Dave Fulton
Silly Season 1983
The date was October 30, 1983 in the Rockingham garage when a photographer for Grand National Scene newspaper caught Maurice Petty, Bobby Allison and me doing our best to keep the media guessing about who would drive for who in 1984. At the time I was actively negotiating with Tim Richmond to replace Dale Earnhardt in Bud Moore's car when Earnhardt rejoined Childress for 1984 with both cars carrying sponsorship from Wrangler jeans. Richmond elected to stay in his Raymond Beadle ride while we signed Ricky Rudd to the Moore car. There had been rumors that Richard Petty might go to Moore. Richard did leave Petty Enterprises and Maurice fielded some cars for his son and Dick Brooks in 1984. Bobby continued with Miller sponsorship at Stavola. By the time the photo was published, I had left Wrangler to join 7-Eleven. It wasn't often that Maurice Petty showed a playful side in the garage, especially with things as strained as they were at the end of the 1983 season. Many thanks to o Russ Thompson @Calhoun98 for locating this photo at my request.
