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First dirt race spring of 1965, I was born in December of 64 and my daddy owned a modified coupe for 3 or 4 years around the time I was born. The track would have been Turnpike Speedway in Marion, Illinois or Franklin County Speedway in Benton, Illinois.
My first super modified race would have been at Turnpike sometime in the late 60s or early 70s, I don’t remember exactly. The track ran Friday nights and I do remember that some drivers from the south would come, but sometimes ran late. When that happened the track would take the first chance they could and let those guys qualify which is probably why they made the long tow from the Memphis area. I remember many drivers. Hooker Hood, the very young Swindell brothers, Bubby, Chuck Amati, Gene Henson, Johnny Kemp, so many greats. I also remember a Murphysboro, Illinois driver named Gary Easton who had a modified which dominated that class and could run as a super modified and be more than competitive. He eventually moved to sprints. Great memories.
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