One of the Best...

[ancrdave]

Sorta lost in the hoopla of Tony winning the NASCAR Cup and the kid Jones winning the Gov. Cup was the end of an era at Auburndale Speedway Saturday night as the great Dave Dunkin officially retired... More wins and championships than you can count and one of the nicest guys in the sport... Glad to hear they are retiring his number although it looks like Mark Medeiros is going to still drive for the team which is good because Mark is a super guy, a military veteran, and did really well in his own underfunded car before racing for Dave this year...

Also congrats to Rob Partelo's son Cole who won his first race in a Mini Cup car at Auburndale Saturday night!!

[Bobby Diehl]

As the page turns.

Dave Dunkin is a Icon of the Florida Short Track Family. The Fans will miss him on the track for sure. Time to enjoy life. Good luck Dave!!!!

[Frasson118]

What a shock. Dave has been in there forever, always in the Blue Goose, always a #71, and always near the front. He was in the very first race I ever saw in Florida, Auburndale Speedway in 1980, and was also there on my last visit, February 2011.

The word "legend" is very appropriate for this guy. Sorry to see him quit.

That might leave just David Rogers as the last of the locals that were winning before I even got to Florida. I should count Buzzie Reutimann, but he did retire for a while before coming back out.

[Jimmy McKinley]

always in the Blue Goose, always a #71, and always near the front.

Not always He drove our car for a bit in the early to mid '80s at Sunshine - the blue and silver #12 if I remember (have a pic of a feature win somewheres). But yes, we were still near the front every week with ol' Dave driving

[ancrdave]

Hey Jimmy... you posted a boo-boo on Speed51 the other day... Freddy Fryar won the 200 in 1964 in it's second year... Dave McInnis won the first race in 1963, not the first time the Governor's Cup was awarded in 1965 - that was Wayne Reutimann!!

[Frasson118]

How about Tallahasee's Harvey Jones. Thought I heard at some point, that he raced in 6 different decades. I believe there is also an upcoming Memorial race for him, but can't recall any details.

[Rich Pratt]

I will never forget watching him routinely wear 'em out at the Gate in the LM division when I was a really little kid.. It was right before it shut down, and Dave was the man to beat! One of my all time heroes!! Congratulations on all your accomplishments..

[MW68SS]

Dave was one of the few that could and did win on any size track any where on any surface. Truly one of the greats.

[Frasson118]

Ooooops about the Harvey Jones thing. Supposed to be in a different thread. Still bouncin' back from NSS.

[ancrdave]

Some interesting shots of Dave...

1) With his crew at Charlotte in 1976...
2) He ran this Monte Carlo against all the Camaros, Firebirds and Monzas in the 1979 Modified race at Daytona and finished 19th...
3) Not all of his runs were perfect... Here he tears down the fence at the Florida Fairgrounds...

[Rick Williamson]

He was good. Wish he had raced more in the SSS then just when they were at USA. He would have add alot to it.