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Lee Petty
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Born: | March 14, 1914 | |
| Birthplace: |  Randleman, North Carolina |
|
| Died: | April 5, 2000 | |
| Cause of Death: | stomach aneurysm | |
| Awards: | 1954 Grand National Champion
inducted in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame (1990) inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (1996) |
|
| NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Statistics | ||
| 427 races run over 16 years. | ||
| Best Cup Position: | 1st - 1954, 1958, 1959 (Grand National) | |
| First Race: | 1949 Charlotte Speedway | |
| Last Race: | 1964 Watkins Glen International | |
| First Win: | 1949 Heidelberg Raceway (Pittsburgh) | |
| Last Win: | 1961 Speedway Park (Jacksonville) | |
| Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
| 54 | 332 | 18 |
Lee Petty (March 14, 1914 (near Randleman, North Carolina) - April 5, 2000) was an American stock car driver in the 1950s and 60s. He was one of the pioneers of NASCAR, and one of its first superstars.
Contents |
Lee Petty was thirty-five years old before he began racing. He began his NASCAR career at NASCAR's first race at Charlotte Speedway (not Charlotte Motor Speedway). He finished in the Top 5 in season points for NASCAR's first eleven seasons. He won the NASCAR Championship on three occasions and the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959.
In that inaugural race, Petty locked horns with Johnny Beauchamp during the final laps of the race. The finish was so close that even though Johnny was declared the unofficial winner, it took 3 days to decide the winner. In the end, with the help of the national newsreel, Petty was officially declared the winner and cemented his place as one of stock-car racing's all time greats.
He was the father of Richard Petty, who would become NASCAR's all-time race winner. With sons Richard and Maurice, he founded Petty Enterprises, which became NASCAR's most successful racing team. He was the grandfather of Kyle Petty, and great grandfather of Adam Petty.
- In 1990, Lee Petty was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
- He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1996.
- He was elected to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
Petty Enterprises 1949-1964
Gary Drake 1954
Carl Krueger 1955
Lee Petty died at 4:50 a.m. on April 5, 2000 at Moses Cones Hospital in Greensboro, North Carolina, at the age of 86, several weeks after undergoing surgery for a stomach aneurysm. He was buried at the Level Cross United Methodist Church Cemetery in Randleman, North Carolina.
- Lee Petty article from the International Motor Sports Hall of Fame
- Lee Petty's statistics at racing-reference.info
| Preceded by Herb Thomas |
NASCAR Grand National Champion 1954 |
Succeeded by Tim Flock |
| Preceded by Buck Baker |
NASCAR Grand National Champion 1958, 1959 |
Succeeded by Rex White |
| Preceded by None |
Daytona 500 Winner 1959 |
Succeeded by Junior Johnson |
| NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champions |
|---|
| Byron • Rexford • Thomas • Flock • Thomas • L. Petty • Flock • Baker • Baker • L. Petty • L. Petty • White • N. Jarrett • Weatherly • Weatherly • R. Petty • N. Jarrett • Pearson • R. Petty • Pearson • Pearson • Isaac • R. Petty • R. Petty • Parsons • R. Petty • R. Petty • Yarborough • Yarborough • Yarborough • R. Petty • Earnhardt • Waltrip • Waltrip • Allison • T. Labonte • Waltrip • Earnhardt • Earnhardt • Elliott • Wallace • Earnhardt • Earnhardt • Kulwicki • Earnhardt • Earnhardt • Gordon • T. Labonte • Gordon • Gordon • D. Jarrett • B. Labonte • Gordon • Stewart • Kenseth • Busch • Stewart • Johnson |