After 10 years racing Plymouths, the King made the jump to the blue oval gang in 1969. Incredibly, the Petty Blue 43 Torino from Level Cross won the first race it started.
Read more here:
http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2012/02/february-1-this-day-in-petty-history.html
I'm not sure there's ever been as startling a development in NASCAR as the King switching to Ford for 1969.
Oh, Dave, I do so remember that. November 26th I believe, of 1968, he announced he was going to Ford. Back in those days I hated (and I don't use that word often) a Ford more than just about anything else. Boy, did Richard and I have words over that!!!! And then there was the Columbia Speedway race that year. lol, what memories as my friend Johnny Mallonee would say.
Jim - You are absolutely correct. Thanks for reading it closely & pointing out my error. That's what I get for multi-tasking. I've been assembling many of the blog entries in advance. I'm surprised I haven't crossed races with more errors before now.
With 7 Daytona 500 wins about to be blogged over the next 3 weeks or so, I need to double-down on my proof-reading to make sure similar mistakes haven't been made.
I'm sure I was working on both the January 1972 Riverside race and the February 1969 Riverside race about the same time. Foyt won the 72 D500 - but I think I had a brain fade and tried to put his victory in 1969 after his 2nd place Riverside finish.
Bump
