There are several disputed versions on exactly when and which McGuire got this gittyup goin’ for Labor Day but my dime is on this one from the Library of Congress:

On September 5, 1882, some 10,000 workers assembled in New York City to participate in America's first Labor Day parade. After marching from City Hall to Union Square, the workers and their families gathered in Reservoir Park for a picnic, concert, and speeches. This first Labor Day celebration was initiated by Peter J. McGuire, a carpenter and labor union leader who a year earlier co-founded the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, a precursor of the American Federation of Labor.

However, 35 years earlier, there was a little labor going of another kind that would share a page in the history books. Jesse James, former Confederate guerilla in the Civil War and leader of one of the most notorious outlaw gangs, dropped from his momma cabbage carrier.

"Hey baby, can you check on the ribs? I’m smelling some burn. While you’re at it, slap another Bud in the Koozie and put a little more hooch in Texas Ranger’s Wahoo."

Fifty-six Labor Days ago, a little sumpem-sumpem went down at Darlington Raceway and local businessman Harold Brasington got the party started. He took some plain ‘ol South Carolina dirt used to produce peanuts and cotton and turned it into a track too tough to tame. All this after he saw his first Indianapolis 500 in 1933.

For Brasington, to bet on "Big" Bill France's stock car series and that it would catch on was long odds. But more importantly, he was more concerned about the landowner’s request that his nearby minnow pond not be disturbed. Dig this, during the build, turns 3 and 4 were narrowed to accommodate the cane pole pond giving the track its current egg-shaped design.

The first stock race was held on Labor Day in 1950. Brasington planned for 10,000 motorheads, but well over 25,000 came to see the spectacle.

What’s a legendary stock car race without a legendary finish?

This true Southern born and bread sport was won by one of those West Coast guys. Californian Johnny Mantz took home the Johnny Paycheck for the first Southern 500 which took over 6 hours to see the checkered.

Even better, Mantz started 75th out of 75 cars and many of his competitors had never raced on anything other than dirt. Mantz’s average speed? Yea baby, an eye watering 76 mph.

Go grab yourself a fistful of Labor Day and see what you can find.

That's what I Freakin' think. 

You? 

Email @ kennys@speedfreaks.tv or call me in the Freaks' office at 86-69FREAKS.