A Local Hero

When you think about NASCAR, you think about North Carolina. When you think about North Carolina, you think about the Petty's, the Earnhardt's, the Jarrett's, Junior Johnson and Benny Parsons. But there are so many more racing pioneers from North Carolina who made the sport what it is today.

If you know me, I love racing! Especially the history of the sport. I want to highlight the racing career of a local. A career that many people know nothing about.

Major Melton's NASCAR career began in the Grand National Series (known today as the NASCAR Xfinity Series) in 1963 and ended in 1964. Major had a short career compared to most, and competed in only 20 races.

His very first race was in Spartanburg at the Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds. Major started the race sixteenth in his #88 Chrysler, and finished nineteenth out of twenty-one cars after only completing 27 laps of 200 with fuel pump problems. Major's earnings for the race was $50. That's a far cry from what nineteenth place makes today.

Major's last race was the Old Dominion 500 in Martinsville, Virginia at Martinsville Speedway. Major started the race thirty-ninth and finished twenty-eighth out of forty cars after only completing 339 laps out of 500 with engine problems. During the race, Major drove a #36 1963 Dodge Polara. The car owner was Wade Younts. Major's earnings for that race was $150.

Major may not have had the career that his fellow competitors had. His best finish was ninth in Hillsboro at the Occoneechee Speedway after starting twenty-seventh out of twenty-eight cars. During the race, Major drove the #36 1962 Dodge Dart. Since then, Occoneechee Speedway has been preserved as a four-mile hiking and running trail along the Eno River.

During his NASCAR career, Major only had one DNQ (did not qualify). That was at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1964. He competed at historic tracks such as Spartanburg, Weaverville, Hillsboro, Hickory, Bristol, Greenville, Richmond, Birmingham, Winston-Salem, Asheville, Martinsville, North Wilkesboro, South Boston and Darlington.

When Major finished his NASCAR career, he completed 3,517 laps and earned only one top-10 finish. His total career earnings was $3,010. That's a lot less compared to today's drivers who earn millions.

How cool is it that somebody from little ole Laurinburg raced against legends such as Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett, Joe Weatherly, Wendell Scott, who was the sports first African American driver, Bobby Isaac, Junior Johnson, David Pearson, Cale Yarbrough, Buck Baker, and the list goes on and on.

Pictured: Fireball Roberts flipping at Bristol Motor Speedway in 1963. That's Major in the 88 car.