Catchfence

Jack Hoenstine of Queen, Pa. Has Seen Every Major NASCAR Race At The Monster Mile

DOVER, Del. (May 12, 2010) – On Sunday, when Jack Hoenstine of Queen, Pa., sits in the grandstands off Turn 4 at Dover International Speedway watching the Autism Speaks 400 presented by HERSHEY’S Milk & Milkshakes, he will be attending a NASCAR race at the storied track for the 42nd straight year.

In fact, since his initial visit to the Monster Mile in 1969, Hoenstine, a retired truck driver, has not missed a single NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover.

“I’ve been to the 300 milers, the 500 milers, and now the 400 milers,” the 78-year old retired truck driver said. “They’ve got a horse race track there at Dover, but I go for the gas burners, not the hay burners.”

Hoenstine has seen it all at the track known as “The Monster Mile.” There was the caution-free race in 1971, and a wreck-filled one a decade later with only 13 cars running at the checkered flag. Hoenstine watched long-time short track driver Jody Ridley get his only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win in a Junie Donlavey car (his only Cup win as an owner in 863 tries) and 52 year-old Harry Gant win in 1992. “Harry would run that track really high,” Hoenstine remembered.

The most memorable Dover race, he says, was a controversial Richard Petty win in the Delaware 500 in September, 1975. Seven of the King’s 200 victories were at the high-banked track, including his 199th win. What made this race special was Petty came from six laps behind to catch Benny Parsons. Controversy erupted when Buddy Arrington, who had just purchased his car hauler from Petty Enterprises, parked his Plymouth in the upper groove of Turn 3, bringing out a caution enabling Petty to finally get on the lead lap.

Another unforgettable Dover race was held in 102-degree heat before cars had advanced helmet cooling systems. Drivers’ seats became musical chairs.

“Bobby Isaac relieved Richard Petty, and Petty took a rest then got in someone else’s car,” Hoenstine said. “Well, Bobby Allison drove that entire race and won. He said his tongue was hanging out like a red neck tie. He sat in the car 20 minutes before getting out. Someone had to hold onto his arm and lead him up to the press box for interviews.”

In addition to attending both NASCAR race weekends at Dover, Hoenstine still travels to a dozen NASCAR events each year. Last weekend, he celebrated an incredible streak of 60 consecutive years attending NASCAR races at Darlington Raceway. Additionally, since attending Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 1964 spring race (known as the World 600), Hoenstine has been to the Coca-Cola 600 every year.

The sport is taking notice of this iron fan’s incredible devotion. Hoenstine is featured in the new NASCAR Library Collection book, The Weekend Starts on Wednesday: True Stories of Remarkable NASCAR Fans by Andrew Giangola, and was the subject of a special fan profile on ESPN’s “NASCAR Now” that aired on Saturday, May 8.

“I’ve been to hundreds of NASCAR races over the years, too many to even count,” Hoenstine said. “My sister-in-law asked me, ‘My goodness, Jack, what if you saved all that money instead?’ Well, I wouldn’t have seen all them races, met the drivers, fans I’ve come to know, and had such a good time. I’ve always wanted to enjoy life, and NASCAR’s been a big part of that.”

For a time, Hoenstine did his own racing on short tracks in Pennsylvania. But his career was short-lived, ending in the early 1950’s when his cousin sold the race car.

But Jack still found a way to get onto the track. Following a Darlington race in 1964, he and a friend stopped in Rockingham, N.C. to see the new raceway.

“We were in my buddy’s new Pontiac and noticed the gates were open. We started running laps, but a man in a suit came out and flagged us down. He turned out to be a nice gentleman. Asked us how we liked the track Gave us his business card, and said to call him if we ever needed tickets. He told us, ‘Go ahead and run a few more laps, but don’t wreck!’”

Hoenstine took the wheel and stood on the gas of his powerful Bonneville.

“Coming off turn three, my friend reached across and grabbed onto my thigh so hard, I had black-and-blue bruises for three weeks,” he remembered.

Fifteen years later, on the way to Daytona, Hoenstine would take a detour through Charlotte and spot an open gate at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He ran a few laps in his Chevy Suburban, this time undetected by track management.

In addition to Hoenstine, more than 30 remarkable NASCAR fans are profiled in The Weekend Starts on Wednesday – from a Lexington, NC, man who’s been to every single Daytona 500 to a male nurse with a fear of heights who braved the elements to bring the Sprint Cup flag to the top of Mt. Everest. A critically acclaimed work of wit and feeling, the NASCAR Library Collection book The Weekend Starts on Wednesday is a vivid commentary on the love affair millions of fans have for a great American sport.

- Dover International Speedway, Press Releas