October 1 - This day in Petty history - part 1

As this entry posts, the Schaefer Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor are enjoying the sights and sounds of a weekend at the Monster Mile - Dover International Speedway. Follow me on Twitter for more in-the-moment observations about this weekend's race festivities.

1967 - Richard Petty picks up his 75th career win in the Wilkes 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The win was also his tenth consecutive win and 27th overall during the 1967 season - two records that still remain today. As a Plymouth driver, Petty's win was even sweeter because the director of Ford's racing program was at the track.

Source: Motor Racing Programme Covers

Article courtesy of Jerry Bushmire

TMC

September 24 - This day in Petty history - part 1

1967 - Richard Petty keeps his 1967 winning streak alive and extends it to 9 races in a row by winning his 74th career race in the the Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville.

Article courtesy of Jerry Bushmire

TMC

September 17 - This day in Petty history

1967 - Richard wins his 73rd career race, his 25th of the season and his eighth race in a row in 1967 by winning the Hillsboro 150 at Orange Speedway from the pole - all while suffering from the flu.

Second-place starter Dick Hutcherson led the first 68 laps of the race before Tiny Lund got by him to lead the next 11. The King then took over to lead the final 88 laps of the 167-lap race. Though two drivers dominated the pace, it doesn't mean the race was void of excitement. Just 12 laps into the race, Jack Harden lost control of his Ford down the frontstretch, leaped the turn 1 wall, tumbled and came to rest about 100 feet from the track. He was carefully removed from his car and transported to the hospital, but fortunately he wasn't seriously injured. (Photos from SouthernMotorRacing and courtesy of Harvey Tollison at RacersReunion.com)

Racing resumed for another 20 laps or so when another spectacular accident occurred between three drivers -  Paul Dean Holt, Earl Brooks and Bill Ervin. Holt's car came to rest on its side.

Southern MotorRacing photo courtesy of Harvey Tollison

While it's unknown what Brooks was saying to NASCAR official Dick Beaty, it's probable the conversation was heated considering Brooks' day ended following the 3-car pile-up.

Southern MotorRacing photo courtesy of Harvey Tollison

Article courtesy of Harvey Tollison

TMC
Edited September 17, 2014

September 15 - This day in Petty history - part 1

1967 - Richard wins from the pole in the Maryland 300 at Beltsville Speedway for his seventh win in a row in 1967.

Petty and third-place starter Bobby Allison swapped the lead frequently for much of the the first two-thirds of the race. With 135 laps to go, however, the 43 Plymouth took the lead again and sailed the rest of the way to the win.

Courtesy of Chris Hussey

Article courtesy of Jerry Bushmire

TMC
Edited September 15, 2014

September 10 - This day in Petty history - part 2

1967 - Richard Petty wins his 71st career race and his sixth in a row in 1967 in the Capital City 300 at Richmond.

Heavy rains pounded Richmond's dirt surface before the teams arrived. Qualifying was scrapped because of the track's poor condition, and the drivers drew for starting position instead. Long-time independent driver Earl Brooks drew P1, and Petty drew the second starting spot. Three more independents - Soapy Castles, Jabe Thomas and Elmo Langley - drew for the remainder of the top 5.

The race began under a green-yellow condition where the lap count began as the cars circled to help compact the clay. (The last time I recall this happening was the start of the 1979 Daytona 500. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.) From his top starting spot, Brooks paced the field for the first 24 laps.

When the field finally got a legitimate green flap, the King got by Brooks to lead a single lap. On the next lap, Paul Goldsmith - who started 12th - somehow managed to bully his way by everyone to take the top stop and then stay there for 64 laps.

For about the next 40 laps, Petty, Sam McQuagg, Dick Hutcherson and Bobby Allison took turns leading. On lap 131, however, things turn a turn for the worse for Allison. His Chevelle broke a tie rod as he came off turn 4. Perhaps as a foreshadowing of his legendary wreck at Talladega 20 years later, Allison then began to flip. The car jumped a guard rail, tore through chain link fencing and came to rest by the scorers' pad which was positioned on the outside of the track by the starter's stand - a pad on which Allison's wife Judy was seated. Fortunately, Bobby, Judy and the other scorers were not injured.

When racing resumed, Petty picked up where he left off when the caution flew for Allison's wreck. The 43 Plymouth led the final 163 laps en route to the checkered flag.

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch

Article courtesy of Jerry Bushmire

Source: Free Lance Star via Google News Archive

TMC
Edited September 10, 2014

September 8 - This day in Petty history - part 1

First things first. This day in TMC history - 1990: toomuchcountry marries his bride, not_enough_country. (Two young 'uns - son: toomuchtexting and daughter: toomuchculture - followed later.)

