I don't know the particulars leading up to the fiasco in the pits, but I do remember watching all I could see as it unfolded from the stands. Some people might say, "What could you see going on in the pits if you were in the stands?" Fact is, you could see a lot because everyone towed with open trailers in those days, and only the most elaborate teams used converted school busses for transporters. There weren't very many of those. And this was also a day when we had fewer divisions, but more cars in each. Pit stalls were a lot bigger in those days. This is why in a lot of cases, you'll see pit photos that have personal vehicles parked between tow rigs. Joe Marotta was the track announcer back then, and he's the one that told everyone in the stands to direct their attention to the pits.
The Wembley Construction car was a Weld Gremlin and was owned by Cliff Barcomb with Alan as the driver. The engines were built by B&M (initials for Bill and Milt - Bill was Billy Campbell and Milt was Milt Johnson, Alan and Danny's dad). And this is probably how Alan was able to secure the ride in the first place. Alan was relatively unknown at the time, but getting the job as a hired driver without a ton of credentials would have been impossible unless you had money in your pocket to contribute. Alan had no money, but he did have a Dad who was half owner of the engine shop that was building the most powerful and popular engines on the east coast in his pocket.
There was some kind of dispute in the team. If I had to guess, I'd probably say that it was due to the driver not getting what he was promised when it came time to split the pay envelope from the payoff window. That's just a guess, but it came to a head one night in the pits at Canandaigua. I know all 3 Johnsons were involved, Cliff Barcomb, Will Cagle and I believe Pep Pepicelli - who got the ride after Alan vacated it. A large fight started in the pits, the sheriffs were called, cars were impounded and everyone spent the night at the sheriffs office pleading their cases, trying to convince the cops why they shouldn't be arrested and should have rights to posession of the car. The only reason I can come up with for Will Cagle to be involved would be that he and Pepicelli were friends and Cagle didn't like Alan. I think Cagle was probably the instigator by trying to convince Barcomb to hire Pepicelli and get rid of Alan.
comy14... you sent me a picture via email taken at Weedsport with Alan on the bottom, Danny on top in the 0jr., and a white Weld Gremlin in the middle with Wembley Construction as the sponsor. That picture was taken within a week or two after the fiasco at Canandaigua, and the driver in the middle is Pep Pepicelli.
Awesome pictures by the way. Some I already had, and some were new. THANK YOU! Give me until Monday. I'm busier than a cat covering sh!t on a marbal floor this weekend, but I'll get back to you, I promise.