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.

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

A: richard petty
****
Q: Category: GEORGIA FACTS 
Clue: In 1793 he invented the cotton gin in Georgia

A: eli whitney
****
Q: Category: INTERNATIONAL SPORTS STUFF 
Clue: In 1972 the ironically named Frank Shorter was the Olympic champion of this long running event

A:
the marathon
****