Pontiac Grand Prix - Blog Posts
My Neil Bonnett Tribute!
I made these works of art in honor of the late Neil Bonnett and decided to combinded them with the footage that inspired them.
I also decide to use some audio of one my favorite quotes to show his mindset ; I want show what kind of man was and how powerful the thrill of racing was for him.
The Audio and Footage used is covered under the Grounds of Fair Use.
Neil Bonnett from the Dirt Tracks to the Superspeedways.
DeviantArt Description- A Winner Down Under
'February 28, 1988
Calder Park Thunderdome, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Pipe Fitter turned NASCAR Driver Neil Bonnett is about to make history, by becoming first man to win a NASCAR race outside the North American continent; He is a member of a fabled group friends known as 'The Alabama Gang' this group is comprised of fellow drivers Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison and Red Farmer, whose careers like his began on the Alabama Dirt and Short Track scene before reaching the ranks of NASCAR.
Calder Park Raceway was the vision of Australian Businessman Bob Jane, who seeks too bring superspeedway excitement to the Land Down Under; Jane promotes this new track and manages to convincing the American based NASCAR into holding their first ever overseas exhibition race, with the finest race car drivers of both the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Australia to participate.
Neil Bonnett driving the Rahmoc Enterprises No. 75 Valvoline sponsored Pontiac Grand Prix, accepts the challenge realizing the rare opportunity that lays ahead of him; Neil remains calm and cool the under pressures placed upon him by the new track and the unforgiving heat, he has won a number races before this including one at Richmond the before week; He dominates field leading several laps holding off friend and rival Bobby Allison, Bonnett handles the car with the ease of a relaxing Sunday drive thorough his native Hueytown; Neil's patience pays off as the checkered flag drops he scores his first and only win on foreign soil, thus making him a rare back to back winner on two separate continents.'
Awhile back I did a Watercolor Painting of Kenny Wallace's first NASCAR Win; I decided to mix with actually give to people feeling being present during the event. I made these for fun and to give people a better idea of why I painted them.
In Honor of the late Neil Bonnett's Birthday July 30, 1946; I decided to make a watercolor painting of his greatest racing victory's at the Goodyear NASCAR 500 on February 28, 1988 at the Calder Park Thunderdome in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Neil Bonnett made history after already having won the Richmond 400 the previous weekend, setting his sights on a win in the land down under; After a gruelingly hot 500 Kilometers or 310 Miles Bonnett pulled into victory lane becoming a Winner on two separate continents back to back.
Wallace's Win
Winning is something everyone dreams about especially race car drivers, for those in NASCAR lucky enough to visit victory lane more then once there seems to be a win that shows the begin of they're story. Kenny Wallace here behind the wheel this 1991 Pontiac Grand Prix is about to capture his first NASCAR win at Volusia County Speedway, already a successful race car driver before joining the ranks of NASCAR. This is not Wallace's very first win in auto racing as that honor would to his debut race in the Illinois Street Stock State Championship, nine years earlier since then he has worked way through ranks working as a mechanic and driver. He knows it's not easy since he comes from a racing family his older brother Rusty is a driver in the Winston Cup and is a former NASCAR Cup Champion, Rusty also owns the car Kenny is driving here in the NASCAR Busch Series. Kenny's sense of humor and playfulness earns him the nickname Herman after the troublemaking cartoon character Herman the German, but behind easygoing playful nature is a talented driver as he's about prove here in the 1991 Spring 200.
