NASCAR HOF (2012) Richie Evans

[@chuckflynnjr]

Best comment in the video is at the beginning. Junior Johnson, "He was the best race car driver I ever seen". That says it all!

[@jeremythompson9122]

That's about as high of a praise you can get as a race car driver. Junior is probably the greatest race driver on dirt the world has ever known. He honed his skills outrunning the law on those twisty back country dirt roads of North Carolina while delivering moonshine for his dad. These drivers today aren't as good as the old timers who had to drive big heavy cars at really high speeds with no power steering, no power brakes, shitty bias ply tires, and no traction control or any other type of computer assisted help like the modern cars have. That took some real driving skills

[@johnnytenjobs]

Agreed

[@buddywilliams5650]

Junior, said that about every one of his own driver's. I'm not taking anything away from Richie.

[@chuckflynn5284]

@@buddywilliams5650 Ok, fair statement, but how many times did Junior say that about someone who never drove for him? 😉

[@joeforte7788]

Richie History Will live On Forever. God Bless You Richie !

[@victorcerabino5319]

I watched him race at Islip , Freeport, Riverhead and Treton. It was unbelievable, Cook ,Troyer, Ray Hendrick and that 99 whole was my favorite when he would come. Artie Tappen was my all time man. You always got Evans best and i met him in 1974 in the pits at Islip. He was unbelievable how he could drive. I still have all the pictures from the 70s. The loss of him was a devastating one to the mod squad.

[@tonyrobertson9452]

Wonderful story and great driver. Glad I was able to see this video about Richie.

[@smerrill9426]

Grew up in upstate New Yorker my dad raced modified against Richie & Geoff Bodine I just remember seeing that orange car #61 tearing up everything in sight seemed like he won everything all the time

[@chrishosie1]

What I love about this documentary are two things. The first is the story revolves around a driver who put one of the premiere nascar development series on the map. And helped to establish the Modified championships of America on the map. Secondly, it’s narrated by the smooth and endearing tones of nascar commentator Ken Squier. A legend in the box and the VO booth. Miss you dearly Ken.

[@robertlabodabirdman7433]

In all those old racing books are used to read all of them are used to have 10 or 30 of them just had Richie E Evans. He is one of theThe only modified champions of the biggest and many races of all time just remembering he’s being remembered 37 years ago I wasn’t even born yet when he was racing I used to hear about him all the time running at Fulton Speedway running at Utica Rome Speedway and Fonda Speedway a lot of the modified dirt modified run their big blocks to small block they all run there

[@donschneider3687]

I'm getting on in years now, but I will never forget watching Richie around CNY tracks, (Fulton, Oswego, Brewerton, Weedsport, Utica-Rome, etc.) in the early to mid 70's. No one will ever touch the respect, honor, and love that fans had for Richie. Even though this made me cry, it brought back a lot of great memories!! God Bless you Richie!!

[@terbat1]

I saw Richie at Pocono and New Egypt speedway in NJ. Never forget those precious moments.

[@normangabbard8816]

Racing upstate NY as head pit chief for Rice Racing. Was one of the best times of my life.. We didnt race Fulton. But I lived there 5 years. Mostly we raced Grand Am up by Canada.. I met a lot of good folks up there.. Carl Rice was one of the best guys I've ever known.. It was surely a pleasure..

[@THEDonnyB]

I remember a friend of my dad's who asked me who won the most Nascar championships and I responded Dale Earnhardt Sr. I was only 5 or 6. He told me that I was half right. He told me Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr were tied. That prompted me to look it up on my dad's computer and I discovered Richie Evans. I shocked him when I told him that we were both wrong. I remember looking up why NASCAR doesn't retire numbers and I found that Richie Evans number is unofficially retired as no modified team uses it anymore. I'm 22 now and I just came across this video. It's hard to know that the Dale Sr of modifieds suffered a similar fate.

[@FloridaManRacer]

As someone who grew up in the Rome area and who's dad helped build richie's first car, and a Dale Sr. fan, I know EXACTLY what you mean.

