Weeks before its scheduled demolition, Dale Earnhardt Jr. returns to the track where his racing career started to get one last glimpse of this historic speedway before it is gone. He realizes he doesn’t have to look hard to find his past. On this day his past came looking for him.
Featured in Lost Speedways Season 2, Episode 8: "Goodbye, Dear Friend" are:
Wesley Sherill
On August 20th, 1994 Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his first NASCAR-sanctioned event: a NASCAR Weekly Series late model event at Myrtle Beach Speedway. When he pulled into victory lane that evening, he was greeted by a warm reception from the audience and his crew alike. 16 years later when Earnhardt Jr. returned to say goodbye to the site of that triumph, he was reunited with one of the men who stood in the victorious limelight with him, friend and crew member Wesley Sherill. Sherill played a key role on Earnhardt’s crew during the late model years, and later would go on to be a car chief for Joe Gibbs racing and Toyota Racing Development. The season two finale of Lost Speedways sees the old teammates rehash that 1994 milestone and what it meant for their careers, as well as what the scene at Myrtle Beach Speedways was like in the mid-90s.
Edward Jordan
They say there’s no friends at the track, but when the guy pitted next to you is sponsored by Kentucky Fried Chicken, you make an exception. Thus was the story with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and fellow-competitor Edward Jordan at Myrtle Beach Speedway in the 90s, who as legend have it used to trade Sun Drop for chicken. Jordan began competing at the famed east coast speed plant in the 80s, and found victory lane several times over his career. When young Earnhardt came rolling through the scene in the early 90s, Jordan befriended the Tar Heel and sometimes even put him up for the night during competition weekends. After racing late models, Jordan went on to be a part of the vintage car race circuit, where he is still active today. Jordan rejoined his old friend Earnhardt Jr. on Lost Speedways to talk about the late model days in the mid-90s and what it was like pit side at Myrtle Beach Speedway.
Sam Sommers
One of the fiercest drivers to ever compete at Myrtle Beach Speedway was late model driver Sam Sommers. Sommers was one of the most dominate sportsman drivers in the country during the 1970s, winning on both asphalt and dirt during a regular basis. In 1970 and 71 he posted back to back runner-up finishes in the NASCAR National Sportsman season standings, and even won the second to last race ever held on the legendary Lakewood Speedway in Georgia. His battles with fellow sportsman competitor Sam Ard were a major ticket seller during this era, with many promoters crossing their fingers the two would show up pit side at their races. He was especially potent at Savannah Speedway, Columbia Speedway and Myrtle Beach Speedway where he joined the Lost Speedways to chat about his years there, including a wild night with fellow competitor Roy Tyner.
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