Darlington Record Club

The Darlington Raceway's unconventional "egg" shape

The Unocal-Darlington Record Club was a club in the NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series from 1959 to about 2001, based at Darlington Raceway. Membership was achieved by setting qualifying records during time trials for the annual Southern 500 held on Labor Day weekend. During its heyday, it was considered one of the most prestigious and exclusive clubs in motorsports. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

The club was sponsored by longtime NASCAR sponsor Pure Oil, which in 1965 was acquired by Union Oil, and later Tosco Corporation (1997), Phillips Petroleum (2001), and after a merger, ConocoPhillips. At some time after the 2001 season, the club was quietly retired, as NASCAR made rule changes that effectively eliminated its usefulness. The club ended permanently when ConocoPhillips ended its sponsorship and was replaced by Sunoco, and the Ferko lawsuit resulted in the lineal Southern 500 being removed from the schedule until the lineal changes of 2020, with the lineal Southern 500 returning to its fall date in 2021.

The original eight charter members were selected in 1959: Dick Joslin (Dodge), Marvin Panch (Ford), Joe Caspolich (Oldsmobile), Bob Burdick (Thunderbird), Speedy Thompson (Chevrolet), Richard Petty (Plymouth), Elmo Langley (Buick), and Fireball Roberts (Pontiac). Roberts was selected as the first president; Former Darlington Raceway president Bob Colvin contributed in creating the club. ^[4]

Membership qualifications

Drivers were awarded membership in the club based on official time trials for the Southern 500. The fastest single driver of each car make (e.g. Chevrolet, Ford, etc.) each won the membership. The general requirements for eligibility were as follows: ^[1]

• Car making the qualifying attempt must be a current model year car.
• At least three cars from each car make must be entered for that make to have an automatic berth in the club for that year.
• The fastest single driver from each of the various car makes qualified for the club, provided their speed was within 2% of the fastest overall car in the field.

Special provisions were made for other cars: ^[1]

• If only one car from a particular make is entered, that driver was only eligible if he set a track record for that car make; and was within 2% of the fastest overall car in the field (i.e., the pole position winner for the race)
• If the car was not a current model year chassis, that driver was only eligible if he was the overall fastest driver for that make (i.e., faster than all the current model year chassis of that same make); and he was within 2% of the fastest overall car in the field.

By 2000, the "within 2%" rule was tightened to "within 1%." ^[2]

Drivers who qualified for the club attended a special dinner and reception and received a special blue blazer. Drivers who entered the club by setting an overall Darlington track record, however, received the more prestigious white blazer. A ring, ^[5] a plaque and a cash award were also presented. Entry into the club was a lifetime membership, but only active members participated in actual duties. The reception dinner was held on the Friday of Labor Day weekend (two days prior to the Southern 500), and would recognize the drivers who qualified based on the previous year's event. ^{[1] [2]}

Only records set in the September Southern 500 were recognized for the club. Any records set during the spring race, or support races (added in 1983 to the Southern 500 weekend) were not eligible. ^{[1] [2]}

Competition Board

Once the membership was established, the active members of the club were eligible for the annual Competition Board. All active members who qualified for the race within 2% of the fastest car in the field (later 1%) were placed on the board. The board's primary responsibilities were to assist NASCAR in training rookies for racing at each race during the season. ^{[1] [2]}

Once the Competition Board was established, the board members voted amongst themselves to select the Club President and Club Vice-President. Each had a tenure of one year. The president's duties primarily were to lead the rookie training, and conduct the annual Darlington Raceway rookie orientation meeting and further rookie test that they had to pass (similar to the Indianapolis 500) before attempting to qualify at Darlington for either race. Likewise, they were not allowed to qualify on the first day of time trials, and were relegated to the second round only (starting 21st or lower). ^{[1] [2] [3]}

