You will be given a trivia clue, and the category it belongs to. You should answer with the best answer that belongs in the category and is described by the clue. For simplicity, answers should be in all lower cased letters.

Category: POLITICIANS 
Clue: This champion stock-car racer lost the 1996 race for North Carolina's Secretary of State
richard petty

Category: MEN OF SCIENCE 
Clue: On a scale of 1 to 10, his "Earthquakes" article for the 15th edition of Encyclopedia Britannica was a 10
richter

Category: "MAL" PRACTICE 
Clue: Formerly Nyasaland, this African country is home to spectacular highlands & lakes

malawi