Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
the
SPIN
Demolition men The chaotic Sonoma race
had Jeff Burton seething at the state of driving
etiquette in NASCAR’s top league. “If our sport
is going to become that, then we need to
change from racing to demolition cars,” he said.
xxxxxx xxx xxxx xxx x x x xx x x x x x x leS rIchter,
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1930-2010
Remembering a giant of
racing’s first century
Les Richter (BELOW), a longtime racing
administrator who also served as
president of Riverside International
Raceway and was instrumental in the
development of California Speedway
(see “DNA” this issue), passed away
June 12 at the age of 79.
After an all-pro NFL career with the
L.A. Rams, Richter became the executive
director of RIR in 1959. He directed the
track until 1983, when he began an 11-
year association with NASCAR, serving
as executive vp of competition and as
president of operations.
Brian Czobat/LAT
“To us old-timers, Les Richter will
forever be the face of Riverside
Raceway,” said Dan Gurney. “Les brought
NASCAR stock car racing and Indy road
Stalled oPPortuNIty at SoNoma