Remembering the Daytona 500

Sports

Remembering the Daytona 500

Minter story on past race car drivers and Daytona 500.

Ronnie Sanders (inside car) ran the 500 three times, and those were the only three Cup races he ever ran. He races late model cars. He's grooming a grandson, Billy Fulson, to take over his ride, but he's still very much a racer who finished second in his two starts so far this year.

David Sosebee is the son of the late Gober Sosebee, a NASCAR pioneer. He poses in front of father's exhibit inside the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in Dawsonville. David ran the 500 in 1987.

Steve Moore of Carrollton had been out of racing for about six years when a chance encounter with a man in a local restaurant led to a comeback in the 1988 Daytona 500. The man put up the money for the ride, and Moore qualified for the big race. He now sells trucks in Carrollton.

Gerald Duke ran in the 1962 Daytona 500 and now lives in College Park. He's holding a replica of his 1959 Thunderbird, which he raced in 1960.

Gerald Duke holds a trophy he won in 1963.

David Sosebee ran the 500 in 1987. He blew a tire entering Turn 3 on his qualifying lap at 203 miles per hour, but still fast enough on the first lap to get in the race. He poses in front of Bill Elliott's 1973 Ford Grand Torino inside the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in Dawsonville.

Steve Moore poses with his 1969 Camaro.

Wilbur Rakestraw and George Alsobrook look through photos of their racing days during the Daytona 500 in '59, and other races in the 1960's.

Wilbur Rakestraw holds his racing photo from the 1960's. He ran in the first Daytona 500 in '59, and then ran in '60 and '61. Rakestraw raced in one of the early 500s, then drove all night back to Dallas and ran his regular school bus route on Monday morning.

George Alsobrook of Hiram, Georgia raced in the 1962 Daytona 500. He worked as mechanic after his racing days were done.

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Ronnie Sanders (inside car) ran the 500 three times, and those were the only three Cup races he ever ran. He races late model cars. He's grooming a grandson, Billy Fulson, to take over his ride, but he's still very much a racer who finished second in his two starts so far this year.

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