May 2, 1971: Baker Doubles-Up Darlington

Today I posted another entry in my on-going blog series about wins by Petty Enterprises drivers OTHER than Richard Petty. On May 2, 1971, the Gentle Giant Buddy Baker won the Rebel 400 at Darlington driving a Petty Enterprises, factory-supported, white #11 Dodge Charger. He'd won the previous Darlington race - the 1970 Southern 500 - in a Cotton Owens' Dodge. Read on for more:

http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2013/05/may-2-1971-buddy-baker-doubles-up.html

Thanks, Chase.

I'm not sure that today's younger fans recall or are aware how much turmoil was created when Chrysler arranged the departure of Pete Hamilton and inserted Buddy Baker into the Petty Enterprises lineup. My old racing buddies and I were livid.

For years that had me baffled too. Nothing against Buddy, but I wondered how Pete could simply get shoved aside after his stellar 1970 season. RJR was coming aboard in 1971, and NASCAR racing would never be the same. On the surface, it seems the Frances and Ralph Seagraves would have wanted the young Northern WINNING bachelor Hamilton in a premium ride for 1971. Yet Chrysler opted to put their long-time Dodge guy Baker in a 2nd Petty car along with Richard's Plymouth as it reduced or eliminated its support of teams like Cotton and Ray Nichels.

So was it simply a business decision grounded in loyalty to Buddy? Or was it something more?

As late as October 1970, Pete was still being summoned by the US Army to report for active duty. Apparently he'd been in the National Guard and served long enough so that he shouldn't have to enlist full time. Yet the Pentagon as is often the case said "Nope. Not good enough. Report for duty - or we'll come get you."

Long-time friend of the Pettys, Jim Paschal, was hired to qualify Pete's car at Rockingham while he went to Washington DC to get things resolved. (From Daytona Beach Morning Journal )

Pete was finally able to prove to the government what was needed to grant him an honorable discharge. Rockingham was rained out and rescheduled, and Pete was able to race without the military obligation hanging over his head. (from The Dispatch of Lexington NC)

In retrospect then, I wonder if Chrysler put Buddy in a Petty Dodge for 1971 (1) perhaps for loyalty and maybe a contractual commitment but (2) because perhaps Pete had too much ambiguity about his future in the fall of 1970 as Chrysler was making its financial and operational budgets for 1971. Maybe they believe Pete wasn't even going to be available. Inquiring minds would like to know.

I'll never figure out the Hamilton-Baker issue either. Just one of those circumstances that makes no sense to me. I guess that's why I never made the "big bucks".

All three played a major role in deciding the outcome of the October 1971 American 500 at Rockingham. Buddy was mad with Richard (Buddy thought he had won and had let off - he said - thinking the caution was out) and he had earlier rammed Pete. Perhaps you can capture a screen shot at this link, Chase:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cjweAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IL8EAAAA...

Done. And here is the link to the blog entry I posted about RP's win:

http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2011/10/october-24-this-day-in-petty-history.html