Rutherford, Yarborough reflect on dual careers

DARLINGTON — Tony Stewart and Juan Montoya have had success in running open wheel and stock cars.
But they definitely weren’t the first to try it.
Several drivers have tried to make their mark in both series including Cale Yarborough and Johnny Rutherford.
“(Tony and Juan) have done tremendous jobs because it’s not an easy thing to do,” Yarborough said during the first day of the Darlington Historic Racing Festival.
Yarborough, the Sardis native, spent two seasons running Indy cars in 1971-72. He made the switch because Ford pulled out of NASCAR and Gene White gave him an opportunity to run Indy cars.
Yarborough had some success and finished 10th at the 1972 Indianapolis 500.
But after that season, Yarborough picked up a full-time ride in NASCAR and went on to win three straight Cup titles from 1976-78.
“I wish when I ran Indy cars that I would have had better equipment, because I think I could have done a little bit better,” Yarborough said. “I’m glad I came back to NASCAR. That’s what I loved.”
Rutherford, a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner, made 35 career starts in NASCAR’s top series and won the 1963 Daytona 500.
The majority of Rutherford’s NASCAR starts came in 1981 when he made 12, with his best finish coming at the second race at Daytona. The Texas native also ran a full-time schedule in Indy cars that year.
“It wasn’t easy because there was a race every weekend,” Rutherford said. “After a summer of that, you wonder which race you were going to.”
Two of Rutherford’s starts that season came at Darlington Raceway. He finished 28th and 33rd in the two races at the Lady in Black.
Rutherford said he got a lot of help from Buddy Baker on how to maneuver around the egg-shaped oval.
“It definitely wasn’t easy to run around here and it was very hot,” Rutherford said.
Rutherford, like Yarborough, also believed he could have had more success in NASCAR if he had been able to do it full time.
“It would been a different program. Running back and forth is hard to compete against guys that this is the only thing they have ever done,” Rutherford said.
The two-day festival wraps up today with several appearances by Humpy Wheeler, David Pearson and Donnie Allison.

HISTORIC RACING FESTIVAL
SCHEDULE

Today
Q & A sessions
11-noon — David Pearson & Leonard Wood
2-3 p.m. — Humpy Wheeler & Jim Hunter
Autograph sessions
Noon-1 p.m. — David Pearson, Leonard Wood, Marvin Panch, Charlie Glotzbach
1-2 p.m. — Donnie Allison & Rex White
3-4 p.m. — Humpy Wheeler & Jim Hunter

TICKETS: $15