The Legends of Nascar: From Moonshine to Finish Line

By: Grace Smith – Wise News Network

SHELBY, NC (WNN – Many of the racers who attended Phil Combs’ annual race reunion are used to living fast. However, some of them have slowed down as they contemplate their high speed careers. 

On Sunday, September 24, 2023, hundreds of people gathered at the Combs Family Museum to honor the sport of racing.

Combs’ white house resides on the grounds, filled to the brim with old treasures of Cleveland County history. The house is only a small part of the museum, with a gray metal building located behind it. Inside, there are thousands of racing souvenirs kept on display for museum goers to admire. 

The grass was kept short, but between the cars and foot traffic, it was barely noticeable. What attendees could observe, however, was how neat the grounds were kept.

A little bit in front of the metal building sat a large white tent. Beneath it were tables filled with racing memorabilia. Attendees of the race reunion gazed in admiration as racers from all disciplines walked through the museum grounds.

There were drag racers, buggy racers, cart racers and NASCAR racers at the event. Colorfully decorated cars scattered the grounds. While the cars were quite the attraction, most on-lookers were there for the stories. 

Combs, the curator and director of the Combs’ Family Museum, announced over the loudspeaker the big names in racing who attended the event. A crowd favorite was Rex White.

White, 94, was a NASCAR driver for the original Chevrolet team. He is the oldest living NASCAR champion.

His career was successful, boasting several wins. White said one achievement he was proud of was winning five consecutive races. 

“I [won] five races in a week, and that was quite a feat…I won somewhere in the neighborhood of three hundred dollars a night.” said White. 

He said that his most memorable race took place in Montgomery, NY, on a road course. They only held this race once, and White took home the trophy.

“They never run but one. And I won it.” White said firmly with pride.

All of the racers at the reunion had stories of personal wins, but many of the attendees were offspring of former big players in the industry. The children of the racers recounted stories that were passed down. 

Family ties are deep in racing history, and this event made that evident. A trio of men, Scott, Dane and Bryan stood by a replica of the car: “Kiser’s Special.”  

Raced by Buck Baker, Kiser’s Special had a memorable run boasting many achievements.

“This car has won 27 consecutive races in a row, which makes it one of the most successful cars in NASCAR modified history.” Scott said. 

Scott’s grandfather, Ike Kiser, was a mechanic of the original vehicle. Dane and Bryan’s father was another mechanic. The three men take the car to racing events to honor the hard work of their families. 

The trio all shared similar sentiments about honoring their family members’ names. Dane shared that although his father worked on the car before their time, he and his brother wanted him to be remembered.

“It’s an awesome thing when you can keep your father’s memory alive, you know, through something that he loved to do and something that we love to do. So it’s just been a blessing to us just to be a part of it.” said Dane. 

Some of the attendees’ parents had been instrumental in starting the racing industry all together. Bill Blair junior, the son of a notorious moonshine runner and racer, Bill Blair senior, explained how NASCAR racing got its start. 

The connection between NASCAR and moonshine runs deep. Several of NASCAR’s earliest stars got their hankering for speed by out-running the law while transporting moonshine. During the prohibition era, moonshine runners would bolt through the Appalachian Mountains carrying their illegal freight. Sometimes they would encounter the police. They had to decide between racing their way out, or shooting their way out. 

“In 1932, they got after my daddy coming out of Martinsville [NC]…he had to cross the Dan River Bridge, and they blocked it off. He spun around in the road and they started shooting at him, chasing him back into Martinsville.” said Blair. 

His father was caught by the authorities and spent a little time in jail. He was bailed out on Christmas day for five dollars. Blair laughed as he recounted what his father said to the judge. 

“I ain’t gonna make no more runs, this was my last run.” he said. 

That sentence and his father’s name live on through his son’s moonshine distillery, Blair’s Last Run Moonshine. 

Not only did the reunion teach attendees about the legends of NASCAR, it introduced them to some NASCAR legends. The famous Harry Gant made an appearance, making sure to stop by the room dedicated to his career at the Combs’ Family Museum. 

Gant (also known as the Skoal Bandit) said he fell in love with racing in his hometown when he would speed through the backroads. He got caught by an officer one day and was brought to jail, resulting in the 30 day suspension of his license. 

He would have another run in with that officer years later after he gained notoriety. The Skoal Bandit was signing autographs when a woman approached him. She handed him the phone and told him to speak to her husband who happened to be the officer who caught him. He was in the hospital and couldn’t attend the autograph session.

“He told me his name,” Gant said with a laugh, “he said, “you know when I was chasing you,” and I said, “yeah,” and he said, “well I’ll tell you one thing, that wasn’t the only time I was chasing you. I think you owe me a favor for making you a better driver.”

He had a unique way of driving his car. Gant would steer his vehicle with his bare fingers cutting holes in his gloves. He said he liked to feel the wheel.

Gant, now retired, owns a cattle farm. He said he spends his days tending to his property, but he always tries to give himself off on Saturday.

The reunion gave these former racers the opportunity to reconnect, reminiscing over their days of burning rubber and winning cups. It also allowed them to meet adoring fans, sign autographs and revel in the influence of their careers. 

Just like life, in the world of racing crossing the finish line first is not most important. Instead, it’s the connections made, the history remembered and the fans inspired that matters. Every year, racers of all backgrounds get to bathe in those special bonds at the Combs’ Family Museum’s racing reunion. 

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