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It all began back in '48 when at the age of thirty-five a man named Lee Petty decided to give his hand a try at stock car racing. This decision was the start of what is known today as Petty Enterprises, along with it also making way for NASCAR Winston Cups' first four-generation family of race car drivers.
As what would over the years, prove to be true Petty fashion, Lee would win the very first race that he competed in. Racing between the years of 1948 and 1964, Lee was the winner of three Grand Nationals Championships, which came in the years 1954, 1958 and 1959. Winning the Grand Nationals at that time would today compare to winning the NASCAR Winston Cup championships. Although it is the same series, the name has since changed.
Though it would be his son Richard who would eventually come to be known as “The King of NASCAR”, Lee himself could very well been named “Mr. Consistency”, as for ten years of his career, he had no lower than a fourth place finish. Having had many first place finishes, it was winning the very first Daytona 500 in 1959 which would mean the most to him. Lee Petty won the very first prestigious Dayton 500, finishing so close to Johnny Beauchamp and Joe Weatherly that it took NASCAR officials three days before determining Lee to be the winner.
The beginning of the end of Lee Petty's career in racing came in 1961 in trying to qualify for the race that he had won just two years prior at the Daytona track. Spending four months in the hospital did not in itself put an end to Lee’s career, but after returning to racing after release from the hospital, his racing career was never the same. He had seemed not to have been as competitive upon his return to the world of racing. Lee Petty would run his final race three years later at the Watkins Glen, New York track.
Though no longer driving the #42 car, Petty remained involved in racing after his retirement and it seemd that it was the only option that he had. After all, his son Richard was racing by then and later, his grandson Kyle and his great-grandson, Adam would all follow the path that Lee himself has started many years before. Passing away on April 5, 2000, Lee would die just days after being able to watch his grandson, Adam drive in his first NASCAR Winston Cup race.
Much respected Lee was the back-bone in what would come to be known as “The First Family of NASCAR.” To this man known as Lee Petty, the NASCAR world owes a debt of gratitude. It was his decision to make a living by racing that would ultimately lead to providing many years of enjoyment by fans in being able to cheer for one Petty or the other. Thank you Lee Petty, as myself - along with millions of other NASCAR fans will forever be grateful for the decision you made back in ’48.
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