Can you believe today is the 20th anniversary - 20 years - TWENTYYEARS - TWODECADES - since the King made his final career start at Atlanta? Wow.
I blogged a few thoughts and photos - of my own and of others - from the 1992 Hooters 500.
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2012/11/november-15-1992-kings-final-ride.html
time really does move on too fast - great memories though !!!
What a day that was. Seems like yesterday.
David - We were pro-43 and anti-3 back in those days. Haha. Even though we didn't have a good view from our backstretch seats, we were convinced Dale took out pole-sitter Rick Mast at the end of lap 1. With so much attention on the championship, The King, Gordon's 1st start, etc., we surmised Dale didn't like being out of the limelight that day. If he took the lead by hook or crook, he'd wrangle some attention back his way (pun intended, Dave Fulton).
When we saw the replay later of course, we realized Dale hadn't taken out Mast or Brett Bodine. The 3 may have been all over the 26, but Brett got loose on his own and took out himself and Mast. We had to humbly concede we'd been bitten by the adage of "know what happens when you assume something". Haha
It's been a long time since the 43 was in Victory Lane too. I hope that when it finally happens again, it will be one of those rare days when the car is Petty blue. It breaks my heart to see that number on a lime green car.
Somebody forgot to mention why King Richard was cussing with "Bleep-Bleep" words when his famous "STP" Pontiac was on fire.
King Richard was looking for the "Bleep" firemen with the "Bleep" fire extinguisher to come and put out his "Bleep" fire.
King Richard wasn't smiling and was cussing on "Live-In-Car-Camera" TV!!
Thinking that his "money making cargo" was getting ready to be burn-up ashes in the his famous "STP" Pontiac.
What was the "money making cargo" that was saved from his famous "STP" Pontiac fire?
ESPN has and still showed the (2) versions of this race video: "CUSS WORDS" version and "CUSS WORDS THAT WAS BLEEP OUT" version. LOL
Dennis Garrett
Richmond,Va. USA
Oh I didn't forget. The video is there in all its glory embedded in my blog entry. In retrospect, that situation was certainly humorous. At the time however - when flames are licking all around you - I'm sure the King reacted like many of us would.
But it was also one of those head-shaking moments by TV who aired an open mic of a race driver in a stressful situation. A lesson they still haven't learned to this day.
As far as money making cargo, I'm sure he raked a good bit of cash off the table. But I'm pretty sure a lot of folks took a bath on unsold Fan Appreciation Tour swag. It was ridiculous the amount of junk pitched that season. There is a 53' foot white trailer behind Petty's Garage. I've been told its full of bags of the 1:64 diecast cars sold at the 1992 races - with the only difference being the cardboard backing being the name of the race.
What was the "money making cargo" that was saved from his famous "STP" Pontiac fire?
answer: Over $100,000 Dollars worth of "Richard Petty's Last Ride" collector cards was in a metal box in "STP" Pontiac race car during last Richard Petty race.
Dennis Garrett
Richmond,Va. USA
