A Tribute befitting a King
Richard Petty, born July 2, 1937 in Level Cross, North Carolina, a tiny community outside of Greensboro. Growing up and helping his father Lee, work on race cars, he kept wanting to jump into one himself. Lee forbid his son to enter as a driver until he turned 21. In his first race, which I think was in Columbia South Carolina, he finished in 6th place. After the next 8 races where he failed to finish, he thought he had his first win. Unfortunately, there was another driver who protested the finish of the race, that driver was...Lee Petty. Lee said the flag fell on the wroong lap, and he was a full lap ahead of Richard, after review, Lee was right, and was awarded the victory. 1959 was Richard's rookie year, and even though he was the 1959 Rookie of the Year, in his first race at the new Daytona Speedwa, he only finished 8 laps, after blowing a motor.
In 1960, he finished second in the Grand National points, to Rex White. In 1962 after Lee retired after a near-fatal wreck at Daytona, it was up to Richard to carry on the family name in racing. In 1964, he won his first Daytona 500, and his first of 7 championships. But after competitors complained about his engines being too big, he left the sport in the 1965 season.
1965 saw the birth of 43jr, a '65 Plymouth Barracuda drag car. Since he couldn't round round, he went in a straight line. Still notching wins, the season was cut short when the car broke, and headed for the crowd and killed an 8 year old boy. Richard was through with drag racing.
He returned to stock cars in 1966, and became the first 2 time Daytona 500 winner. 1967 was the best of his career, of 48 races he started, he won 27, with 10 of those in a row, finished in the top 5 in 11 others and won his 2nd Championship. After just eight years of racing, he had already passed his fathers 54 wins by winning his 55th. All of Richard's wins came while driving Plymouths, and having Chrysler back him with powerful engines. In 1971, the Grand National division, became known as Winston Cup, when R.J. Reynolds tobacco company offered to sponsor the sport. Also that same year, Petty Enterprises signed on with STP to begin a long sponsorship history. The famous Petty blue, now had red to go along with it. Throughout the '70s he won 5 more championships and 4 more Daytona 500's. This brought his total to 7 championships, and 6 Daytona 500, more than any other driver.
1981 brought his last Daytona 500 win, making it 7 total, and the 1984 Firecracker 400 was his last win, bringing that total to 200 wins. As the 80's wore on and the 90's approached, things could have been better at Petty Enterprises. Not having a win since 1984, and reaching the age of 54, in 1991, Richard announced that 1992, would be his final year of racing. After 34 years of success in the sport, it all came down to the Hooter's 500 at Atlanta, which would mark Richard's final race. I was glad to be in attendance that day to see it live.
Today, Richard still is involved with racing, still running the business his father started in the 40's, and still winning with the drivers he has had in the car. Even though it is not the same watching the famed #43 circle the track, knowing Richard is not behind the wheel, I still get excited when it runs well. We all miss you racing Richard.