Lee Petty
Lee Petty in 1959
BornLee Arnold Petty
(1914-03-14)March 14, 1914
Randleman, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedApril 5, 2000(2000-04-05) (aged 86)
Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Cause of deathAbdominal aortic aneurysm
Achievements1954, 1958, 1959 Grand National Champion
1959 Daytona 500 Winner (inaugural race)
Awards1952-1954 Grand National Series Most Popular Driver
International Motorsports Hall of Fame (1990)
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America[1] (1996)
North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame
NASCAR Hall of Fame (2011)
Named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers (2023)
NASCAR Cup Series career
427 races run over 16 years
Best finish1st (1954, 1958, 1959)
First race1949 Race No. 1 (Charlotte)
Last race1964 The Glen 151.8 (Watkins Glen)
First win1949 untitled race (Pittsburgh)
Last win1961 untitled race (Jacksonville)
Wins Top tens Poles
54 332 18
NASCAR Convertible Division career
28 races run over 3 years
Best finish13th (1957)
First race1957 Race #2 (Daytona Beach & Road Course)
Last race1959 Race #14 (Greenville-Pickens)
First win1958 Race #10 (Charlotte Fairgrounds)
Last win1959 Race #14 (Greenville-Pickens)
Wins Top tens Poles
2 21 1
Statistics current as of February 1, 2018.

Lee Arnold Petty (March 14, 1914 – April 5, 2000)[2] was an American stock car racing driver who competed during the 1950s and 1960s. He is the patriarch of the Petty racing family. He was one of the early pioneers of NASCAR and one of its first superstars. He was NASCAR's first three-time Cup champion. He is the father of Richard Petty, who went on to become the winningest driver in NASCAR Cup Series history and one of the most successful stock car racing drivers of all time. He is also the grandfather of Kyle Petty and great grandfather of Adam Petty.[3]

Career

Lee Petty's No. 42 1956 Dodge Coronet

Petty was born near Randleman, North Carolina, the son of Jessie Maude (née Bell) and Judson Ellsworth Petty.[4] He was thirty-five years old when he began his racing career. He participated in NASCAR's inaugural race, held at the three-quarter mile long dirt track, Charlotte Speedway; he raced in a 1948 Buick Roadmaster he borrowed from his neighbor under the assurance that the prize money earned from the race could pay off any damages to the car. With son Richard watching, Petty lost control of the car and rolled it in turn three.[5] Basing on his earlier experience as an occasional moonshine runner, Petty would take factory cars to a local service station, pull the mufflers off the car and go racing.[6]

He finished in the top five in season points for NASCAR's first eleven seasons and won the NASCAR Grand National Series driver's championship three times. Petty was also the winner of the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959.

Controversies

Twice in his career, Petty was declared the winner of a race after scoring errors were discovered following the race. The two races were the 1959 Daytona 500 and the 1959 Lakewood 500.

1959 Daytona 500

In the inaugural race at Daytona International Speedway, Petty battled with Johnny Beauchamp during the final laps of the race. Petty, Beauchamp, and Joe Weatherly drove side by side by side across the finish line at the final lap for a photo finish. Petty drove a 1959 Oldsmobile Super 88 (No. 42), while Beauchamp drove a 1959 Ford Thunderbird (No. 73) and Weatherly did so in a 1959 Chevrolet (No. 48), all coupés. Beauchamp was unofficially declared the winner, and he drove to victory lane. Petty protested the results, saying "I had Beauchamp by a good two feet. In my own mind, I know I won."[7] It took NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. three days to decide the winner. In the end, with the help of the national newsreel, Petty was officially declared the winner. His son Richard drove a 1957 Oldsmobile convertible (No. 43) and finished 57th out of the 59 starters after blowing an engine after eight laps.

In a 1999 interview over the controversial finish, Petty expressed his belief that France Sr. knew Petty won, but purposely called Beauchamp the winner to intentionally cause controversy. Petty stated, "France would have done anything to generate publicity for his racetracks."

1959 Lakewood 500

During a stock car race at Lakewood in Atlanta, Georgia, Petty's son Richard raced against Lee, a teammate to his father on the Petty Enterprises racing team. After a side-by-side duel with his father, Richard passed Lee with less than 10 laps to go and went on to win the race. It was one of Richard's first races and he became a first-time Cup series winner during his rookie year. Hours after the race was over, officials changed the official results after a protest was filed by Lee. Lee protested that Richard was one lap down and was credited with an extra lap. Richard was demoted to third and Lee was declared the race winner. In the days that followed, Lee was quoted as saying in a newspaper, "I would have protested my mother if I needed to."

