Lee Petty may not be as well known as his son "The King" Richard Petty, but he also had a very important part in NASCAR history. He was a successful driver and helped grow Petty Enterprises into a dominant force in racing. And, of course, he is the father of arguably the greatest driver in NASCAR history.
Lee Petty was one of the first serious businessmen to own a NASCAR team back in the day when many drivers earned the bulk of their income from bootlegging and running moonshine. He competed in the first ever sanctioned NASCAR race on June 19th, 1949 and has the dubious distinction of causing the first caution flag in that race. The elder Petty won 50 NASCAR races including the first one ever run on a paved track. He also caused his share of trouble, including a number of fistfights. He once hit Curtis Turner over the head with a wrench and started a brawl during the pre-race festivities on another occasion. The fracas ended when Mrs. Petty joined the fray swinging her purse--which contained a .44 handgun.
Lee also won three NASCAR championships (the precursor to today's Sprint Cup) during his career. He also shepherded his son, Richard, into the sport. Surprisingly, things didn't immediately go well for the Petty offspring--he'd race only 9 times in the first season and ended up in a wreck more often than not. He'd eventually turn things around and the man now known as "The King" Richard Petty would go on to win a staggering 200 NASCAR races--a mark that may never be broken.
Lees career was cut short by a nasty accident at the 1961 Daytona 500, where his car hit a guard rail and flipped a few times. Lee suffered a number of broken bones and internal injuries. He raced a few more times, but hung it up for good in 1964. He left the management of Petty Engineering to his sons Richard and Maurice and spent his time enjoying friends and family and playing golf. He played frequently until a few months before his death in 2000 at age 86 after surgery to treat a stomach aneurysm.
Lee Petty has a number of NASCAR records that may never be touched. He finished in the top 5 an amazing 231 times, and still holds the record for the best average finish for a full time driver at 7.6th place. This was all done before big money sponsorships against part time felons that ran moonshine for a living, making his achievements all the more impressive.
Lee Petty was one of the first serious businessmen to own a NASCAR team back in the day when many drivers earned the bulk of their income from bootlegging and running moonshine. He competed in the first ever sanctioned NASCAR race on June 19th, 1949 and has the dubious distinction of causing the first caution flag in that race. The elder Petty won 50 NASCAR races including the first one ever run on a paved track. He also caused his share of trouble, including a number of fistfights. He once hit Curtis Turner over the head with a wrench and started a brawl during the pre-race festivities on another occasion. The fracas ended when Mrs. Petty joined the fray swinging her purse--which contained a .44 handgun.
Lee also won three NASCAR championships (the precursor to today's Sprint Cup) during his career. He also shepherded his son, Richard, into the sport. Surprisingly, things didn't immediately go well for the Petty offspring--he'd race only 9 times in the first season and ended up in a wreck more often than not. He'd eventually turn things around and the man now known as "The King" Richard Petty would go on to win a staggering 200 NASCAR races--a mark that may never be broken.
Lees career was cut short by a nasty accident at the 1961 Daytona 500, where his car hit a guard rail and flipped a few times. Lee suffered a number of broken bones and internal injuries. He raced a few more times, but hung it up for good in 1964. He left the management of Petty Engineering to his sons Richard and Maurice and spent his time enjoying friends and family and playing golf. He played frequently until a few months before his death in 2000 at age 86 after surgery to treat a stomach aneurysm.
Lee Petty has a number of NASCAR records that may never be touched. He finished in the top 5 an amazing 231 times, and still holds the record for the best average finish for a full time driver at 7.6th place. This was all done before big money sponsorships against part time felons that ran moonshine for a living, making his achievements all the more impressive.
About the Author:
Ross Everett is a staff handicapper for Sports-1 and an authority on UFC betting. He's a noted expert on sports handicapping theory, as well as financial investment strategy. He contributes to a number of websites providing insight on how to bet on CFL football, MMA and boxing.
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