NASCAR ’s former 24-hour interval were frolicking and carnivorous , but Lee Petty was a refreshing , out of the ordinary member of NASCAR ’s wild crowd . Petty was never regarded as one of NASCAR ’s hardest chargers . Instead , he was the great calculating machine , go for the strategies of a chess player .
" I have to stop in the top three cars to make money , " Petty said in a 1954 consultation . " I have to finish among the first five to break even . After that , I ’m run low in the bolshy . "
Petty repel to finish – and to finish well . An opportunist , Petty ran well enough to become NASCAR ’s most prolific race success when he finally hung up his goggles for good in 1964 . In his calling , he won 54 time , and finish in the top 10 an incredible 332 times in 427 life history NASCAR Grand National starts . It is a platter of consistency that may never be approached .
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Petty pull ahead the NASCAR backing three time , in 1954 , ' 58 , and ' 59 . During the heavy factory participation in the ' 50s , Petty ’s independent squad lacked the pure amphetamine of the diligence - supported outfits , yet he still racked up more than his share of victories .
In ' 58 and ' 59 , Petty won 18 races and finished 2nd 10 times . He led the NASCAR National points standings virtually all the elbow room for two years consort , carry the top situation after 92 of the 95 race – another disc that may never fall .
" We were not like some of the others , " Petty said several eld after his retreat . " Some of the other boys , they drove and take everything out of race they could . We have put it back . When a patron quit , some of the other boys lay off . They spent their money for delight . We expend ours to build . Everything we ’ve done has been point at racing . We started under an ol' harvester shed with no floor in it and we built it up . That was in all probability what I was most proud of . "
Petty was carry in Greensboro , N.C. , and enjoyed all sporting activities . " Played basketball , football , anything militant , " Petty said in a 1970 audience . " That is what I care about cannonball along . It just caught my illusion because it was competitive . I make into it as a hobby first and just stayed with it . "
Petty was one of the 33 participants in the initiative NASCAR former - example consequence on June 19 , 1949 . He drove a hugeBuickRoadmaster , a machine Petty claim " me and some buddies had gone in on together . " In the race , Petty fall back control and flip over . The cable car came to a stay in a battered deal , wheezing steam and fossil oil . Petty climbed out , escape from but uninjured , sat on the cart track , and peered into the aloofness in low spirits .
In one of racing ’s grand quotes , Petty remember his feelings at that consequence : " I was just sit there thinking about having to go back home and explicate to my married woman where I ’d been with the cable car . "
" Pappa " Lee decided that the Buick was too heavy and bulky for the mean corners of most of the short dirt - cart track speedway . He choose to build a lightweight Plymouth with more user - well-disposed handling characteristics . He grade his first career win at Heidelberg , Penn . , in the 1949 season , and registered at least one win each year in his first 13 seasons of NASCAR Strictly Stock and Grand National rivalry .
Petty was one of the few groundbreaker number one wood whose calling made it to the reform-minded sixties . He was able to ride the rough transition from the dusty bull rings to the lightning - immobile superspeedways . When the Daytona International Speedway opened in ' 59 , Petty drove an Oldsmobile to a two - groundwork victory over Johnny Beauchamp . With no photo - finish camera in place , NASCAR official took three days to declare Petty the winner in the thrilling side - by - side close .
Two age later , Petty and Beauchamp hooked bumpers in the closing stage of Daytona ’s 100 - nautical mile limiting race and both sailed over the bulwark . Beauchamp was treated at a hospital and released . Petty was gravely injure .
Petty ’s electric blue Plymouth down in a smoldering heap outside the Daytona track . His injuries included a perforated lung , multiple fractures of the left chest , a fractured thigh , a broken collarbone , and legion internal injuries . He was in the infirmary from Feb. 26 until June 17 .
Petty buckled his helmet for just six more race after his Daytona accident . In his comeback appearance at Martinsville in the Virginia 500 on April 22 , 1962 , the old master finished an impressive twenty percent on the 1/2 - mile paved ellipse . He also had two other top 10 effort before crouch out for good . " I drove again just to prove I was n’t scared , " Petty quipped .
