When NASCAR Mattered / Article in Hot Rod Magazine
Stock Car Racing History
Sah-WEET pic! Look at the contrasting mirror mount locations. Squirrel Jr's is dash mounted. Whitey Gerkin's mirror is in the traditional roof mount location.
Forum Activity for @tmc-chase
Stock Car Racing History
25 Years Ago at Talladega - For Cody
Stock Car Racing History
That was my first Dega race. Couldn't believe how great our seats were. Just a few feet to the right of the starter's stand. The stands were packed - and folks were just abuzz over the spectacular speeds. Little did I know how much things would change in just a couple dozen laps.
We weren't close enough to be affected by the shrapnel. But we knew it was bad - really bad. At first, we didn't realize it was Bobby in the fence because everything happened so quickly. But when he started spinning after leaving the fence, we spotted his car as others wrecked, tires exploded like cannon fire, and others from the back made evasive moves.
It was only when we glanced back towards the fence that we realized what NEARLY happened. As a Petty lifer, I was never a big Bobby Allison fan. But I cheered lustily when I saw him get out of the car OK.
As the race continued, we all got a sense this was going to be a day of karma. Could it really happen? Could the son of the guy who just ripped the fence actually win this thing? Sure enough - much to the delight of the crowd - Davey nailed the win.
But I was also keeping my eye on the Wood Brothers car - driven by the son of another famous driver, Kyle Petty. He made some great moves to nab a 3rd place finish. He was well short of the win, but he made a good move on Earnhardt. His 3rd place finish - matched by another 3rd at Charlotte in the 2007 Coke 600 - were the best finishes by KP that I got to see in person.
May 2, 1963 - Petty wins at Columbia
Stock Car Racing History
Richard that is - in car number 41. Maurice Petty also made one of his few career starts finishing 20th in car number 43.
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2012/05/may-2-this-day-in-petty-history.html
updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
April 30: A 4-bagger for Richard Petty
Stock Car Racing History
If they still raced at Columbia, tonight - Thursday April 30, 2015 - would be the night.
April 30: A 4-bagger for Richard Petty
Stock Car Racing History
At the risk of over self-promotion, I'll bump this post again. Fascinates me that NASCAR had 4 April 30th races at 4 different tracks over the 7 year span from 1966-1972 - and that the King won all four of them.
April 30: A 4-bagger for Richard Petty
Stock Car Racing History
I'll re-surface one of my posts on April 30 in case anyone wants to comment here or my individual blog posts. I'm particularly interested in any new pics or stories folks may have to share from any of these 4 races.
April 30: A 4-bagger for Richard Petty
Stock Car Racing History
April 30th was a very, very good career day for The King. He won 4 times on that day.
Pardon my tardiness in posting this. Traveling to Denver, CO this week for work. Limited time to bench race. So while a day late, here goes...
1966 Rebel 400
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2012/04/april-30-this-day-in-petty-history-part.html
1967 Richmond 250
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2012/04/april-30-this-day-in-petty-history-part_30.html
1970 Columbia 200
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2012/04/april-30-this-day-in-petty-history-part_668.html
1972 Virginia 500
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2012/04/april-30-this-day-in-petty-history-part_9802.html
updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
May 1, 1983: The King & Phil Parsons remember Talladega for different reasons
Stock Car Racing History
Richard Petty was high as a kite after winning the Winston 500. Phil Parsons was ... well, high as a kite one might say ... at one point during the race.
The win was the next to final one in the Cup series for Petty Enterprises.
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2012/05/may-1-this-day-in-petty-history.html
updated by @tmc-chase: 05/01/19 09:45:40AM
The 1973 Richmond 20-Car Track Fire Leads to Pond Beating Waltrip for Rookie of the Year / Video
Stock Car Racing History
Here is the link to the original discussion in case some folks missed it the first time around.
http://stockcar.racersreunion.com/forum/topics/biggest-nascar-fire-not-involving-jet-dryer-richmond-1973-thanks
And here is a link to the blog I wrote about Richard's win in that September 1973 race.
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2011/09/september-9-this-day-in-petty-history.html
The King's Cowboy Hats
General
And he tried to pull off the look about a decade earlier ... but without quite the same cool look. Maybe it was that Ford patch instead of Plymouth one that hurt him. 
(Photo from RR's Jerry Bushmire's collection.)
