“”Bullet Bob” Reuther, the first track champion in Music City Motorplex [Nashville] 50 years ago, died this [July 3rd] morning after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 80. He grew up in Nashville and during a Navy stint was stationed in Seattle where he saw his first race car. When he returned he helped create a local league that raced on a dirt track on Cowan Street called Cumberland Speedway. His local success led him to other tracks in the South and then to Daytona Beach, Fla. In 1947 he set a beach record of 150.250 mph in the Modified Division that still stands. A decade later, the Fairgrounds track was built in Nashville and in 1958 Reuther won the first championship. He also raced in three Grand National (pre-Winston Cup) races, including Nashville in 1959 and 1960. Reuther owned and operated an electronics business to support his family and his racing. He also was a licensed pilot and flew his godson, Bobby Hamilton, to many of his NASCAR races. Visitation is Sunday from 4-7 p.m. at Nashville’s Woodlawn Funeral Home. The service is at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Woodlawn.(Tennessean)(7-4-2008)
