With the cold-snowy-icy weather that has blanketed much of the northern, eastern & southern states, I thought it might be a good time to bump Dave Fulton's post from a year ago.
When the Petty Enterprises team arrived in Richmond, they were without the Chief, Maurice Petty. The previous week at Rockingham, the 43 was one of multiple casualties of yet another skirmish between Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison. The King was upset as were many other drivers. Chief was bent too and let his voice be heard to NASCAR officials Joe Gazaway and Ray Hill.
Gazaway approached Maurice to have the conversation and perhaps settle him down. But that wasn't MP's MO. He shoved aside Gazaway, helped get the gear packed & left for Level Cross. Hill then sent him a letter suspending him for the Richmond and Atlanta races.
Article from Jerry Bushmire
And from Spartanburg Herald Journal
Race program from Motor Racing Programme Covers
Great shot of the field lined up for the start. - Getty Images
The Pettys weren't getting the leverage they needed to get STP to up their support of the 43. The 43 ran a pretty normal day-glo red and Petty blue scheme at Riverside but without an STP oval on the hood. At Daytona, the 43 won but absent any day-glo red stripes or the STP oval on the hood. At Richmond, PE took it up another notch by removing the day-glo red from the sides of the car. STP then got the message. Things were worked out within the next race or so,and the full colors and decals returned. Interesting in retrospect how the team still forged ahead and ultimately won the championship.
And despite a stellar beginning to the 1979 season with a top 15 finish with some laps led at Daytona, the rookie Earnhardt found Richmond a tough place to go. He spun early, jacked up the field, and never really got back into the flow of things. I'd say he figured the place out though later as his career progressed. - Donald Evans
Pockrass from The Sporting News was at the event Wednesday and recorded a couple of minutes of coverage from the race. I can't figure a way to embed the video, but here is a link to the footage Bob shot Wed night.
http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/video/1vkgbmk49zjp21jc26x1690y79
More to come. Let's just say it was a fantastic evening.
L to R:Schaefer HOF co-founder Philly, Rebecca Petty Moffitt, TMC, and some cat who crashed the soiree and tried to blend in by wearing dark clothes and sunglasses at night.
Am I excited? You betcha.
Really looking forward to the event. I'm about as excited as a kid getting a pony. Or in the case of the King's enunciation, a Pony-ack.
Race preview from Spartanburg Herald
Jayne Mansfield on the parade lap
The cars lined up for the start with Joe Weatherly on the pole, Jim Paschal 2nd, and Richard Petty 3rd.
Junior takes the checkers.
Junior and Jayne in Victory Lane - from Ray Lamm
(I'd like to find one of those new fangled 3D printers everyone is talking about to print this photo. Unfortunately, none to be found around me.)
Race report from Spartanburg Herald