In 1977, Darlington Raceway began adding support races that helped inexperienced drivers gain experience in shorter events with less-powerful cars. The Baby Grand National series ran 150 kilometer (94.5 mile) races for four-cylinder cars, which ran until 1984. In 1982, the second-tier series (now the NASCAR Xfinity Series) added a 200 mile race for the Rebel 500 weekend, and in 1983 another second-tier race was run on Southern 500 weekend as a 250-mile race (owing to Blue Laws in South Carolina, the race was set to the state's 250-mile minimum for Sunday races). From 1984 to 2004, support races for the second-tier series were added to both weekends. Since these drivers had gained experience at Darlington through support races (up to 294 laps of experience in two lower-tier races each year), the rookie panel and NASCAR decided in 1993 to abolish both the rookie test and the first-round rookie prohibition, as Cup Series rookies had typically made four or more starts through support races, if they had at least two full seasons of support series events. When the rule was abolished in 1993, the three primary rookies had each made at least four Darlington starts through the two second-tier series races each of the previous two seasons. Since 2005, the second-tier series has run one race (two from 2020-2024) and the current tertiary Craftsman Truck Series also a single race at Darlington, annually since 2020 (two in 2021), allowing drivers to gain even more experience. ^{[3] [6]} As of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule, the Xfinity Series races on the spring weekend and the Truck Series runs on the Southern 500 weekend.

Record Club by car make

Chevrolet Year Driver Speed (mph) 1959 Speedy Thompson 123.387 1960 Rex White 125.698 1961 Dave Mader 125.578 1962 Rex White 127.462 1963 Junior Johnson 133.414 1964 J. T. Putney 126.840 1965 Jim Paschal 134.739 1966 Bobby Johns 135.989 1967 Bobby Johns 138.577 1968 Bobby Allison 138.389 1969 Bobby Johns 142.008 1971 Charlie Glotzbach 147.519 1972 Bobby Allison 152.228 1973 Bobby Allison 149.434 1974 Benny Parsons 147.312 1975 Benny Parsons 151.632 1976 Darrell Waltrip 152.862 1977 Darrell Waltrip 153.493 1979 Donnie Allison 154.506 1981 Ricky Rudd 151.889 1983 Neil Bonnett 157.187 1985 Benny Parsons 155.857 1986 Tim Richmond 158.489 1987 Terry Labonte 156.313 1988 Dale Earnhardt 160.198 1989 Ken Schrader 160.021 1990 Dale Earnhardt 158.448 1991 Dale Earnhardt 161.317 1992 Ernie Irvan 161.992 1993 Ken Schrader 161.259 1994 Ken Schrader 166.828 1995 Dale Earnhardt 166.501 1996 Jeff Gordon 170.833 1997 Ken Schrader 169.801 1998 Jeff Gordon 168.261 1999 Jeff Gordon 170.792 2000 Mike Skinner 169.211 2001 Jeff Gordon 167.916

Ford Thunderbird see note Year Driver Speed (mph) 1959 Bob Burdick 122.714 1960 Elmo Langley 122.244 Ford Year Driver Speed (mph) 1959 Marvin Panch 118.201 1960 Joe Weatherly 124.881 1961 Fred Lorenzen 128.437 1962 Fred Lorenzen 127.898 1963 Fireball Roberts 133.819 1964 Fred Lorenzen 135.727 1965 Junior Johnson 137.528 1967 Darel Dieringer 143.426 1968 Lee Roy Yarbrough 144.054 1969 Donnie Allison 151.177 1971 Walter Ballard 142.114 1975 Buddy Baker 152.663 1976 Buddy Baker 152.991 1979 Bobby Allison 154.881 1982 Bill Elliott 153.891 1983 Buddy Baker 155.188 1984 Ricky Rudd 154.099 1985 Bill Elliott 156.641 1986 Cale Yarborough 156.119 1987 Davey Allison 157.232 1988 Bill Elliott 160.827 1989 Alan Kulwicki 160.156 1990 Bill Elliott 157.777 1991 Davey Allison 162.506 1992 Sterling Marlin 162.249 1993 Bobby Labonte 160.303 1994 Geoff Bodine 166.998 1995 John Andretti 167.379 1996 Dale Jarrett 170.934 1997 Bill Elliott 170.513 1998 Dale Jarrett 168.879 1999 Kenny Irwin 170.970 2000 Jeremy Mayfield 169.444 2001 Kurt Busch 168.048

