# Lee Petty

Lee Arnold Petty (March 14, 1914 – April 5, 2000) was an American stock car racing driver who competed during the 1950s and 1960s. He is the patriarch of the Petty racing family. He was one of the early pioneers of NASCAR and one of its first stars. He was NASCAR's first three-time Cup champion. He is the father of Richard Petty, who went on to become one of the most successful stock car racing drivers in history. He is also the grandfather of Kyle Petty and great grandfather of Adam Petty.

## Career

Petty was born near Randleman, North Carolina, the son of Jessie Maude (née Bell) and Judson Ellsworth Petty. He was thirty-five years old when he began his racing career. He participated in NASCAR's inaugural race, held at the three-quarter mile long dirt track, Charlotte Speedway; he raced in a 1948 Buick Roadmaster he borrowed from his neighbor under the assurance that the prize money earned from the race could pay off any damages to the car. With son Richard watching, Petty lost control of the car and rolled it in turn three. Basing on his earlier experience as an occasional moonshine runner, Petty would take factory cars to a local service station, pull the mufflers off the car and go racing.
He finished in the top five in season points for NASCAR's first eleven seasons and won the NASCAR Grand National Series driver's championship three times. Petty was also the winner of the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959.

## Controversies

Twice in his career, Petty was declared the winner of a race after scoring errors were discovered following the race.

### 1959 Daytona 500

In the inaugural race at Daytona International Speedway, Petty battled with Johnny Beauchamp during the final laps of the race. Petty, Beauchamp, and Joe Weatherly drove side by side by side across the finish line at the final lap for a photo finish. Petty drove a 1959 Oldsmobile Super 88 (No. 42), while Beauchamp drove a 1959 Ford Thunderbird (No. 73) and Weatherly did so in a 1959 Chevrolet (No. 48), all coupés. Beauchamp was unofficially declared the winner, and he drove to victory lane. Petty protested the results, saying "I had Beauchamp by a good two feet. In my own mind, I know I won." It took NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. three days to decide the winner. In the end, with the help of the national newsreel, Petty was officially declared the winner. His son Richard drove a 1957 Oldsmobile convertible (No. 43) and finished 57th out of the 59 starters after blowing an engine after eight laps.
In a 1999 interview over the controversial finish, Petty expressed his belief that France Sr. knew Petty won, but purposely called Beauchamp the winner to intentionally cause controversy. Petty stated, "France would have done anything to generate publicity for his racetracks."

### 1959 Lakewood 500

During a stock car race at Lakewood in Atlanta, Georgia, Richard raced against Lee, a teammate to his father on the Petty Enterprises racing team. After a side-by-side duel with his father, Richard passed Lee with less than 10 laps to go and went on to win the race. It was one of Richard's first races and he became a first-time Cup series winner during his rookie year. Hours after the race was over, officials changed the official results after a protest was filed by Lee. Lee protested that Richard was one lap down and was credited with an extra lap. Richard was demoted to third and Lee was declared the race winner. In the days that followed, Lee was quoted as saying in a newspaper, "I would have protested my mother if I needed to."

## Crash & Retirement
### 1961 Daytona 500 and career-ending crash

During the second race of the Twin Qualifying Events of the 1961 Daytona 500, Johnny Beauchamp lost control and caught Petty's bumper, sending both cars through the guardrail and out of the track. Petty's car struck spectator A. B. Kelley who suffered multiple cuts but still helped evacuate Petty from the twisted metal. Petty and Beauchamp were no strangers to each other as they were previously involved in the first Daytona 500 finish which took place two years earlier. Petty suffered numerous life-threatening injuries, including multiple fractures, internal injuries, and a punctured lung that forced him to stay in the Daytona Hospital for four months. The crash ultimately led to the end of Petty's regular driving career, though he sporadically competed in later events; his final race took place in 1964 at the Glen.

## Petty Enterprises

He was the father of Richard Petty, who became NASCAR's record holder for race wins. With sons Richard and Maurice Petty, he founded Petty Enterprises, which became NASCAR's most successful racing team. He was the grandfather of Kyle Petty, and the great-grandfather of Adam Petty, who died in a crash during a Busch Series practice session at New Hampshire International Speedway. He is also the grandfather of Ritchie Petty, who ran a few races in NASCAR. His nephew Dale Inman worked for Petty Enterprises as Richard's crew chief from the early 1960s until 1981 and during the 1990s.

