Racing History Minute - 1979 Winston-Western 500 (311.78 miles)
Stock Car Racing History
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Racing History Minute - 1979 Winston-Western 500 (311.78 miles)
Stock Car Racing History
DW gets the Double Smooch from Stevie and RR member Doshia Wall. Published in the Gadsden Times.
Racing History Minute - 1979 Winston-Western 500 (311.78 miles)
Stock Car Racing History
Noticeably absent from the hood of the 43 Chevy? An STP decal. Richard still wore the sponsor emblem on the quarter panels, but the Petty team let it be known more support was needed. When the dollars didn't flow, the team removed the STP from the hood. When the company STILL didn't get the message, the 43 ran a Petty blue only hood in the Daytona 500 without the day-glo stripes - and won.
Even his 6th win in the 500 didn't open the coffers as might have been expected. So the Level Cross removed the STP red from the sides the next race at Richmond. (from Craig Bontrager pics)
That finally seemed to do the trick. Thereafter, full STP colors and and decals returned. That is, the check cleared the bank I'm sure.
updated by @tmc-chase: 01/11/17 11:44:44AM
Racing History Minute - 1979 Winston-Western 500 (311.78 miles)
Stock Car Racing History
The Daytona Beach Morning Journal previewed the race as The King prepared to race for the first time since his stomach ulcer surgery. For reasons that aren't clear, 18 year old Kyle was stranded in Minnesota awaiting snow to clear to fly to Riverside. From the sound of things, its possible Kyle COULD have made his racing debut by being Richard's relief driver if one was needed. Yep, if it came down to a choice of relief driver the Petty team could put an 18 year old raw rookie with the same last name behind the wheel - or a racing legend and multi-time Riverside winner Hershel McGriff. I think I know who would have belted in had the King not been able to go the distance.
Racing History Minute - 1979 Winston-Western 500 (311.78 miles)
Stock Car Racing History
Now you're getting into the Scott Baker camera era. Hopefully he'll share some good ones here - especially Buddy Baker's Harry Ranier car - before it became the gray ghost.
what's the deal with cowboy hats?
Current NASCAR
Kyle tried the more conventional route back in 1969 when he was about 9 years old. (Photo courtesy of Don Smyle)
what's the deal with cowboy hats?
Current NASCAR
I've seen a pic of the King with a hat in 1969.
And he wore a less than conventional "cowboy" hat a few times in 73.
But I don't think of his wearing hats regularly until the early 1980s. I don't think it was avoid the "hat dance" because his trips to victory lane were so few by then. Instead, I think he started doing so to support Kyle Petty's Boot Barn and the western wear sold by Kyle & Pattie.
updated by @tmc-chase: 10/22/19 10:03:40AM