[@timl4523]

I was there that day at Oswego when Richie passed those four cars on the third turn restart. He had that rare talent that few others had then or have today!! That day in October when he lost his life was certainly the day the music died!! There will never be another Richie Evans!!

[@momosrt]

An icon...glad I grew up as his fan!

[@JSRacing61]

Thank You So Much for posting this!

[@louswire]

I remember watching him race just about every Friday night in the 70's. One of my favorite drivers of the pre Gremlin era.

[@jeffhanson9384]

Stafford was a great place to grow up on Friday nights.

[@albertm13409]

I watched Richie all his career,when he pulled in the pits it was a question who would finish second.Every one was shocked and cried when the news reached back home.

[@roman61]

Will be raising a toast to the King of the Modifieds when he is inducted into the NASCAR hall of fame! RIP Richie.

[@johndickinson7269]

Used to love Richie drive, he did things nobody could do in a Modified.

[@TheKyleBuschfan]

I think Junior Johnson would of love 2 have Richie if Richie decided 2 race Winston

[@renegade07garage]

Richie was a true racer, would help any competitor with anything, give them parts help them with a set up give them advice, you dont see that today in Nascar racing but man that streak 9 championships 8 in a row from 78 to 85 and 481 wins and in 1985 he started 28 races and won 17 unbelievable.

[@shaunsanborn7840]

God, I wish my Dad was alive to see this.

[@funone8716]

I don't think he ever got booed at a race. People just loved to see him win. I don't think it would have mattered how much he won. Many drivers are disliked if the get to winning too much.

[@jeremythompson9122]

Richie was easily the greatest to ever do it in the NASCAR Modified Series. I remember watching Richie race at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta,NY when it was a NASCAR sanctioned track back in the 70's. Back when NASCAR was actually watchable

[@RandysRacingPlace633]

That's high praise coming from someone who some people (including yours truly) think was the greatest driver never to win a Cup title.

[@arttrombley7385]

I saw Richie race many many nights at Riverside Speedway and He was always up front at the end.

[@trulysurprised-bk7cy]

I watched that orange flash, week after week at Thompson International Speedway. Those were the days man !!

[@brendankirkham1405]

I only learned of him recently it's cool to know good old rome has a legend

[@Mister_Matt_X]

I have a cousin from Pennsylvania who met Richie who worked on a modified tour team and he described Richie he was laid back and a calm person and talked about whatever and my cousin told me that he was a cool guy... sad part is that my cousin told me that he doesn’t remember the last time he spoke with Richie before his death but it’s just flabbergasting to know that my cousin met a legend! Wow!

[@nyracer23]

I remember sitting in the bleachers at Evans Mills speedway as a kid and seeing the 61 coming up Rte 11and just being so excited whenever the mods were running. Between seeing Richie Evans, Maynard Troyer, Jerry Cook, Gary Reddick, and Barefoot Bob run the blacktop mods. Thanks for posting this, it was great to watch.

[@matthewcarvill5936]

hearing the stories of barefoot Bob and Richie Evans is amazing it's cool seeing Barefoot Bobs son Timmy running the dirt and keeping his father still out there with him every lap sorta thing. the racing now isn't what it use to be from the stories I've heard over the years compared to the racing now a days

[@douglassheffield6300]

I remember watching Richie race all over Upstate NY those were some of the best times of my childhood. "Thanks Richie for all the great memories".

[@johnmaloney7518]

I remember some kid paying $400 dollars for a 71 Pinto.. had it painted orange,, a friend made white side pipes for him,, put big tires on it etc and drove it to Spencer Speedway very Fri. night and watch Richie and the hood said Love is a bed full of sweat,, God bless You,, Richie

[@ThreeRiversRC]

0:36 Have to respect that amazing car control, that takes a true racer!

[@kenrego4720]

We need a movie made about Richi!!!!

[@1761Charlie]

I bought him his last drink (in a bar . . . in Martinsville) the night before he died. I'll still shed a tear for him . . . all these years later . . .

