Past Champions I © Thomas M. Sampson
Nov 1, 1999
1970 Champion...... Bobby Isaac
Bobby started out racing in the old NASCAR Sportsman division (now the Busch series) back in the 50's. He won a lot of races, but was known to run and hide as soon as he would bring his winning racer into the pits. He was shy and illiterate, unable to sign autographs because he couldn't write. He was a poor uneducated mill worker, until it was discovered that he had a talent for racing.
He gained some what of a reputation for his unique handling of a race car and was trying desperately to get into the NASCAR Grand National Series (now called Winston Cup). He had a shot driving a few laps in 1960 for Junior Johnson. What concerned him the most then, was his age. He was 29, and feared that he couldn't get a solid ride in the premier series because owners would think he was too old. So, he lied about his age, and eventually got a ride in '63 with Bandy Long. He had 26 starts that year, and posted three top fives, and seven top tens.
His next season, in '64, was much better, he won one of the qualifying races at Daytona, then counted as a points race. His career still faltered, and due to his shyness, a lot of players in the racing game thought he was aloof and snobby, but he was just the opposite. He made lasting friendships with Junior Johnson, and one of his best friends was the all time great, David Pearson, who is said to have claimed that he "made Isaac talk to me."
Isaac's career remained on hold until '67, when Nord Krauskopf, owner of K & K Insurance of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, hired Isaac. Krauskopf entered the Grand National scene in '66 fielding Dodges, and wanting to win races and championships. The deal in '67 was only for 12 races, but Isaac took it, it was 12 more than anyone else had offered. In those 12 starts, Isaac garnered three top fives, and five top tens finishes, guaranteeing him a spot with K & K for the full 49 race schedule for the '68 season. He battled ;his buddy Person for the championship, coming in second, only 126 points behind.
The '69 season was Isaac's best. He won 17 races that season, more than any other driver on the circuit, and garnered 29 top fives, 33 top tens, and a still standing record of 20 poles out of 50 starts. His championship winning season was a little less spectacular, but it was still a great season. Krauskopf had required Isaac to hold back and race for points, and think of the championship. It paid off in the end, winning the coveted title, and being exclaimed by his car owner to be the "greatest driver in the world. Isaac won 11 races that year, 32 top fives, 38 top tens, along with $199,600.00 That was a lot of money back in those days!
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