For the past 55 years, at least one stock car zipping around Bowman Gray Stadium’s track on race night has borne the name ‘Hayes Jewelers.’ And Bruce Hayes, the owner of that Lexington jewelry business, hardly ever misses a Saturday night race. But his involvement goes beyond sponsorship money. ‘Racing has been good to me,’ said Hayes, 79. ‘It’s been good business, but it’s just something I’ve always enjoyed as well.’ Hayes will receive the Allison Family Corporate Award, given in memory of Clifford and Davey Allison, on Feb. 19 at the Living Legends of Auto Racing banquet at Daytona Beach, Fla. Bobby and Donnie Allison will be the presenters. Hayes has been involved in racing at Bowman Gray since 1959. Hayes owned Caraway Speedway near Asheboro in the 1980s and has owned several cars – including the one that Joe Millikan drove to a Sportsman (now Nationwide Series) victory at Daytona in 1976. Hayes said he then supplied a motor to Richard Petty, who went through all he had during the same week at one memorable Daytona race. ‘Maurice (Petty) pulled the motor out of the car that we had won with and put it in their car and got it ready up to their specifications for Sunday,’ Hayes said. ‘Richard and David Pearson wound up crashing near the finish line.’ Hayes said that his company has produced many of the trophies presented by NASCAR over the years. ‘When R.J. Reynolds started with Winston sponsoring NASCAR races, we made all the Winston Cup trophies,’ he said. ‘And we still make a lot of the awards now, including a lot for NHRA.’ The Living Legends of Auto Racing was founded in 1993 as an effort to recognize stock-car racing’s pioneers. The other award winners this year are: Jim Reed (Pioneer of Racing), Geoff Bodine (Distinguished Driver), Don LaJoie (Dedicated Service), Ken Squier (Media), Carl ‘Bugs Stevens’ Bergman (Early Days Tribute) and Ronnie Sanders (Saturday Night Hero).(Winston Salem Journal)