Pontiac Year Driver Speed (mph) 1959 Fireball Roberts 123.734 1960 Cotton Owens 126.146 1961 Fireball Roberts 128.680 1962 Fireball Roberts 130.246 1963 Bobby Johns 132.565 1964 Bunkie Blackburn 129.589 1965 Bobby Johns 133.585 1966 H. B. Bailey 134.310 1967 H. B. Bailey 136.410 1968 H. B. Bailey 133.901 1969 Roy Tyner 136.952 1971 David Pearson 147.569 1975 H. B. Bailey 139.107 1981 Harry Gant 152.693 1982 Ricky Rudd 153.368 1983 Tim Richmond 155.729 1984 Tim Richmond 154.598 1985 Tim Richmond 154.948 1988 Rusty Wallace 159.761 1989 Rusty Wallace 159.668 1990 Rusty Wallace 157.504 1992 Rusty Wallace 159.849 1993 Rusty Wallace 158.935 1994 Bobby Labonte 166.433 1995 Ward Burton 165.665 1996 Rick Mast 169.713 1997 Bobby Labonte 170.661 1998 Ward Burton 168.677 1999 Ward Burton 170.845 2000 Johnny Benson 169.409 2001 Ken Schrader 167.254

Dodge Year Driver Speed (mph) 1959 Dick Joslin 112.910 1960 Jim Whitman 117.710 1961 T. C. Hunt 121.988 1962 Larry Thomas 123.773 1963 David Pearson 131.204 1964 David Pearson 135.979 1966 Lee Roy Yarbrough 140.058 1967 Buddy Baker 142.733 1968 Charlie Glotzbach 144.830 1969 Bobby Allison 151.482 1971 Buddy Baker 145.909 1972 Richard Petty 149.072 1973 Richard Petty 147.848 1974 Richard Petty 150.132 1975 Richard Petty 152.839 1976 Dave Marcis 152.839 1978 Earle Canavan 147.247 2001 John Andretti 167.493

Plymouth Year Driver Speed (mph) 1959 Richard Petty 123.124 1960 Richard Petty 125.074 1961 Richard Petty 125.906 1962 Richard Petty 127.143 1963 G. C. Spencer 131.074 1964 Richard Petty 136.815 1965 Curtis Turner 134.474 1966 Richard Petty 139.719 1967 Richard Petty 143.436 1968 Darel Dieringer 144.443 1969 Dick Brooks 146.367 1970 Dick Brooks 147.640 1971 Pete Hamilton 147.662 Matador Year Driver Speed (mph) 1972 Dave Marcis 147.746 1974 Bobby Allison 148.842 1975 Bobby Allison 152.663

Oldsmobile Year Driver Speed (mph) 1959 Joe Caspolich 121.808 1960 Tiny Lund 118.840 1978 Cale Yarborough 152.182 1979 Cale Yarborough 152.358 1985 Buddy Baker 154.108 1986 Buddy Baker 156.666 1987 Lake Speed 156.268 1988 Lake Speed 158.046 1989 Harry Gant 159.300 1990 Harry Gant 157.217 1991 Harry Gant 160.843 1992 Harry Gant 160.811 Chrysler Year Driver Speed (mph) 1961 Buck Baker 126.339 1962 Buddy Baker 126.372 1963 Neil Castles 119.033 1978 Ed Negre 146.322

Mercury Year Driver Speed (mph) 1961 Curtis Crider 119.854 1962 Emanuel Zervakis 126.227 1963 Joe Weatherly 132.770 1964 Darel Dieringer 134.419 1965 Earl Balmer 136.551 1966 Darel Dieringer 139.593 1967 Lee Roy Yarbrough 140.625 1968 Cale Yarborough 144.830 1969 Cale Yarborough 151.985 1972 David Pearson 152.342 1975 David Pearson 153.901 1976 David Pearson 154.669

Buick Year Driver Speed (mph) 1959 Elmo Langley 123.387 1982 David Pearson 155.739 1983 Joe Ruttman 155.022 1984 Bobby Allison 154.452 1985 Greg Sacks 154.773 1986 Bobby Hillin Jr. 156.397 1988 Morgan Shepherd 158.198 1989 Ricky Rudd 158.607 1990 Brett Bodine 157.434

Note that in 1959 & 1960, the Ford Thunderbird was categorized separately from Ford.

