The following articles appeared to the 1983 Beckley USA program.
HISTORY OF THE BECKLEY USA 100
The running of the Beckley USA 100 has been an event of excitement for both fans and
drivers. Let us recap the six previous runnings of the dirt track classic.
1977- The event was founded by former speedway PR Director Ernie Shelton as a
salute to Beckley USA. NASCAR star Bobby Issac was under contract to compete but died
a week prior to it’s running of an apparent heart attack. Gene McNeely of Charleston West
Virginia won the race and collected the fifteen hundred dollar purse.
1978- Again McNeely’s yellow car NO.20 was the center of attention but this time
NASCAR driver David Pearson was behind the wheel. Pearson qualifies in fourth position and
is running second in the event to local driver Larry Cantley. The two run nose to tail for
several laps, and Pearson makes contact with the slower car of Frank Prince. The NASCAR
veteran cannot make up the deficit. Cantley wins by 10 car lengths, and picks up a
check for two thousand dollars.
1979- A nine car pile up marrs the start of the race, no one injured, but the accident forced
a complete restart. Once again it’s the yellow car 20 with McNeely behind the wheel at the
head of the pack, and Ohio driver Delmas Conley is running a strong second. On lap 81
McNeely goes high in turn one, Conley drives to the low side of the speedway to take the
lead. Conley holds off McNeely, and picks up a check for four thousand dollars.
1980- Rain forces Friday nights qualifying to be cancelled. The excitement is all around
as NDRA stars Larry Moore, Freddy Smith, and Rodney Combs are in town to compete in
the fourth annual race. On Saturday night Moore travels the 3/8th mile oval at a blistering
pace and claims the pole, Combs sends for another motor because he needs more power.
and changes it in a hotel parking lot. Sunday afternoon, a second lap crash causes injury
to Combs, as he drives entire race with the use of one hand. The event, no contest as
Larry Moore wins by two laps over entire field and earns four thousand dollars.
1981- Beckley driver Dickie Bartusiak is in a make it or break it situation. Small problems
up to this point of the season have keptBartusiak away from victory, a season so disappointing
that he considered giving up the sport all together. Mishaps eliminate the chance of pole sitter
Dallas Phipps and Richard Lafferty to go to victory lane. Bartusiak wins convincingly picks up
$5000for his effort.
1982- Gene Ferrell of Sissionville, WestVirginia is the class of the field for the sixth annual event
with his CJ Rayburn car 18. However, former winner Delmas Conley has other ideas, and by the
midway point of the race is on his way to his second Beckley USA 100 win and $5000 dollar check.
Conley is the only two time winnerof the event.
