TMC....The 1963 Rebel 300 at Darlington. Although NASCAR had abandoned the rag-top series a couple years prior, this race was founded as a convertible event and continued to run as such. 1963 wasthe first edition of this event that didnotfeature covertibles. As a wide-eyed 8-year-old, it was also my first super-speedway experience.
As an absolute Petty-fan-family, my dad would visit our local radio station (daily), robbing the teletype machine of any news from Darlington. On Thursday, preceding Saturday's big race, the teletype spit out a story of Richard crashing in practice, destroying his primary and only #43 car. The news also reported the Petty's would have Richard drive the #42 back-up Plymouth.
Thinking the Rebel still needed extra spice, Darlington Raceway chose to divide the 300 mile race into two 150 mile sprints. The first race was conventional and was won by Joe Weatherly. The second 150-miler started from a standing start. Somehow, Richard Petty (#42) and teammate Jim Paschal (#41) emerged from the start in first and second, with Richard cruising home to the win. Due to his better overall finish between the two events, Joe Weatherly was declared the "winner" of the 1963 Rebel 300.
1967 The SOUTHERN 500...In 1967, Richard Petty was THE MAN...that was the 27-wins-10-wins-in-a-rowunbelievable season. Richard came into Darlington having won the 1966 and '67 Rebel 300's. Although the Petty's had never had much luck at Darlington on Labor Day, that Labor Day was all about the King. As the race progressed, only David Pearson in the #17 H-M Fairlane remained as a very distant threat, with Pearson only leading when Richard pitted. Richard never won at Darlington again..but, man, he sure wore 'um out that day.
1971 The Daytona 500....My dad took me to Daytona for the 500 in '71. He claimed we could "camp in the parking lot........with sleeping bags...because it NEVER gets cold in Florida...." Let me just say LOL!!! Me and my best friend both took our bags and both "slept" on the gravel parking lot outside of turn 4, while dad and co. slept in the rental car...as a February cold front of biblical proportions rolled into northern Florida. With cloudless skies reigning, the next day's Permatex 300 was run under frigid conditions with a sustained wind of about 30 mph and higher gusts. It was all me and (my brave best friend) could muster to stand in the back of a Ranchero, in the infield, and watch the race......won by Red Farmer. With nightly temperatures plummeting we (miraculously) found the absolute last boarding house in all of Florida and all 12 or so in our party staggered in the one room efficiency and happily slept on the floor, etc. etc....next day...the 500, the winds had died somewhat, and as the only factory-backed team left in NASCAR Richard Petty and A.J. Foyt (Wood Bros. #21) dueled most of the race, until Foyt encounter some type of problem...might have been a pit stop, can't remember, but Richard cruised home to victory, his 3rd Daytona 500.
1974.... The Carolina 500...Dad was a pilot. From Shallotte, NC we could fly to Rockingham, land on the drag-strip and simply walk across US-1 to the speedway...all in about 45 minutes. Richard was on a rail that day, and blasted the field in his iconic STP/Petty Dodge Charger.
1976....The American 500....I planned this gala event, me and my new wife of 3 months could go to Rockingham and that fall's 500. I was really on the ball, and ordered tickets, and we happily got up before day, and drove the 2+ hours to the Rock. It was the most perfect day I've ever spent at a race track. Incredible autumn weather, and another dominating Richard Petty victory at Rockingham. At the last moment, my dad's friends procured tickets and planned their own trip, only they would fly. As we were seated in different sections of the grand stands, I knew my dad was at the race, but I never saw him, and I knew he would be thrilled that Richard had won. On the flight back home, dad's plane crashed over rural Columbus county, NC. My dad was fatally injured, but the last race he ever attended, was, fittingly, won by Richard.
1979...The American 500....For that year's Rockingham race, me and friends, simply bought $8.00 general admission tickets for the backstretch stands. Those tickets only allowed one access to the first 10 rows of stands, but after the race was about 100 laps in, we could wander anywhere and watch from the upper sections, which we did. Richard was driving a '79 Monte Carlo, and took the lead early, and blistered the field again....I was lucky, I was convinced the sun rose and set over Level Cross, and I got to see Richard in his prime. Good times!
