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Topic: Kenny Rogers
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Page 1 of 1 of 9 replies
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March 21, 2020 at
05:39:50 PM
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RIP. First copies of Open Wheel had Kenny in them. He was a big sprint car fan/owner. WillyB
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March 21, 2020 at
06:47:46 PM
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Not trying to be an a-hole but I'm pretty sure that wasn't the first issue. Issue #1 had a Gas Chem? car on the cover I don't remember who drove it and I'm too lazy to dig thru endless piles of old racing crap to find it.
The Kenny Rogers issue may have been issue #3 he was the main sponsor on the Gambler Chassis ride owned by CK Spurlock.
Interestingly not long afterwards Loretta Lynn also sponsored a sprint car.
How many of you remember Rogers's first lead acting role as dirt track driver "Brewster Baker" in Six Pack? One of the all time best racing themed movies, which isn't saying much.
The worst president of my lifetime:
Ronald Reagan
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March 21, 2020 at
08:43:46 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: newbeevur on March 21 2020 at 06:47:46 PM
Not trying to be an a-hole but I'm pretty sure that wasn't the first issue. Issue #1 had a Gas Chem? car on the cover I don't remember who drove it and I'm too lazy to dig thru endless piles of old racing crap to find it.
The Kenny Rogers issue may have been issue #3 he was the main sponsor on the Gambler Chassis ride owned by CK Spurlock.
Interestingly not long afterwards Loretta Lynn also sponsored a sprint car.
How many of you remember Rogers's first lead acting role as dirt track driver "Brewster Baker" in Six Pack? One of the all time best racing themed movies, which isn't saying much.
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I remember those days pretty well, including the Open Wheel issue that featured the Gambler deal. I also remember the Loretta Lynn car too but cannot remember who drove it or owned it. You're right, "Six Pack" was corny but I think it's definetly the best racing themed movie. I was never impressed with Days of Thunder and Ricky Bobby represents 2 hours of time and $8 I wish I could get back...
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March 21, 2020 at
09:32:06 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Dryslick Willie on March 21 2020 at 08:43:46 PM
I remember those days pretty well, including the Open Wheel issue that featured the Gambler deal. I also remember the Loretta Lynn car too but cannot remember who drove it or owned it. You're right, "Six Pack" was corny but I think it's definetly the best racing themed movie. I was never impressed with Days of Thunder and Ricky Bobby represents 2 hours of time and $8 I wish I could get back...
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Wasn't it Charley Swartz that drove the Lynn sponsored car?
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March 21, 2020 at
10:09:24 PM
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You are right on it was charlie swartz who drove the car owned by kc spurlock. Ole Willie Nelson also had his name on a sprint car back in the day
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March 21, 2020 at
10:13:49 PM
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You are correct on Swartz in that car- it was also owned by Spurlock and the year was 1978 before Gambler Chassis started and the Kenny Rogers deal. Danny Smith and Sonny Smyser also spent time in the Loretta Lynn car.
Wasn't Willie Nelson supposed to be a co-owner with NFL player Derrick Thomas on a sprint car that was to be driven by Mark Kinser in the 1990's but that deal fell through?
The worst president of my lifetime:
Ronald Reagan
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March 21, 2020 at
10:25:11 PM
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I dont know about willie involved in the 90s but it was in the 70s and i blieve duke cook drove it but not totally sure
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March 22, 2020 at
06:08:11 AM
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I'm thinking Loretta Lynn and Kenny Rogers' names on the cars was more of an endorsement kinda thing - not actual sponsorship.
As I recall, CK Spurlock had business ties to country music - like an agent or something, and Lynn and Rogers were clients.
And, those endorsements worked - perhaps sprint car racing's first "national sponsorships" ????
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March 22, 2020 at
03:49:47 PM
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Yes, CK Spulock was a concert promotor and dealt with Kenny Rodgers I believe and was the main driving force behind Kenny Rodgers' name being put on the car. Kenny didn't have much to do with it, and just happened to be in town and showed up for the photo shoot if I recall. Doug Wolfgang dicussed this in his book.
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March 23, 2020 at
03:08:03 PM
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Good read
https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/other-sprint-cars/the-gambler-the-chassis-kenny-rogers/
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