fan this is awsome, just wish someone had done it sooner

Anonymous said...

I believe that if Tim had lived a full life, Dale Earnhardt would not have 7 championships and Jeff Gordon would not be where he is today. Remember Rick Hendrick was floundering after Tim's death, and he finally found Jeff Gordon to replace him

red said...

i have but one thing to say:
damn well about time!

Anonymous said...

I disagree that Tim Richmond should be honored.Tim has killed many ladies and cut there lives short.Tim new he had aids and didnt do anything to protect himself or his partners.What about all the families Tim touched in a negative way.
In other words he has murdered how many ladies?

Anonymous said...

I had the honor to be acquainted with Timmy. He lived his life in the fast lane, and with fast women. Timmy had so much talent that we really never got to actually see.
I believe Timmy would still be winning races today if he had not died. As for the women that contracted AIDS from Timmy, they had a choice, and they made the wrong choice. As for Timmy, he also made the wrong choice, if he had not been so loose and free with his choice of partners, he might still be here.
I am happy to see Timmy get honored, NASCAR put him in the top 50 greatest drivers, and now ARCA is naming a race after him.
Thank You to both NASCAR and ARCA for doing so.

Wayne

Anonymous said...

I am sure he was one of the "great guys" of nascar. When you do all the fan fair how about we bring out the living women he infected with his self center behavior. Lets see if if their families think he was one hell of a race.. He is not a hero but a COWARD!!! Mikeb

Anonymous said...

the great dale e had nothing on tim only nascar,now tim took nascar to court the real court, and kick ther fixed ass,now thats what i like,tim could out drive the great dale,dale could not win unless he wreacked some one,tim was the man

majorshouse said...

It is about time that Tim Richmond was honored. I never agreed with his lifestyle, but you cannot argue about his driving talent and it makes this fan wonder where would he be now if he were still alive.

3KillerBs said...

Why all this this adulation about Tim Richmond?

His case seems very little different than that of Shane Hmiel -- a career thrown away in the undisciplined pursuit of wild living. Though Shane was caught early enough that he didn't throw his life away with it.

I don't get it at all.

TIM Fan said...

I am sure the people with the negative comments about Tim and his life style don't live in glass houses, take the time to look within yourselves and think of the unprotected sex that you all have had, consider yourselves lucky that you didn't contract AIDS and your still hear bad mouthing something you know nothing about. Last I checked it took two people two have sex and both parties need to be responsible for their actions. What about Magic Johnson and the hundreds of woman he put at risk, I guess he's exempt from the same bashing you cowards behind a keyboard love to write about. You state Tim knew he had AIDS, prove it, no where has it ever been stated when Tim contracted AIDS or in fact that Tim knew he had AIDS. I for one am a huge Tim Richmond fan and for all of you Tim bashers you can kiss my a--! Tim Richmond was one of the BEST damn race car drivers that ever came along. To bad he's not hear to whip the a--es of the pretty boys butts that race today.

Anonymous said...

It is nice to see that the life of someone who has passed us is being remembered. Regardless of what some think, there are still those who respect the man and for those people this is a fitting tribute. It is just a shame that it is being done at a second rate race track that is run by someone who is all about the money and not about the sport...

Anonymous said...

You know with all great legacy's there comes a great fall , and that is quite unfortunate . But the rememberance of all the great things Tim accomplished in his life were great.There was also some great falls. So I thik Tim would want us to take in consideration two asspects.1st his great accopolishments in racing,
2nd We all make mistakes and regreat

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