## Awards

* In 1990, 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.
* He was selected as one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998 along with his son, Richard Petty.
* He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on May 23, 2011.

## Teams

* Petty Enterprises (1949–1964)
* Gary Drake (1954)
* Carl Krueger (1955)
* Fred Frazier (1956)

## Death

Petty died at 4:50 a.m. on April 5, 2000, at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, North Carolina, three weeks after his 86th birthday, several weeks after undergoing surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm—a tear in the aorta vessel near the stomach that grows until cardiac arrest. Despite the surgery, his condition deteriorated and he died of abdominal aortic dissection. He was buried at the Level Cross United Methodist Church Cemetery in Randleman, North Carolina. Lee died just three days after his great-grandson Adam made his Winston Cup Series debut; Adam would be killed at the age of 19 just 5 weeks later from a practice race crash.

## Motorsports career results
### NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

#### Grand National Series

NASCAR Grand National Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | NGNC | Pts |
| 1949 | Gilmer Goode | 38 | Buick | CLT 17 | DAB | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 725 |
| 1949 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Plymouth | | | HBO 9 | LAN 7 | HAM | MAR 2 | HEI 1 | NWS 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 725 |
| 1950 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Plymouth | DAB 16 | CLT 18 | LAN 5 | MAR 3 | CAN 4 | VER 5 | DSP 8 | MCF 3 | CLT 11 | HBO 7 | DSP 4 | HAM 27 | DAR 6 | LAN 4 | NWS | VER 7 | MAR 2 | WIN | HBO 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 1590 |
| 1951 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Plymouth | DAB 31 | CLT 2 | NMO 7 | GAR | HBO 9 | ASF 26 | NWS 3 | MAR 6 | CAN 5 | CLS 5 | CLB 20 | DSP 12 | GAR | GRS 6 | BAI 6 | HEI 21 | AWS 25 | MCF 1 | ALS 3 | MSF 13 | FMS 29 | MOR 2 | ABS 7 | DAR 15 | CLB 18 | CCS 21 | LAN 9 | CLT | DSP 4 | WIL | HBO 5 | TPN | PGS | MAR 2 | OAK | NWS 2 | HMS | JSP 7 | ATL 12 | GAR | NMO 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 2392.25 |
| 1952 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Plymouth | PBS 2 | | JSP 22 | NWS 9 | MAR 4 | CLB 2 | ATL 3 | CCS 7 | LAN 3 | DAR 7 | DSP 4 | CAN 23 | HAY | FMS 3 | HBO 6 | CLT 4 | | NIF 16 | OSW 5 | MON 3 | MOR 1* | | MCF 4 | AWS | DAR 6 | CCS 1 | LAN 1 | DSP 2 | WIL 2 | HBO 5 | MAR 3 | NWS 13 | ATL 2 | PBS 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 6498.5 |
| 1952 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Lincoln | | DAB 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 6498.5 |
| 1952 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Chrysler | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MSF 32 | | | | | PPS 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 6498.5 |
| 1953 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Dodge | PBS 1* | DAB | HAR 3 | NWS 4 | CLT 11 | RCH 1 | CCS 19 | LAN 2 | CLB 5 | HCY 15 | MAR 1 | PMS 8 | RSP 8 | LOU 1 | FIF 3 | LAN 2 | TCS 5 | WIL 9 | MCF 3 | PIF 1 | MOR 3 | ATL 3 | RVS 4 | LCF 3 | DAV 3 | HBO 3 | AWS 7 | PAS 3 | HCY 4 | DAR 11 | CCS 2 | LAN 6 | BLF 6 | WIL 4 | NWS 5 | MAR 2 | ATL 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 7814 |