Retirement

1961 Daytona 500 and career-ending crash

During the second race of the Twin Qualifying Events of the 1961 Daytona 500, Johnny Beauchamp lost control and caught Petty's bumper, sending both cars through the guardrail and out of the track. Petty's car struck spectator A. B. Kelley who suffered multiple cuts but still helped evacuate Petty from the twisted metal. Petty and Beauchamp were no strangers to each other as they were previously involved in the first Daytona 500 finish which took place two years earlier. Petty suffered numerous life-threatening injuries, including multiple fractures, internal injuries, and a punctured lung that forced him to stay in the Daytona Hospital for four months.[8] The crash ultimately led to the end of Petty's regular driving career, though he sporadically competed in later events; his final race took place in 1964 at The Glen.

Petty Enterprises

He was the father of Richard Petty, who became NASCAR's record holder for race wins. With sons Richard and Maurice Petty, he founded Petty Enterprises, which became NASCAR's most successful racing team. He was the grandfather of Kyle Petty, and the great-grandfather of Adam Petty, who died in a crash during a Busch Series practice session at New Hampshire International Speedway. He is also the grandfather of Ritchie Petty, who ran a few races in NASCAR. His nephew Dale Inman worked for Petty Enterprises as Richard's crew chief from the early 1960s until 1981 and during the 1990s.

Awards

Teams

  • Petty Enterprises (1949–1964)
  • Gary Drake (1954)
  • Carl Krueger (1955)
  • Fred Frazier (1956)

Death

Petty died at 4:50 a.m. on April 5, 2000, at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, North Carolina, three weeks after his 86th birthday, several weeks after undergoing surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm—a tear in the aorta vessel near the stomach that grows until cardiac arrest. Despite the surgery, his condition deteriorated and he died of abdominal aortic dissection. He was buried at the Level Cross United Methodist Church Cemetery in Randleman, North Carolina. Lee died just three days after his great-grandson Adam made his Winston Cup Series debut; Adam would be killed at the age of nineteen years old just 5 weeks later from a practice race crash.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Grand National Series