[@thekingsilverado9004]

DALE AND RICHIE'S PASSING RIPPED A BIG HOLE THRU ME. MY YEARS ENDED AT DEVILS BOWL. WENT UP INTO AND OVER THE FENCE... I CRASHED ON SATURDAY NIGHT WOKE IN AN ICU ON THURSDAY THINKING IT WAS SUNDAY MORNING... THE CRASH HAUNTS MY DREAMS TO THIS DAY. TOOK OUT 60 FEET OF FENCE HALF OF IT WRAPPED AROUND THE FRONT OF MY CAR, THEN I CAME DOWN IN THE PARKING LOT NEXT TO WHERE THE OLD PIT ENTRANCE WAY WAS. QUIT THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY... MY CAR SITS REPAIRED AS A REMINDER TO DALE AND RICHIE HOW LUCKY I AM TO BE SITTING HERE.

[@dfuller968]

Was this at the Devils Bowl in Vermont??? I remember seeing Richie race at Catamount the only time the Modifieds ran there he finished 2nd to Jimmy Spencer glad I had achance to see him race.

[@thekingsilverado9004]

Yes it was Vermont where I wrecked. Richie was a few years before my time or circa. I started out running about 1992 Richie was a god that inspired young guys like me. To me men like Richie Dale and Davy Allison Fireball Roberts The King they were all gods of sorts the men we strived to imitate every weekend show. Our friends and families were affected by our poor decisions accidents and financial disasters. But we all lived life as only race car drivers lived. I still build stuff for shits and giggles and everynow and then I show at local tracks and put my two cents where I feel the need. Everyone says you look so familiar... That's when I walk back to my seat. I love to be a LIVING ghost in the crowd. A young driver that recognized me for just such an act at Mahoning valley Speedway was at the Local Wal-Mart when he saw me again. He yelled LONG LIVE THE SEVENTEEN CAR and thanks for the clip hangar advice old man... I never thought I would ever be called an old man either... Chokes me up when I think back on some of the sheet...

[@daveb7669]

I remember late 60's at Catamount seeing Don McTavish going off the 3rd turn down the embankment no yellow kept racing. After a couple laps his modified came flying up the hill back on the 3rd turn didn't touch anyone to the crowds applause. Unfortunately, he met his fate the next year at Daytona.

[@albertm13409]

I watched and followed RICHIE all the way through his career and enjoyed it all. He was and is the CHAMPION of modifieds.

[@jimsmith1978]

Saw him race at Islip, Freeport n Riverhead. Watching him n Charlie Jarzombek race, was AWESOME. Always enjoyed spending time in the pits after the races. No way does Earnhardt win seven CHAMPIONSHIPS, if Richie had gone to Nascar.

[@jimmyjackass1805]

Watched Richie for years at Shangri-La Speedway in Owego NY Owego not Oswego, He is and always will be my childhood HERO.

[@normangabbard8816]

What a guy... One hell of a guy.. Richie Evans.. A True Legend to the sport and a compliment to The Hall of Fame..

[@FloridaManRacer]

How good was Richie Evans? When is the last time you heard a competitor say they were PROUD to be beaten by another racer? THAT'S how good Richie was.

[@moehicks3073]

John Douglas Racing Video

[@lanceconley3466]

And brian ross no less

[@harleycowboy4313]

i was really blessed to have met richie when i was a kid what a true champion RIP MY FRIEND

[@kmcwhq]

" A 6 pack a lap........HOW COOL IS THAT!! ???

[@kevindust2712]

Oswego Classic, best race weekend of the year

[@npm814]

I feel blessed to have witnessed Richie, and rubbed elbows with a true legend. Proud to have been there.

[@ferdterguson124]

If junior says what he said, nuff said

[@edge2sword186]

Why did the B+M engine in the 61 and the 7 always pull so much harder on the straits than anyone elces same B+M Engine ?

[@rock5464]

That engine had a unique sound immediately recognizable especially on the back straight.

[@buddywilliams5650]

The late model's ran 350cid 450-500 horsepower. I live very close to New Smyrna raceway. Clyde's Place for all the newcomers. It's not that big of a track. I seen Daytona in 1994,2001,2006. The outside of Las Vegas in 2006 and the outside of California Speedway. And, New Smyrna looks like a Go Kart Track compared to the others. The Cars racing can get up to about 100MPH before braking. I guess Richie smacked the wall just right at Martinsville. Broke his neck and That's it.