1967 - Richard Petty wins his 70th career race and 5th race in a row during the 1967 season in the Buddy Shuman 250 at Hickory Speedway. Unlike many of Petty's dominating wins that season, he had to work a bit harder for this one. The lead changed hands multiple times during the race before Petty took over to lead the final 27 laps.

Article courtesy of Jerry Bushmire

TMC

September 4 - This day in Petty history

1967 - Petty Enterprises takes two of the top three finishing positions at the Southern 500 in Darlington. Richard Petty wins the race from the pole, and G.C. Spencer finishes 3rd in car #42. It was career win #69 and win #4 in a streak of 10 straight for the King.The win was Petty's third and final career Darlington victory and his only Southern 500 win.

Darlington frequently brought in celebrities as the grand marshal for the Southern 500 and to participate in the race weekend's parade. For the 1967 edition, the actors playing Doc Adams and Festus from the TV show Gunsmoke were the guests of honor.

#107460040 / gettyimages.com

Here is Richard's pole-winning trophy I spotted in the trophy case at the Richard Petty Museum in 2011. I love his pole-winning speed included two numerological sequences of '43'.

The field lines up for the start. Petty won the top spot in qualifying, and he elected to start from the outside. Buddy Baker qualified second in Ray Fox's Dodge. The second row was made up of Sam McQuagg to the inside and Spencer in 4th and right behind Petty.

#111368987 / gettyimages.com

Bobby W., a fellow member at Racers Reunion, remembers...

In 1967, Richard Petty was THE MAN...that was the 27-wins-10-wins-in-a-row unbelievable season. Richard came into Darlington having won the 1966 and '67 Rebel 300's. Although the Petty's had never had much luck at Darlington on Labor Day, that Labor Day was all about the King. As the race progressed, only David Pearson in the #17 H-M Fairlane remained as a very distant threat, with Pearson only leading when Richard pitted. Richard never won at Darlington again, but man he sure wore 'em out that day.

The yellow flag flew about 70 laps into the race following a vicious wreck by Sam McQuagg. After losing the car, McQuagg hammered the wall separating the track from pit road and shattered it. Fortunately, he didn't suffer severe injuries. Coincidentally, Petty would drill the same wall closer to the entrance to pit road just three years later during the 1970 Rebel 500.


The Petty Blue 43 Plymouth dominated the day. He led 345 of the race's 364 laps! He won by five laps over second place David Pearson, who had relief driving help from Cale Yarborough.

Petty takes the white flag on his way to the win...

#103233377 / gettyimages.com

...and again gets to enjoy the spoils of victory lane.

#103358631 / gettyimages.com

NBickley1, a fellow poster at Fans of Richard Petty Motorsports remembers...

I saw Richard win many times. But the one that stands out is the 1967 Southern 500. I was 14 and rushed to victory lane. I was able to sneak inside as Richard pulled in. I stood there and watched it all. As things were wrapping up Richard saw me, reached inside the car and threw me his goggles. I had those things for years before they finally broke. That was a day I'll always treasure.

The Petty crew got a well-deserved photo op as well.

#103233446 / gettyimages.com

Courtesy of Jerry Bushmire

TMC
Edited September 4, 2014

August 25 - This day in Petty history

1967 - Richard Petty earns his 68th career victory by winning from the pole in a 200-lap race at Savannah Speedway in Georgia.

Article courtesy of Jerry Bushmire

TMC

August 17 - This day in Petty history

1967 - Richard Petty wins from the pole in the Sandlapper 200 at Columbia Speedway in South Carolina to earn his 67th career victory. In winning, he breaks the record for the number of wins in a season.

Article courtesy of Jerry Bushmire

TMC

August 12 - This day in Petty history

1967 - Richard scores his 66th career win in the Myers Brothers 250 at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC.

Petty won the pole and led all 250 laps of the race en route to a dominating victory. Former Petty Enterprises teammate Jim Paschal finished 2nd, three laps down to Petty.

Southern MotoRacing photo courtesy of Harvey Tollison

The win was Petty's 18th of the season which tied the record of Tim Flock set FIFTEEN years earlier. After nabbing this win, 43 kept on a'rollin. When the season ended, Petty obliterated Flock's record by winning 27 races in 1967.

The widows of Billy (left) and Bobby (right) Myers presented The King with his trophy for winning the race. Bobby's widow, Mrs. Lorene Myers, is the mother of long-time Richard Childress Racing gasman, Danny "Chocolate" Myers.

Southern MotoRacing photo courtesy of Harvey Tollison

Source: Spartanburg Herald-Journal via Google News Archive

TMC
Edited September 29, 2014