Text and photos by Perry Allen Wood, 6/2007

• 1: Introduction
• 2: The Tar Heel Speedway: Randleman, N.C.
• 3: The Tar Heel Speedway: Randleman, N.C., Nov. 22, 1962
• 4: The Tar Heel Speedway: Randleman, N.C., May 5, 1963
• 5: The Tar Heel Speedway: Randleman, N.C., Oct. 5, 1963
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The Tar Heel Speedway: Randleman, N.C., May 5, 1963

The planet was mostly happy around May 1963. Except for a race riot in Birmingham, “Puff the Magic Dragon” was high on the charts, Koufax was fanning ‘em and Mantle was launching ‘em. Speaking of launches, Telstar II went up, as did Gordo Cooper, the last man to go into space alone ending the Mercury program. “The Dick Van Dyke Show” won an Emmy and Bruno Sammartino became wrestling champion. On the fifth, Race 22 of the ’63 campaign was held at Tar Heel and Richard Petty, being the clever guy that he is, swapped cars with Paschal for this one, not to be fooled twice in his own sandbox. There were only 15 entries and the top two were the same as before. It was déjà vu all over again as Jim Paschal decided to lay back and watch Jarrett pace the field for the opening 130 laps until he had a flat ala Glen Wood in the Turkey Day 200 six months earlier. Paschal inherited the lead according to plan as Ned lost a mile getting fresh rubber. High Point’s Paschal cruised away taking 43 to his second win in a row at Tar Heel and sixth straight on the season for a Petty Plymouth. Weatherly was second again, this time in Cliff Stewart’s Pontiac 2, because Bud often declined to go to the lesser events. Therefore, for only $570 to win, Weatherly’s main ride stayed parked. However, as the defending champion, Joe got $675 for second, $105 more than Paschal. Jarrett improved on his last place last time with third this trip. Jimmy Pardue was fourth, Larry Thomas fifth, Spencer seventh, Wendell eighth, Jimmy Massey ninth driving for old-timer Hubert Westmoreland, and Crawfish 10th. Joe Jones ended a three-year, 12-race career with 11th, Herman Beam did much better this time 12th, and Richard’s brilliant car switch backfired as he finished the last man running 13th, 29 laps behind after a fuel pump was replaced. Buck Baker brought his two red 1962 Chryslers copping next-to-last and last for himself and Henry Neil “Soapy” Castles, the only guys who did not beat Richard. As for Paschal’s strategy in winning the two races at Tar Heel Speedway is concerned, he took advice in Little Peggy March’s number one hit “I Will Follow Him” by running second until the leaders’ tires failed allowing him to take both victories. Four grand watched the 62-minute sprint.