LLOYD MOORE

(This story was prepared with information taken from Rick Houston's article at NASCAR.COM, a story by Buffalo News sports reporter Keith McShea, ARCA's Don Radebaugh, and Reggie Houghwot.  Reggie also provided many of the photos. (RHoughwot@windstream.net)

            When Lloyd Moore died May 18, 2008, at the age of 95, his passing was widely reported and his obituaries were long and glowing.  It was only appropriate, given that Moore had held the title of oldest living NASCAR race winner, and ARCA race winning veteran.  And, as it turns out, Dayton Speedway held a special place in Moore’s heart until the day it stopped beating…

     Lloyd Moore was born in Frewsburg, NY on June 8, 1912.  World War I had not yet started. Even “Big” Bill France, who would go on to found NASCAR, wasn’t so big; he was just 3 years old when Moore came into the world.

     Moore’s father was a farmer and when Lloyd was 5 years old his father lost a leg.  The result was a sort of hard-scrabble existence for Moore as he, his mother, and the rest of the Moore kids had to do the much of the work on the farm.

      Beginning in the ‘30s Moore divided his time driving a school bus and working as a mechanic at the local Studebaker garage, and looking for some excitement.  He found it racing jalopies at local dirt tracks, Warren and Penny Royal in Leon, NY.  And a track in Sugar Grove, PA with the lyrical name “Satan’s Bowl of Death.”

      “Penny Royal was so dusty you really couldn’t see,” according to Moore.  “I remember there was a maple tree in turn three. I knew that when I got to the maple tree it was time to turn left, otherwise you’d end up in the cow pasture.”

       In 1949 NASCAR was born and Julian Buesink, a Findley Lake, New York car dealer, started a NASCAR team.  In one of those unbelievable twists of fate, Moore got involved simply because he owned a decent helmet. 

       “Bill Rexford came here one evening and wanted to borrow my helmet,”  Moore remembered.  “I asked him what he wanted my helmet for.  He told me he was racing Buesink’s car at Langhorne.  Well that peaked my interest.”

       Moore’s story of how he came to drive for Buesink contrasts sharply with the lengthy, complex negotiation between the driver, the driver’s agent, the owner, the owner’s representative, and the sponsors’ representatives that is typical today.

       “I was working at Studebaker at the time.  Well, one noon I went up the street to Julian’s used car lot, and I asked him to stop in the garage when he gets a chance.  Couple days later, he walks in the Studebaker garage and said ‘I hear you want to drive one of my cars.  Well, I’ve got one for Heidelberg if you’re still interested.’  I said, yah, I’d go over there.”  And with that, Lloyd Moore’s NASCAR career was launched.

       “That was my first NASCAR race at Heidelberg in 1949.  I’ll never forget it.  I got my ears pinned back by a girl.”  NASCAR’s first female racer, Sarah Christian, finished fifth that day, one position ahead of Moore.  Moore pocketed $150 for his first NASCAR event while Lee Petty took the win.

     In the photo at right, Moore (left) poses with teammate Bill Rexford.

     The 1950 season was perhaps Moore’s best.  He entered 16 of the 19 scheduled NASCAR events and recorded seven top-five finishes and 10 top-ten finishes.  And at the end of the 1950 season Moore won, for the first and last time, a NASCAR event.  He wheeled a 1950 Buesink Mercury to a $1000 win at Funk’s Speedway (now Winchester Speedway).  Buckie Sagar finished second in the 200 lap grind, followed by Moore’s teammate Bill Rexford, Chuck James, and Ray Duhigg.  Lloyd Moore finished 4^th in the 1950 season standings with $5,580 in winnings.  His teammate, Rexford, took the championship ahead of Glenn “Fireball” Roberts and Lee Petty. 

     Moore also competed on the sand at Daytona Beach in ’50, ’51, and ’52, finishing 3^rd, 10^th, and 10^th respectively.

       And then, as suddenly as his career began, it ended.  Moore decided that he was tired; tired of not knowing from week to week where he was going to race because Buesink sometimes didn’t feel like traveling to a NASCAR event and would choose a closer MARC (now ARCA) event instead.  And Moore was tired of being away from his family for long stretches.

       “I just decided one day my family was more important than driving cars in circles,” he said.

        Moore first met NASCAR legend Lee Petty at Dayton Speedway.

        “Lee and I were bitter enemies out on the track, but best of buddies when we got off.  I first met him at Dayton, Ohio.  It was my first trip to that track and I didn’t like the looks of it.  Lee came over and said, ‘You ain’t been around here, have you?’  I told him I hadn’t.  We were just getting set up.  He said ‘Do you want to take my car?’  He offered it to me to drive around the track to see what it was like.  Lee was a good guy.”

     Moore fell in love with Dayton Speedway and it remained his favorite track for the rest of his life.

      “When I first saw the place, I told Julian I didn’t like the place, it was down in a bowl.  They were going around at a pretty good clip.  It took me awhile to get used to.  But once I got on to it, I loved it.  I remember sitting on the pole there with Fonty Flock.  That was quite an honor for me.”

         Besides a few photos from his racing days, Moore’s only bit of memorabilia is the trophy he received for winning the ARCA Metropolitan 300 at Dayton Speedway in 1954.  Photos indicate that Moore kept the trophy looking as good as the day he’d received it over fifty years ago, the treasured remembrance of his favorite track.

     (Above)  Lloyd Moore prepares to take his jalopy onto the Satan's Bowl of Death speedway.  Has there ever been a race track with a more colorful name?

     (Below)  Lloyd is the guest of honor at a hometown parade.  That's Reggie Houghwot riding in the front seat and balancing Lloyd's beloved Dayton Speedway trophy. 

     (Below)  Lloyd Moore sits in his stock car waiting for the signal to begin the pace lap in this 1952 Dayton Speedway photo.

Lloyd Moore’s Dayton Speedway Results