May 7 - This day in Petty history

1966 - Richard Petty earns his 44th career victory with a win from the pole in the Tidewater 250 at Langley Field Speedway in Hampton, VA.

Despite winning the pole, John Sears jumped to the lead on lap 1 from his front row starting spot. He set the pace for the first 73 laps. But mechanical gremlins hit him, and he faded from contention. Petty took over, and he led the rest of the way for the in.

The race included a caution for a bizarre accident. According to Greg Fielden in Forty Years of Stock Car Racing - Volume 3:

Bill Seifert was shaken up in a weird accident. Seifert's Ford popped a tire and struck the guard rail. Seifert's car was partially sticking through the rail. Henley Gray's Ford ran into the debris blew a tire, and hit Seifert's machine, pushing it down a steep embankment. The Skyland, NC driver spent one night in the hospital after x-rays proved negative. ~ p. 80

Article courtesy of Jerry Bushmire

TMC