Sources: ^{[1] [2]}

Alphabetical member list

Bold indicates track record member (white blazer)

• Bobby Allison
• Davey Allison
• Donnie Allison
• John Andretti
• H. B. Bailey
• Buck Baker
• Buddy Baker
• Walter Ballard
• Earl Balmer
• Johnny Benson
• Bunkie Blackburn
• Dick Brooks
• Brett Bodine
• Geoff Bodine
• Neil Bonnett
• Bob Burdick
• Ward Burton
• Earle Canavan
• Joe Caspolich
• Neil Castles
• Curtis Crider
• Darel Dieringer
• Dale Earnhardt
• Bill Elliott
• Harry Gant
• Charlie Glotzbach
• Jeff Gordon
• Pete Hamilton
• Bobby Hillin Jr.
• T. C. Hunt
• Ernie Irvan
• Kenny Irwin Jr. *
• Dale Jarrett
• Bobby Johns
• Junior Johnson
• Dick Joslin
• Alan Kulwicki
• Bobby Labonte
• Terry Labonte
• Elmo Langley
• Fred Lorenzen
• Tiny Lund
• Dave Mader
• Dave Marcis
• Sterling Marlin
• Rick Mast
• Jeremy Mayfield
• Ed Negre
• Cotton Owens
• Marvin Panch
• Benny Parsons
• Jim Paschal
• David Pearson
• Richard Petty
• J.T. Putney
• Tim Richmond
• Fireball Roberts
• Ricky Rudd
• Joe Ruttman
• Greg Sacks
• Ken Schrader
• Morgan Shepherd
• Mike Skinner
• Lake Speed
• G.C. Spencer
• Larry Thomas
• Speedy Thompson
• Curtis Turner
• Roy Tyner
• Rusty Wallace
• Darrell Waltrip
• Joe Weatherly
• Rex White
• Jim Whitman
• Cale Yarborough
• LeeRoy Yarbrough
• Emanuel Zervakis

*Posthumous induction. Irwin won pole and set the track record in 1999 during Pepsi Southern 500 qualifying, but was killed at during Cup practice at the Loudon July race ten months later.

Sources: ^{[1] [2] [7]}

One of the award plaques presented to Bobby Allison was featured on the television program American Pickers . It was acquired for display at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. ^[8]

Club presidents

Tenure runs for 12 months, from September to September of each year.

• 1960-61 Fireball Roberts
• 1961-62
• 1962-63 Buck Baker
• 1963-64
• 1964-65
• 1965-66
• 1966-67
• 1967-68
• 1968-69
• 1969-70 Bobby Allison
• 1970-71
• 1971-72
• 1972-73
• 1973-74
• 1974-75
• 1975-76
• 1976-77 Dave Marcis
• 1977-78
• 1978-79
• 1979-80 Donnie Allison
• 1980-81 Ricky Rudd
• 1981-82
• 1982-83
• 1983-84 Bill Elliott
• 1984-85 Ricky Rudd ^[3]
• 1985-86
• 1986-87
• 1987-88 Bobby Hillin Jr.
• 1988-89 Darrell Waltrip
• 1989-90
• 1990-91
• 1991-92
• 1992-93
• 1993-94
• 1994-95 Bobby Labonte
• 1996-97 John Andretti
• 1997-98
• 1998-99
• 1999-00 Ricky Rudd
• 2000-01
• 2001-02
• Ken Schrader
• Jeff Gordon

See also

• Unocal 76 Challenge
• Unocal 76 World Pit Crew Competition

Sources

• The Official NASCAR Preview and Press Guide, 1994 & 2001 edition
• Rookies get scoop on each track from veteran Rudd, August 31, 2000
• Brooks, Allison, Tyner To Be Inducted Into Record Club

References

1. The Official NASCAR Preview and Press Guide 1994. Charlotte: UMI Publications, Inc. 1994.
2. The Official NASCAR Preview and Press Guide 2001. Charlotte: UMI Publications, Inc. 2001.
3. Rudd, Ricky (2003-08-27). "Manic Monday". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013.
4. "Dick Joslin Facts". Archived from the original on 2011-09-17. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
5. "Pure Record Club Members". FireballRoberts.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-17. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
6. "Martin paces 2nd day of qualifying". Times Daily Tennessee Edition. Florence, AL. March 26, 1988. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
7. Racing-Reference.info - Race Results at Darlington Raceway
8. "NASCAR Challenge". Top NASCAR Races. Season 2. 2011-04-11. History Channel.