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When I began attending Sunshine Speedway in 1970, Daughtry was driving the #45 Figure 8 and
the #39 Late Model, and was winning in both. He went on to race in one Daytona 500. My favorite Dan Daughtry memory is as follows: One night at Sunshine Speedway in the Late Model
feature, a tangle sent several of the top cars to the pits for repairs. During the red flag, Daughtry stopped along the front straightaway and got out to survey the car for damage.
Not too bad, but the front bumper was hanging loose and close to dragging on one side. Daughtry cooly removed his belt from his pants, tied up the loose bumper, kept his
position on the restart...and won the race! You had to see him race to know how special Dan was at the wheel of a race car. Above the windshield was painted "No Guts-No
Glory" and Dan personified guts, determination, talent, speed, sportsmanship, class, dignity & much more, and he had glory, and through it all was humble and wore a shy grin. I never saw
him lose his temper or have a confrontation with another driver.
Always popular with the fans, he was a racer to be admired. He was cool.
The only other picture I have found of
Daughtry is part of the Westerman
Collection, racing in the Daytona 500. Not nearly enough tribute for one of
Florida's greatest racing legends. Dan Daughtry was the Best.
Sincerely, Jim King Dan Daughtry was the 1971 Late Model Champion at Sunshine Speedway in Pinellas Park Florida. He won the 1969 Inaugural Figure Eight
Winternationals and again in '71 and '72. Dan was the highest points driver for five straight years at Sunshine Speedway. |
