Its very fitting that Bob Pressley has been commemorated in a manner that will have people thinking of him while theyre gripping a steering wheel. For Bob Pressley, well, when he gripped a steering wheel it meant business. Bob Pressley was a winner on the racetrack, but more importantly off the racetrack. He passed away a little more than a year ago at age 71, but is most definitely not forgotten. Pressleys resume is impressive. He was the track champion at Asheville Motor Speedway seven times. He worked magic when he seized the steering wheel, winning more than 500 races. Earlier this week the two-mile stretch of Brevard Road/N.C. 191 where he once tooled around in a Model A Ford was officially renamed Bob Pressley Highway. The experience he gained in a Model A Ford translated to a four-decade racing career. He became a legend, and an important part of local history. His is a legacy worth remembering. The Pressley family is an important thread in the fabric of the rich heritage of racing in Western North Carolina. Son Robert Pressley is a NASCAR fixture, and grandson Coleman is carrying the legacy on by racing at Hickory Motor Speedway.(Citizen Times)(5-2-2005)
