By Robert Banks
The first year that the NHRA tour went drag racing in Baytown, Texas, was 1988. The freshly built strip was packed to the gills with fans who wanted to see the best drag racing action on the planet, and boy did they ever. All the biggest names of the day were on the property, and the competition was top shelf. There were a few moments that fans witnessed which were momentous in hindsight but seemed like regular business in the moment. Like a boomerang coming back into the hand of the person that threw it, the 2018 NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway complete a 30-year circle for those moments and gives us an excuse to look back and see them in the proper perspective.
Three of the best racers in NHRA Sportsman drag racing history collected wins on that Sunday afternoon. Two won for the first time, and one added to a resume that was already strong. All three men are still active in racing today. Even better than that, two of their last names show up on the entry list for the 2018 SpringNationals as another generation takes up the racing mantle. Those guys that nabbed their first wins in 1988 at Houston? Greg Stanfield and a 17-year old, brace-face kid named Scotty Richardson.
The third notable Sportsman winner that weekend was Jeff Taylor, who continues to be a force of nature in the Stock and Super Stock categories. He is not entered for the Houston race according to the lists we have scanned, and neither are Greg Stanfield or Scotty Richardson, for that matter. But Aaron Stanfield (Greg’s son) and Austin Richardson (Scotty’s nephew and the son of Edmond Richardson) are. How cool is that?!
Young Mr. Stanfield is double entered in the Super Stock and Super Comp categories, with the youthful Mr. Richardson concentrating his efforts on the Super Comp class only. Undoubtedly, the coaching these guys have received from their families has left an indelible mark on how they race. It takes a load of skill and sometimes a little luck to win an NHRA national event, but the reality is that it also takes someone who knows how to win. Sounds simple, right? Ask anyone who has ever done it and those who have done it loads, like Greg Stanfield or multiple members of the Richardson family.
There’s a different mental approach, a different perspective that comes as you win races. Thirty years ago, both Greg Stanfield and Scotty Richardson were getting a handle on that, and once they did? Once they did it, life got harder for everyone else. Stanfield and Richarsdon have combined for about 100 national event final round appearances in their respective careers, and when you add the young guys in, it gets even better. Aaron Stanfield has won multiple national event Wallys already, and he shows no signs of slowing down.
Here’s the full list of Sportsman winners at the 1988 NHRA SuperNationals, the first national event at the same track the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour heads to April 20-22, 2018:
TAD Mike Troxel
TAFC Pat Austin
Comp Tom Weakley
Super Stock Jeff Taylor
Stock Greg Stanfield
Super Gas Scotty Richardson
Super Comp Charles Swindoll
For a little time-travel adventure, check out the television coverage of the Sportsman classes at the 1988 Houston race:
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