| 1954 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Dodge | PBS 3 | | JSP 3 | ATL 6 | OSP | OAK 6 | NWS 5 | HBO 6 | CCS 9 | | WIL 4 | | | RSP 4 | | | | LND 10 | | | WGS 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1st | 8649 |
| 1954 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Chrysler | | DAB 1* | | | | | | | | LAN 9* | | MAR 2 | SHA 1* | | CLT 2 | GAR | CLB 5 | | HCY 2 | MCF 1 | | PIF 3 | | SFS 4 | GRS 1 | MOR 6 | OAK | CLT 1 | SAN 5 | COR 1 | DAR 38 | CCS 3 | CLT 2 | LAN 2 | MAS 3 | MAR 1* | NWS 32 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1st | 8649 |
| 1954 | Gary Drake | 100 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | AWS 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1st | 8649 |
| 1955 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Chrysler | TCS 1* | PBS 5 | JSP 1* | DAB 2 | OSP 1* | CLB 6 | | NWS 4 | MGY 6 | LAN 7 | CLT 15 | HCY 4 | ASF | TUS | MAR 2 | RCH 3 | NCF 4 | FOR 1 | LIN 14 | MCF 20 | FON 3 | AIR 1* | CLT 9 | PIF 3 | CLB 13 | AWS 18 | MOR 2 | ALS 3 | NYF 3 | | CLT 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 7194 |
| 1955 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Dodge | | | | | | | HBO 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SAN 5 | | FOR 1* | MAS 19 | RSP 22 | DAR 21 | MGY 4 | | RSP 9 | GPS 10 | MAS 11 | CLB 19 | MAR 8 | LVP | NWS 2 | HBO 23 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 7194 |
| 1955 | Carl Krueger | 303 | Chrysler | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | LAN 28 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 7194 |
| 1956 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Dodge | HCY 3 | CLT 3 | WSS | PBS 5 | ASF 5 | DAB 12 | PBS 12 | WIL 13 | ATL 5 | NWS 8 | LAN 4 | RCH 7 | CLB 19 | CON 23 | GPS 20 | HCY 15 | HBO 3 | MAR 3 | LIN 3 | CLT 5 | POR | EUR | NYF 4 | MER | MAS 6 | CLT 3 | MCF 21 | POR | AWS 1 | RSP 36 | PIF 1 | CSF | CHI 10 | CCF 9 | MGY 5 | OKL 5* | ROA 13 | OBS 22 | SAN | NOR 7 | PIF 14 | MYB 15 | POR | DAR Wth | CSH 12 | CLT 10 | LAN 2 | POR | CLB 7 | HBO 12 | NWP 9 | CLT 8 | CCF 21 | MAR 21 | HCY 11 | WIL 9 | | | | | | | 4th | 8324 |
| 1956 | Fred Frazier | 35 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 8324 |
| 1957 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Dodge | WSS | CON 5 | TIC 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 8528 |
| 1957 | Petty Enterprises | 42M | Olds | | | | DAB 27 | CON | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 8528 |
| 1957 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Olds | | | | | | WIL 4 | HBO 5 | AWS 10 | NWS 7 | LAN 9 | CLT 4 | PIF 4 | GBF 6 | POR | CCF 8 | RCH | MAR 5 | POR | EUR | LIN 10 | LCS 3 | ASP | NWP 10 | CLB 13 | CPS | PIF 1 | JAC 8 | RSP 15 | CLT 3 | MAS 6 | POR | HCY 2 | NOR 8 | LCS 5 | GLN 8 | KPC | LIN 25 | OBS 1 | MYB 6 | DAR 24 | NYF 2 | AWS 1 | CSF | SCF | LAN 14 | CLB 8 | CCF 5 | CLT 1 | MAR 3 | NBR 23 | CON 2 | NWS 2 | GBF 5* | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 8528 |
| 1958 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Olds | FAY 2 | DAB 6 | CON 1 | FAY 9 | WIL 1 | HBO 4 | FAY 25 | CLB 4 | PIF 12 | ATL 25 | CLT 4 | MAR 11 | ODS 4 | OBS 8 | GPS 6 | GBF 2 | STR 7 | NWS 11 | BGS 23 | TRN 3 | RSD 4 | CLB 9 | NBS 2 | REF 4 | LIN 1 | HCY 1 | AWS 6 | RSP 6 | MCC 4 | SLS 8* | TOR 1 | BUF 6 | MCF 4 | BEL 4 | BRR 6 | CLB 7 | NSV 5 | AWS 3 | BGS 1* | MBS 5 | DAR 19 | CLT 10 | BIR 3 | CSF | GAF 2 | RCH 2 | HBO 5 | SAS 1 | MAR 7 | NWS 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1st | 12232 |
