Harroun, Morton & Haresnape

Here's another image from the Phil Sheedy collection from the board track in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1926. That year the Charlotte Speedway (located in Pineville) hosted three stops on the national championship trail. Here's another good photo of the Charlotte Speedway. 
 
Only three of the men in this photo are identified. The two on the left are 1911 Indianapolis 500 champion Ray Harroun and "500" race veteran Wade Morton. Second from the right is American Automobile Association official, Val Haresnape.
 
Harsnape is notorious (in the classic definition of the word) among auto racing historians for being the point man in revising - and even making up - national championship historical records from 1902 up to the 1920s. It is unclear of his motivations, but a good guess might be that he was simply ingratiating himself to people of the day that he felt by association could elevate his status, and, who knows, perhaps reward him financially. Regardless, his efforts in this regard only served to muddy the waters in a realm we care a great deal about - early auto racing history.