NASCAR Grand National Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 NGNC Pts
1949 Gilmer Goode 38 Buick CLT
17		 DAB 2nd 725
Petty Enterprises 42 Plymouth HBO
9		 LAN
7		 HAM MAR
2		 HEI
1		 NWS
2
1950 DAB
16		 CLT
18		 LAN
5		 MAR
3		 CAN
4		 VER
5		 DSP
8		 MCF
3		 CLT
11		 HBO
7		 DSP
4		 HAM
27		 DAR
6		 LAN
4		 NWS VER
7		 MAR
2		 WIN HBO
1		 3rd 1590
1951 DAB
31		 CLT
2		 NMO
7		 GAR HBO
9		 ASF
26		 NWS
3		 MAR
6		 CAN
5		 CLS
5		 CLB
20		 DSP
12		 GAR GRS
6		 BAI
6		 HEI
21		 AWS
25		 MCF
1		 ALS
3		 MSF
13		 FMS
29		 MOR
2		 ABS
7		 DAR
15		 CLB
18		 CCS
21		 LAN
9		 CLT DSP
4		 WIL HBO
5		 TPN PGS MAR
2		 OAK NWS
2		 HMS JSP
7		 ATL
12		 GAR NMO
16		 4th 2392.25
1952 PBS
2		 JSP
22		 NWS
9		 MAR
4		 CLB
2		 ATL
3		 CCS
7		 LAN
3		 DAR
7		 DSP
4		 CAN
23		 HAY FMS
3		 HBO
6		 CLT
4		 NIF
16		 OSW
5		 MON
3		 MOR
1*		 MCF
4		 AWS DAR
6		 CCS
1		 LAN
1		 DSP
2		 WIL
2		 HBO
5		 MAR
3		 NWS
13		 ATL
2		 PBS
4		 3rd 6498.5
Lincoln DAB
9
Chrysler MSF
32		 PPS
2
1953 Dodge PBS
1*		 DAB HAR
3		 NWS
4		 CLT
11		 RCH
1		 CCS
19		 LAN
2		 CLB
5		 HCY
15		 MAR
1		 PMS
8		 RSP
8		 LOU
1		 FIF
3		 LAN
2		 TCS
5		 WIL
9		 MCF
3		 PIF
1		 MOR
3		 ATL
3		 RVS
4		 LCF
3		 DAV
3		 HBO
3		 AWS
7		 PAS
3		 HCY
4		 DAR
11		 CCS
2		 LAN
6		 BLF
6		 WIL
4		 NWS
5		 MAR
2		 ATL
3		 2nd 7814
1954 PBS
3		 JSP
3		 ATL
6		 OSP OAK
6		 NWS
5		 HBO
6		 CCS
9		 WIL
4		 RSP
4		 LND
10		 WGS
7		 1st 8649
Chrysler DAB
1*		 LAN
9*		 MAR
2		 SHA
1*		 CLT
2		 GAR CLB
5		 HCY
2		 MCF
1		 PIF
3		 SFS
4		 GRS
1		 MOR
6		 OAK CLT
1		 SAN
5		 COR
1		 DAR
38		 CCS
3		 CLT
2		 LAN
2		 MAS
3		 MAR
1*		 NWS
32
Gary Drake 100 Olds AWS
4
1955 Petty Enterprises 42 Chrysler TCS
1*		 PBS
5		 JSP
1*		 DAB
2		 OSP
1*		 CLB
6		 NWS
4		 MGY
6		 LAN
7		 CLT
15		 HCY
4		 ASF TUS MAR
2		 RCH
3		 NCF
4		 FOR
1		 LIN
14		 MCF
20		 FON
3		 AIR
1*		 CLT
9		 PIF
3		 CLB
13		 AWS
18		 MOR
2		 ALS
3		 NYF
3		 CLT
10		 3rd 7194
Dodge HBO
6		 SAN
5		 FOR
1*		 MAS
19		 RSP
22		 DAR
21		 MGY
4		 RSP
9		 GPS
10		 MAS
11		 CLB
19		 MAR
8		 LVP NWS
2		 HBO
23
Carl Krueger 303 Chrysler LAN
28
1956 Petty Enterprises 42 Dodge HCY
3		 CLT
3		 WSS PBS
5		 ASF
5		 DAB
12		 PBS
12		 WIL
13		 ATL
5		 NWS
8		 LAN
4		 RCH
7		 CLB
19		 CON
23		 GPS
20		 HCY
15		 HBO
3		 MAR
3		 LIN
3		 CLT
5		 POR EUR NYF
4		 MER MAS
6		 CLT
3		 MCF
21		 POR AWS
1		 RSP
36		 PIF
1		 CSF CHI
10		 CCF
9		 MGY
5		 OKL
5*		 ROA
13		 OBS
22		 SAN NOR
7		 PIF
14		 MYB
15		 POR DAR
Wth		 CSH
12		 CLT
10		 LAN
2		 POR CLB
7		 HBO
12		 NWP
9		 CLT
8		 CCF
21		 MAR
21		 HCY
11		 WIL
9		 4th 8324
Fred Frazier 35 Ford DAR
17
1957 Petty Enterprises 42 Dodge WSS CON
5		 TIC
11		 4th 8528
42M Olds DAB
27		 CON
42 WIL
4		 HBO
5		 AWS
10		 NWS
7		 LAN
9		 CLT
4		 PIF
4		 GBF
6		 POR CCF
8		 RCH MAR
5		 POR EUR LIN
10		 LCS
3		 ASP NWP
10		 CLB
13		 CPS PIF
1		 JAC
8		 RSP
15		 CLT
3		 MAS
6		 POR HCY
2		 NOR
8		 LCS
5		 GLN
8		 KPC LIN
25		 OBS
1		 MYB
6		 DAR
24		 NYF
2		 AWS
1		 CSF SCF LAN
14		 CLB
8		 CCF
5		 CLT
1		 MAR
3		 NBR
23		 CON
2		 NWS
2		 GBF
5*
1958 FAY
2		 DAB
6		 CON
1		 FAY
9		 WIL
1		 HBO
4		 FAY
25		 CLB
4		 PIF
12		 ATL
25		 CLT
4		 MAR
11		 ODS
4		 OBS
8		 GPS
6		 GBF
2		 STR
7		 NWS
11		 BGS
23		 TRN
3		 RSD
4		 CLB
9		 NBS
2		 REF
4		 LIN
1		 HCY
1		 AWS
6		 RSP
6		 MCC
4		 SLS
8*		 TOR
1		 BUF
6		 MCF
4		 BEL
4		 BRR
6		 CLB
7		 NSV
5		 AWS
