Ray Elder and the Racing Farmers: How a California Farm Team Beat the Cup Boys

This episode of The Logbook, our History of Motorsports series, delves into the remarkable story of Ray Elder and the Racing Farmers, highlighting their significant impact on the NASCAR Winston West Series. Ray Elder, together with his family, dominated the NASCAR Winston West series throughout the late 1960s and 70s, winning six championships. The script details Elder's racing achievements, including his memorable victories over NASCAR Cup regulars at Riverside in 1971 and 1972. It gives insight into the Elder family’s background, their farming life in Carothers, California, and how they balanced farming with racing. The narrative also covers prominent competitors like Herschel McGriff, Dick Brown, and Jack McCoy who contributed to the sport's growth on the West Coast. Daniel J. Simone, a historian and expert in American motorsports, provides rich context on Elder's career and the broader history of NASCAR's expansion westward. The script acknowledges the support from various institutions and families, celebrating Ray Elder's enduring legacy in motorsports history.

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00:00 Ray Elder and the NASCAR Winston West Series

00:53 The Elder Family's Racing Journey

01:45 Daniel J. Simone's Contributions

02:28 Early NASCAR History

03:33 West Coast Racing Pioneers

05:00 Ray Elder's Early Life and Racing Beginnings

05:37 The Rise of the Racing Farmers

08:58 Rivalries and Championships

12:29 The Golden Era of West Coast Racing

18:28 The Racing Farmers' Dominance

30:50 Challenges and Changes in the 1970s

35:03 Legacy and Conclusion

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This episode is part of our HISTORY OF MOTORSPORTS SERIES and is sponsored in part by: The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC), The Society of Automotive Historians (SAH), The Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Argetsinger Family - and was recorded in front of a live studio audience.