| 1958 | Petty Enterprises | 2 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ATL 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1st | 12232 |
| 1959 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Olds | FAY 9 | DAY 8 | DAY 1 | HBO 4 | CON 3 | ATL 17 | WIL 4 | | CLB 3 | | REF 6* | HCY 3 | MAR 1* | | CLT 1 | | | | GPS 3 | | | WIL 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1st | 11792 |
| 1959 | Petty Enterprises | 43 | Olds | | | | | | | | BGS 2 | | NWS 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1st | 11792 |
| 1959 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Plymouth | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TRN 3 | | NSV 6 | ASP | PIF 12 | | ATL 1 | CLB 1 | | RCH 18 | BGS 10 | AWS 2 | DAY 33 | HEI 3 | CLT 10 | MBS 6 | CLT 18 | NSV 4 | AWS 2 | BGS 3 | GPS 18 | CLB 1 | DAR 20 | HCY 1 | RCH 2 | CSF | HBO 1 | MAR 10 | AWS 1 | NWS 1* | CON 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1st | 11792 |
| 1960 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Plymouth | CLT 7 | CLB 4 | DAY | DAY 7 | DAY 4 | CLT 20 | NWS 1 | PHO | CLB 4 | MAR 6 | HCY 11 | WIL 2 | BGS 12 | GPS 2 | AWS 1* | DAR 4 | PIF 2 | HBO 1* | RCH 1 | HMS | CLT 56 | BGS 2 | DAY 4 | HEI 1* | MAB 3 | MBS 2 | ATL 8 | BIR 3 | NSV 4 | AWS 8 | PIF 2 | CLB 7 | | BGS 2 | DAR 30 | HCY 8 | CSF | GSP 5 | HBO 11 | MAR 23 | NWS 20 | CLT 36 | RCH | ATL 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6th | 14510 |
| 1960 | Petty Enterprises | 43 | Plymouth | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SBO 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6th | 14510 |
| 1961 | Petty Enterprises | 42 | Plymouth | CLT 3* | JSP 1 | DAY | DAY 15 | DAY DNQ | PIF | AWS | HMS | ATL | GPS | HBO | BGS | MAR | NWS | CLB | HCY | RCH | MAR | DAR | CLT | CLT | RSD | ASP | CLT | PIF | BIR | GPS | BGS | NOR | HAS | STR | DAY | ATL | CLB | MBS | BRI | NSV | BGS | AWS | RCH | SBO | DAR | HCY | RCH | CSF | ATL | MAR | NWS | CLT | BRI | GPS | HBO | | | | | | | | | | | 104th | – |
| 1962 | Petty Enterprises | 41 | Plymouth | CON | AWS | DAY | DAY | DAY | CON | AWS | SVH | HBO | RCH | CLB | NWS | GPS | MBS | MAR 5 | BGS | BRI | RCH | HCY | CON | DAR | PIF | CLT | ATL | BGS | AUG | RCH | SBO | DAY | CLB | ASH | GPS | AUG | SVH | MBS | BRI | CHT | NSV | HUN | AWS | STR | BGS | PIF | VAL | DAR | HCY | RCH | DTS | AUG | MAR | NWS | CLT | ATL | | | | | | | | | | 73rd | 588 |
| 1963 | Petty Enterprises | 41 | Plymouth | BIR | GGS | THS | RSD | DAY | DAY | DAY | PIF | AWS | HBO | ATL | HCY | BRI | AUG | RCH | GPS | SBO | BGS | MAR | NWS | CLB | THS | DAR | ODS | RCH | CLT | BIR | ATL | DAY | MBS | SVH | DTS | BGS 4 | ASH | OBS 18 | BRR 6 | BRI | GPS | NSV | CLB | AWS | PIF | BGS | ONA | DAR | HCY | RCH | MAR | DTS | NWS | THS | CLT | SBO | HBO | RSD | | | | | | | | 82nd | 800 |
| 1964 | Petty Enterprises | 41 | Plymouth | CON | AUG | JSP | SVH | RSD | DAY | DAY | DAY | RCH | BRI | GPS | BGS | ATL | AWS | HBO | PIF | CLB | NWS | MAR | SVH | DAR | LGY | HCY | SBO | CLT | GPS | ASH | ATL | CON | NSV | CHT | BIR | VAL | PIF | DAY | ODS 17 | OBS | BRR | ISP | GLN 22 | LIN | BRI | NSV | MBS | AWS | DTS | ONA | CLB | BGS | STR | DAR | HCY | RCH | ODS | HBO | MAR | SVH | NWS | CLT | HAR | AUG | JAC | 109th | 244 |

##### Daytona 500

| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
| 1959 | Petty Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 15 | 1 |
| 1960 | Petty Enterprises | Plymouth | 14 | 4 |
| 1961 | Petty Enterprises | Plymouth | DNQ | DNQ |