3		 BGS
1*		 MBS
5		 DAR
19		 CLT
10		 BIR
3		 CSF GAF
2		 RCH
2		 HBO
5		 SAS
1		 MAR
7		 NWS
9		 1st 12232
2 ATL
3
1959 42 FAY
9		 DAY
8		 DAY
1		 HBO
4		 CON
3		 ATL
17		 WIL
4		 CLB
3		 REF
6*		 HCY
3		 MAR
1*		 CLT
1		 GPS
3		 WIL
4		 1st 11792
43 BGS
2		 NWS
1
42 Plymouth TRN
3		 NSV
6		 ASP PIF
12		 ATL
1		 CLB
1		 RCH
18		 BGS
10		 AWS
2		 DAY
33		 HEI
3		 CLT
10		 MBS
6		 CLT
18		 NSV
4		 AWS
2		 BGS
3		 GPS
18		 CLB
1		 DAR
20		 HCY
1		 RCH
2		 CSF HBO
1		 MAR
10		 AWS
1		 NWS
1*		 CON
2
1960 CLT
7		 CLB
4		 DAY DAY
7		 DAY
4		 CLT
20		 NWS
1		 PHO CLB
4		 MAR
6		 HCY
11		 WIL
2		 BGS
12		 GPS
2		 AWS
1*		 DAR
4		 PIF
2		 HBO
1*		 RCH
1		 HMS CLT
56		 BGS
2		 DAY
4		 HEI
1*		 MAB
3		 MBS
2		 ATL
8		 BIR
3		 NSV
4		 AWS
8		 PIF
2		 CLB
7		 BGS
2		 DAR
30		 HCY
8		 CSF GSP
5		 HBO
11		 MAR
23		 NWS
20		 CLT
36		 RCH ATL
6		 6th 14510
43 SBO
7
1961 42 CLT
3*		 JSP
1		 DAY DAY
15		 DAY
DNQ		 PIF AWS HMS ATL GPS HBO BGS MAR NWS CLB HCY RCH MAR DAR CLT CLT RSD ASP CLT PIF BIR GPS BGS NOR HAS STR DAY ATL CLB MBS BRI NSV BGS AWS RCH SBO DAR HCY RCH CSF ATL MAR NWS CLT BRI GPS HBO 104th –
1962 41 CON AWS DAY DAY DAY CON AWS SVH HBO RCH CLB NWS GPS MBS MAR
5		 BGS BRI RCH HCY CON DAR PIF CLT ATL BGS AUG RCH SBO DAY CLB ASH GPS AUG SVH MBS BRI CHT NSV HUN AWS STR BGS PIF VAL DAR HCY RCH DTS AUG MAR NWS CLT ATL 73rd 588
1963 BIR GGS THS RSD DAY DAY DAY PIF AWS HBO ATL HCY BRI AUG RCH GPS SBO BGS MAR NWS CLB THS DAR ODS RCH CLT BIR ATL DAY MBS SVH DTS BGS
4		 ASH OBS
18		 BRR
6		 BRI GPS NSV CLB AWS PIF BGS ONA DAR HCY RCH MAR DTS NWS THS CLT SBO HBO RSD 82nd 800
1964 CON AUG JSP SVH RSD DAY DAY DAY RCH BRI GPS BGS ATL AWS HBO PIF CLB NWS MAR SVH DAR LGY HCY SBO CLT GPS ASH ATL CON NSV CHT BIR VAL PIF DAY ODS
17		 OBS BRR ISP GLN
22		 LIN BRI NSV MBS AWS DTS ONA CLB BGS STR DAR HCY RCH ODS HBO MAR SVH NWS CLT HAR AUG JAC 109th 244
Daytona 500
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1959 Petty Enterprises Oldsmobile 15 1
1960 Plymouth 14 4
1961 DNQ

References

  1. 1 2 Lee Petty Archived 2019-03-24 at the Wayback Machine at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
  2. ↑ White, Ben (2009). NASCAR Racers. Motorbooks. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-7603-3577-2. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  3. ↑ McGee, Ryan (26 October 2023). "Top-5s: 75 things for NASCAR's 75th anniversary: Five greatest pre-Modern Era drivers". NASCAR. ESPN. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "Ancestry of Richard Petty". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2013-11-18.
  5. ↑ McGee, Ryan (June 18, 2019). "Stock car racing turns 70: Richard Petty recalls wild first race in 1949". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on July 6, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  6. ↑ "279 - Richard Petty: The King". Player.fm. Dirty Mo Media. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  7. ↑ 1959: Petty's photo finish Archived 2009-08-21 at the Wayback Machine; Mark Aumann, Turner Sports Interactive; January 9, 2003; Retrieved October 24, 2007
  8. ↑ "Petty surprised with piece of grandfather's past | Official Site of NASCAR". Archived from the original on 2019-08-25. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
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