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Lost Speedways Character Spotlight: Pennsboro



Episode 2 - Pennsboro Speedway: The Miracle

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matthew Dillner make a pilgrimage to the once-regarded Pantheon of dirt tracks, where in 1981 the greatest Cinderella story in racing history took place.


This episode features:

Rocky Carr

Rocky Carr found his way into the racing world by working as crew chief for Roseville, Ohio’s Jim Dunn. The humble team found modest success on the Ohio bullrings like Coshocton, St. Clairsville and Southern Ohio Raceway. In 1981 however, Dunn, Carr and their crew made national headlines when they scored a major upset win in the inaugural Dirt Track World Championship race at Pennsboro Speedway. The victory is considered the greatest Cinderella story in racing history, due to Dunn coming from the rear of the field to beat the best dirt late model drivers in the world at the time. Carr appeared on Lost Speedways with the 1981 WRC Camaro that Dunn drove to victory lane, which had been rebuilt through efforts by fellow episode guest Ashley Ness and others.


Carl Short

Carl Short first came to Pennsboro Speedway as a spectator, but became enamored with the egg-shaped clay track nestled in the West Virginia hills. Originally a drag racer, restaurateur and electrician, Short first tried his hand at race promotion at Marietta, Ohio’s Hilltop Speedway. When he saw an advertisement for the lease at Pennsboro in a local newspaper, he acted quickly and took over the famed half-mile. It was here that he made his legacy as a promoter, helping to turn Pennsboro into one of the premiere dirt tracks in the country. In 1981, he introduced the Dirt Track World Championship, which would legitimize dirt late model racing and help increase purses on the short track circuit. His efforts would land him in the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in 2003.


Season 2 of Lost Speedways is now streaming on PeacockTV.





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