[@robsprint8887]

I used to go to Thompson Speedway to see the mods up in CT with my dad. The huge crowd would go apeshit when they saw that orange pinto line up across the infield on pit row for the feature.....APESHIT! and then they would really get their money's worth watching the race!

[@TheHonkcat]

I grew up next to a shop in West Spfld, MA that had a modified car that ran against Mr. Evans all the time. The mechanics took a likin' to me and used to complain all the time about that "Darn it, if it wasn't for that orange #61, we could have won!". Then they used to tell me how he was the best and the nicest guy cuz he used to lend and GIVE them parts for their car

[@jeffhanson9384]

Eddie Flemke's shop?

[@ericperkins7910]

Probably Mario fiore and the 44 mod

[@FloridaManRacer]

we celebrated richie's induction into the hall of fame that night, his crew, family, and cars were there.

[@JoshBolden91]

Shoot Ol' Junior would have signed Richie in a second if he were to have chose to run the Cup Series. haha

[@jimd9619]

The Evans the McCredies the Tremonts...

[@briankerfien6443]

I remember being a kid, some of Richies friends use to come to Oswego for Classic Weekend and rented my uncles camp on the lake. Then later as a teen going to the richie evans memorial race back when they raced more than once a year at oswego.

[@harleylady361]

Best on asphalt Richie Evans , Jumpin Jack Johnson on dirt . Malta fri night Fonda sat night Devils Bowl sun I miss my heroes

[@jeffhanson9384]

Stafford on Friday, Lebanon Valley on Saturday and Thompson on Sunday for us. Good times.

[@shawnevans58]

I was 7 years old sitting on the tire rack of daddy's hauler once they unloaded my dad's late model. I seen it happen. I remember it til this very day.

[@mrtit1964]

I met Richie Evans in 1980 at New Smyrna, he run and won 9 features in 9 nights. When his car rolled through the gates on the first Friday, my uncle said " Here comes the modified winner, for all 9 nights." He wasn't kiddin. Nice man and a GREAT DRIVER......

[@ferdterguson124]

Wish they would have interviewed merv. Classic

[@jimd9619]

Fonda Foultonville is a trip.. couple of old railroad ties keeps you outta the Mowhawk River

[@healthyone100]

i grew up right behind the track, my whole childhood was around going to Fonda, my 2 brothers and my father we sat in the same place every week, Richie never raced dirt but Jerry Cook did and he raced at Fonda, i'm 73 still go every week, but always remember watching Richie and all the asphalt stars at AlbanySaratoga every friday back in the early 70's, racing is in my blood!

[@RichieEvansFan]

Thanks for posting this for the many fans who do not get SPEED...

[@seahawkfan1995]

only # to be retired in nascar #61

[@jonteague7495]

I'm only 36 and I remember my dad talking about him. What can I say that hasn't already been said...... Awesome human being!!!! One of the best!!!

[@thekingsilverado9004]

YOU NEED TO KEEP TELLING THE STORIES ABOUT REAL MEN AND COMPETITORS.. KEEPS THE SPIRITS ALIVE AND THE OLD TIMERS SMILING... I CAN WALK THRU ANY HOUSE INCLUDING MY OWN THAT PEOPLE CALL HAUNTED AND IT DOES NOT BOTHER ME... I WALKED THRU METROLINA AND ROCKINGHAM RECENTLY AND MY HAIR STOOD ON END ALL OVER MY BODY.. NO BS STORY... TO DATE I WILL PASS THRU A CEMETARY DRINKING A BEER HAVE A CIGAR. WALK THRU AN OLD SPEEDWAY... YOU WON'T GET MY ASS PAST THE TALL GRASS ON THE WAY IN.

[@Sean-wj1wu]

you probably want to stay away from Nazareth if that's the case.

