Truckin' on the Western Branch

Ricky Rudd. Image by Sheally

Bill Champion

Ricky Rudd. Norfolk County native Ricky Rudd, the “Iron man” of NASCAR, holds the record for most consecutive starts. In his late teens he made his NASCAR debut at North Carolina Speedway driving the #10 Ford of his mentor, Bill Champion. Gracie VanDyck—Basketball VanDyck, known to everyone as Gracie Lee, was a pioneer in promoting women’s sports. From her citation to the Hall of Fame: She excelled on the playing field and then brought those same standards of excellence to coaching, making a name for herself as one of the most influential and successful coaches in state high school history. From 1947 through 1987, VanDyck coached basketball and softball at Churchland High School in Portsmouth, Portsmouth Catholic, and Chesapeake’s Western Branch High School, compiling a 517-271-2 record. VanDyck died July 26, 2013, at the age of 86. Bob Rowland—Speedboat Racing Rowland, who lived in Churchland, was also a track star at The College of William and Mary and a championship golfer. From 1950 to 1952 Rowland won the Virginia & Maryland Gold Cup of racing, the Calvert Silver trophy for Unlimited Class Boats, and several other championships. He was named Outstanding Speed Boat Racing Driver in America by the National Marine Racing Hall of Fame and was named to the All-American Racing Team in 1952.

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