NickHolt Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 Posted for Marty Little: Need a favor please. Kindly put a message on your local racing message board asking if anyone recalls 50s midget racer Sonny McDaniel or the Texas Racing Club. McDaniel was from Houston and the TRC was listed as his car owner in early 1957 when he won the second of 11 USAC midget races in a series of races in Florida called the Tangerine Tournament. His win came at Ft Pierce on 2-22-57. Races were run at Orlando, Pensacola (not Five Flags) Jax, Hialeah, Orlando, Tampa (Plant Field) and West Palm in addition to Ft Pierce in a 30 day period from 17 Feb to 17 March. Indy's Andy Linden was the big winner, taking all three Orlando races and the sole event on the dirt at Tampa. Thanks as always for your help. Marty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilTPS Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 Nick: Having spent my first 21 years as a Houstonian, I attended quite a few races at Playland Park, the 1/4 mile clay track on Southmain Street in Houston. Sonny McDaniel drove in both the Midget and Stock Car class in a 1940 Ford Coupe. Both cars were sponsored (or owned) by a large company in Houston. I can't remember the company name, but the cars were always painted a beautiful metallic blue and were usually the class of the field. Sonny McDaniel was a crowd favorite and raced against legendary names like Jud Larsen, Cecil Green, Doc Cossey, Buddy Rackley and Speedy Mathaney just to name a few of the drivers I recall. Neil Upchurch Race & Administrative Director Texas Pro Sedans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budman Posted August 18, 2008 Report Share Posted August 18, 2008 Marty, Check out the thread "Midgets in Texas". There is one photo and a couple of mentions of Sonny McDaniel in that thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted August 18, 2008 Report Share Posted August 18, 2008 Nick, Last I heard, Sonny lived out to the North of Houston. Maybe Kingwood or Humble. I think MJ Burton lives out that way. Maybe Contact MJ to see if he has kept up with him. Sorry I don't have more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETrott Posted August 19, 2008 Report Share Posted August 19, 2008 Sonny MacDaniel raced Stock Cars and Modifieds around Houston in the '50s/'60s, and also competed in open wheel Midget Cars and Sprint Cars in that era and later. A crowd favorite, and very smooth driver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GINGERBREADMAN Posted August 20, 2008 Report Share Posted August 20, 2008 The last I remember of Sonny was at Big H and he was running the old #91 midget....had a bolt on cage...Almost positive it was old edmonds car with offy..but could have been a chevy two at the end...I was soo young in those days it's hard to remember Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted August 20, 2008 Report Share Posted August 20, 2008 The last I remember of Sonny was at Big H and he was running the old #91 midget....had a bolt on cage...Almost positive it was old edmonds car with offy..but could have been a chevy two at the end...I was soo young in those days it's hard to remember I heard that Sonny still has that 110 Offy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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