[@thekingsilverado9004]

I don't remember much about Nazareth Speedway. I was slated twice to run there in the late 80's but weather canceled both times. I never got a chance to run there. The tracks was still there last time I passed thru there. They were building stores on top of the old race way. You can enlighten me about Nazareth though. I ran the larger tracks as much as I could I was hungry for big banking like Wall Stadium and Dover. I went where they let ya bounty hunt in the early days I didn't start running the circuit until the 90's. I live a hop skip and jump from Nazareth though wish they would have kept it open. It was a big draw for the town before the economy totally took a shit

[@FloridaManRacer]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. my dad helped build the green 109 car in this film. and i live 1000ft from the entrance to utica rome speedway.

[@troydowning3302]

Awesome

[@mikekano1077]

Real racer right there made it work on his own

[@fredcsensits4476]

The NASCAR modified series gave the best racing at the old Nazereth speedway in the 90 s and early 2000 s

[@colehewitt6068]

My great uncle is Doug Hewitt and they were teammates on B.R DeWitt. Undoubtedly Richie is one of the greatest talents ever on the track

[@jeffatkinson6848]

love the story running 2nd fer 6 pks of beer

[@222billp]

Richie Evans deserves to be in nascar HOF. Red Farmer is another short track ace/legend that should be in nascars HOF.

[@thekingsilverado9004]

AGREED.... RICHIES WINS WERE NO ACCIDENT... NO MAN EVER WORKED HARDER. RIP 61.

[@MrRancid1988]

Saw Red Farmer race at Toledo when I was just a kid. I believe it was a borrowed car from another team #97 at Toledo Speedway. Great racer, great track !

[@richieosborn2639]

+MrRancid1988 coincidently, my name is Richie and I live in where Toledo is in, Ohio. I also played Nascar games as a kid.

[@mbalogach]

1994 who pauch

[@jimd9619]

Utica rome.. Albany Saratoga.. Lebanon Valley

[@yangsrgr8]

I used to watch him every friday night all through the 70's, sat in his car more than once, with his permission of course!

[@jeffhanson9384]

He was so cool like that. We snuck into the pits at stafford and he was cool to us kids.

[@josephdigiro9781]

Legend saw him race was half track ahead the whole race!!!!

[@kipcoulter9302]

WHAT AAAAAAAA AAAAAAA HE'LL OF AAAAAAAA AAAAAAA MARVELOUS MARVELOUS MARVELOUS MARVEL MARVEL MARVEL STORY

[@sillygoose2508]

Back then the frames were to ridget and solid no crumble zone no haas devices or soft wall barriers concrete is very unforgiving and it wasn't that long ago Tim steel was taken by concrete

[@sprinterofblack8186]

Is Rich Evans related to Richie Evans? OOOOOOOHHHHHH MMMMYYYY GGGAAAWWWD!?

[@jimd9619]

Ask oldBarefoot Bob

[@Creptex]

I used to sharpen saw blades for him

[@jamesbethea4302]

Wow I wish I was alive to see the gods race

[@thekingsilverado9004]

THEY WERE GODS. THEY LIVED ON BUDGETS ATE POTATO CHIPS ALL DAY LONG WORKING ON THEIR CARS AND DRANK BEER AND MADE AMERICA WHAT IT ONCE WAS. THESE POLITICAL HACKS LIKE CLINTONS RUINED OUR WAYS OF LIFE IN AMERICA.. SOMETHING YOU KIDS DON'T GET TO SEE IS REAL MEN WITH REAL HEART AND SPIRITS. I FEEL SORRY FOR YOUR GENERATION...

[@jimd9619]

I ran Lebanon at 16... lol..and I am a lot younger than Richie

[@thekingsilverado9004]

i STARTED WHEN I WAS 16 TOO. IT WAS THE FOLLOWING YEAR AROUND HERE ABOUT 1980 THEY STARTED WITH AGE RESTRICTIONS AND INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER A RACE. BEFORE THAT YOU COULD DRAG ANYTHING WITH A NUMBER PAINTED ON IT BEYOND THE FENCE AND IF THE CLOCK SAID YOU PASSED TIME YOU PASSED INTO THE FEATURE EVEN RACE. NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT I WONDER HOW I LIVED TO BE PAST 50.

