Racing History Minute - September 16, 1973
Stock Car Racing History
A couple of notes about this race:
J.D. McDuffie's 5th place finish was one of 12 top-5s in his career. 1973 was his high water mark with two other top-5s besides this Dover run.
The 32nd place finisher, Ron Keselowski is the uncle of Brad & Brian Keselowski.
Dover honcho, Mel Joseph reached into his wallet to help promote local attendance. 10th place finisher, Eddie Pettyjohn was a big dirt winner on the DelMarVa peninsula who we read about weekly in National Speed Sport News and Area Auto Racing News. Pettyjohn made 4 career Cup starts, all at Dover and all in Richmond car owner, Junie Donlavey's #90 financed by Mel Joseph.
In 2009, a 63 year old Pettyjohn unretired and beat his own sons!!! See below:
Eddie Pettyjohn returns to victory lane after ten year absence in delaware late models
By Charlie Brown,
Delmar, DE (8/15/09)
The Pettyjohn name has been prolific in Delaware Late Model racing. Kenny (104 wins and 10 championships), David (11 wins and one championship) and Mark (two wins) have all deeply etched the Pettyjohn name into the record books. But it was the patriarch of the family and local legend in racing, Eddie Pettyjohn that stood in victory lane following the 20-lap Super Late Model feature Saturday night at the Delaware International Speedway. It had been more than ten years since his last victory. Running on a limited basis and now at age 63, many thought the 1986 track champion had closed the book on his career at the track which included 51 wins in the Late Models, 24 Modified wins, three Vintage Car and one Econo Modified victory. Now they realize that it has simply been reopened.
Eddie started on the pole in the 20-lap main with his son Mark starting in second. He took control at the drop of the green and by lap two it was a Pettyjohn top three with Eddie, Mark and David leading the way. The first yellow was out on lap four when Mike Parsons lost a wheel coming off the second turn. On the restart, Kerry King got by David Pettyjohn for third.
Ross Robinson quickly moved from eight to fourth as the yellow was out again as Bob Geiger rolled to a stop. On the restart, Robinson went to work on King for third. Both Mark Pettyjohn and King got out of shape shuffling the top five with Robinson climbing to second and Richard Jarvis, Jr. shooting into third. David Pettyjohn held down the fourth spot and Mark Pettyjohn recovered to hold on to fifth.
On lap twelve, Mark Pettyjohn suddenly slowed in the fourth turn stacking up Staci Warrington, Rick Whaley and Ray Davis, Jr. Robinson made a bid for the lead and seemed to have the momentum but the yellow was out for a final time on lap sixteen when Donald Lingo, Jr., who was running in fifth, came to a stop.
Eddie Pettyjohn, in his Hitchens Bros. Trucking/Swartz opened a two car length advantage on the restart and drove to his 52nd career win to the standing ovation by the crowd. The last time I won in a Late Model, pondered Pettyjohn. Oh my dear, I think it was a C.J. Rayburn car, Im not sure, back in 96 or 97. Thank the good Lord for a good night.
Robinson collected a well earned second with Jarvis third. Fourth went to David Pettyjohn and Whaley rounded out the top five. Heats were won by Robinson and David Pettyjohn.