[@dzlf2504]

To bad they took his car out looked bad ass in there. Nice open wheel.

[@seahawkfan1995]

the big if what if richie went to cup

[@1761Charlie]

Gene Dewitt offered to underwrite the project but Richie decided to stay in the Modifieds. It wasn't a "big fish in the small pond" deal . . . he just liked it there . . . that was his home. Told me he was going to run for the championship one more time. After nine titles, he said: "You can't quit on an odd number."

[@medionlvr]

nothing like "wild" bill slater. v8

[@monteharwell6221]

An f ing pinto ,I love it...monte

[@ASimpsonsfanaticforBurns]

I tear up at the end

[@toddgilbert2485]

Very Interesting Video!

[@kinglarue]

Is that bar his daughter has opened to the public,and if it is,what name is it and located ? thks

[@daleolson3506]

The music junked another video 👎🏻💩

[@jgonascar]

Why didn't Richie go to the Busch or Winston cup series?

[@racerchaser27]

Because he made more money in the modifieds than he would've in Grand National racing, running several times a week.

[@thekingsilverado9004]

HE WANTED TO STAY CLOSE TO HOME AND AT THE TIME THE PAY WAS ABOUT THE SAME WITH THE TRAVEL EXPENSES.. HELD ME WHERE I LIVED TOO. NOT JUST HIM. IT GOT WORSE AS FUEL AND INSURANCES EXPENSES WENT UP.

[@mec4lifesmiley700]

Richie gave the answer himself in this video. Go on back and watch er again. Very honest man.

[@lanceconley3466]

Nascars fastest division is the modifies

[@jeffatkinson6848]

and decoy work

[@dzl6848]

At least I got to see his car in the hall of fame before they took his car out. Im from rome. Wish rome would do more in his memory.

[@dezldave961]

I'm sure it will happen as time goes on. If I'm able to help it happen after I retire from the AF, with some close family connections (some in this video), I will. (The number in my name is a mix of my dad's and Richie's, and I didn't know it until I was years into racing snowmobiles with it.)

[@saltybildo9448]

The shie

[@juliehoward5558]

I was to young to go but my mom and dad and aunt and uncle Ernie Gahan went to watch him alot.and had some bbq's with him

[@Solurius1]

Goodnu?

[@Solurius1]

That was Richie's trademark greeting. Even before anyone said hello.

[@mec4lifesmiley700]

Question how are you? Answer; goodnu. " Good and you"

[@FallingPicturesProductions]

This might seem like a stupid question, but why did he not pursue a career in the Busch or Winston cup series?

[@jenniferstock8365]

I

[@jenniferstock8365]

I

[@georgebruzzi3683]

+Falling Pictures Productions You then never knew to him.

[@FloridaManRacer]

By the time the southern boys would've reluctantly put a NY'er in their car richie was too old. He was happy running more up north toward the end. He was getting ready to spend more time with family.

[@mec4lifesmiley700]

Rewatch the video. Richie answers the question himself.

[@ronnieyoung7510]

Best to best ever

[@healthyone100]

logohalonascarfan3 AMEN

[@DERAOFFICIAL]

the story's of him being a rebel racer is perfect my grandfather raced against him and said to me recently 'I would go out in to the pits and ask everyone but Richie whos gonna finish second' luckily my grandfather won one of the few races Richie wrecked in my great grandfather was a bootlegger and a former nascar driver he never won a race but he ran from time to time ended up flipping over in I think 51 or 54 at a dirt track in nascar. Lee Northrup was the name my grandfather (Richard Northrup ran in USAC in the 60s 70s and early 80s he then raced dirt mods from 1986-1993 he ended up getting killed in a practice run in a sprint car at tri county speedway sometime in 1994

[@jimd9619]

And where did he come from?

[@thekingsilverado9004]

WHERE ALL OF US MODIFIED MANIACS COME FROM OUR MOMMA'S...

[@doctoredable]

Pappy married his sister but it didn't effect me none.