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126-472: The Wood Brothers Racing Team was founded in 1950 by brothers from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia. Walter and Ada Wood, who owned a farm near Woolwine and Stuart, Virginia , had five sons—Glen, Leonard, Delano, Clay, and Ray Lee—and one daughter, Crystal. The sons worked with their father as mechanics, farmers, and lumbermen. Glen Wood cut timber and hauled lumber to local sawmills, and

252-542: A physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Highlands range. The mountain range is located in the Eastern United States and extends 550 miles southwest from southern Pennsylvania through Maryland , West Virginia , Virginia , North Carolina , South Carolina , Tennessee , and Georgia . The province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. To

378-630: A Grand National Car while winner Bobby Allison drove a Grand American car, there is a technical dispute regarding which race is credited as his 200th win. NASCAR did not credit Petty with a class win, which was a dispute that affected two other drivers, Elmo Langley and Charlie Glotzbach , both of whom drove in combination races that season, finishing second to Grand American cars. Under modern NASCAR combination race rules for various series, Petty would be credited with that would be recognized as his 135th win. On May 20, 1984, Petty won what under modern regulations would be recognized as his 200th Cup class win,

504-604: A NASCAR exhibition race at the then new Calder Park Thunderdome , the first NASCAR race outside of North America. While he did not compete in the track's inaugural race, the Goodyear NASCAR 500 (though his son Kyle did), Richard Petty, in testing at the 1.119 mi (1.801 km) track which owner Bob Jane had modeled on the Charlotte Motor Speedway , set an unofficial lap record of 28.2 seconds (142.85 mp/h). This would have in fact landed him on pole position for

630-464: A character partially based on himself. Petty is a second-generation driver. His father, Lee Petty , won the first Daytona 500 in 1959 and was also a three-time NASCAR champion. In 1958, Petty married Lynda Owens, who would die of cancer on March 25, 2014, at her home in Level Cross, North Carolina at age 72. Lynda's brother Randy Owens was a member of Petty's pit crew and killed at age 19 during

756-590: A few public show appearances at racetracks. On August 18, 1993, NASCAR participated in a tire test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway , in preparations for the 1994 Brickyard 400 . Petty drove several laps around the track, and then donated his car to the Speedway's museum. He would again step into a racecar in 2003 on the week of the final race under the Winston banner at Homestead-Miami Speedway , where he took

882-468: A full-time racing schedule, which significantly increased the team's workload and required greater investments of time, money, and manpower. As part of this new commitment, Warner Hodgdon and National Engineering departed as sponsors, and Valvoline was brought on as the team's primary patron. In 1983, legendary driver Buddy Baker was hired to replace the departing Neil Bonnett in the No. 21 car. However, he and

1008-609: A large change in Petty's racing team. Dale Inman , Petty's longtime crew chief, left the team after the Daytona victory (Inman would win an eighth championship as crew chief in 1984 with Terry Labonte ). While the 1981 season gave Petty 3 wins, he felt the season was a failure, and the Regals being ill-handling and poor in reliability. For 1982, he made the move to the Pontiac Grand Prix, with

1134-475: A launching pad for one of the most successful careers in modern NASCAR history. The Michigan victory upheld a unique tradition for the Wood Brothers team: every rookie driver who had completed a full season in their No. 21 car had secured at least one win. Even more impressive, from 1953 to 2002, every driver who raced a full season with the Wood Brothers had achieved at least one victory, though in one instance,

1260-484: A lot of times doing a lot of things. He knows the system better." He was reelected to the county commission in 1982, 1986, and 1990. During his 1992 retirement tour, Petty took a parade lap before every race with the exception of the Southern 500 , where Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton served as grand marshal. In 1993, Petty formed a political action committee to support Republican candidates. In 1996, he

1386-462: A massive texture and missed the main episode of Mesoproterozoic compression. At the time of their emergence, the Blue Ridge were among the highest mountains in the world and reached heights comparable to the much younger Alps . Weathering , erosion , and mass wasting over hundreds of millions of years has resulted in much shorter peaks. At the foot of the Blue Ridge, various tribes including

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1512-454: A mile long. Petty switched brands to Ford, due to his belief the Plymouth was not competitive on super-speedways; he wanted a slippery Dodge Daytona but Chrysler executives insisted he stay with Plymouth. He would win 10 races and finish second in points. He won in 1970 in the sleek new Plymouth Superbird with a shark nose and towel rack wing, Petty returned to Plymouth for the 1970 season. This

1638-516: A nonprofit organization of which he is a former member. He has also established a summer camp known as "Victory Junction", which is intended to give seriously ill children an outdoors, summer-camp experience and has medical staff on hand around the clock in case of emergencies. In May 2011, Petty was chosen to be the Grand Marshal for the 2011 STP 400 of the Sprint Cup Series. In public, he

1764-578: A phone call from Lee Iacocca (who personally asked Petty to campaign a Dodge for 1981), the Petty team built a stunning 1981 Dodge Mirada and took it to Daytona in January 1981 for high speed tests. Petty's fans were also in a large part fans of his Dodges, so when word got out about the Mirada testing, 15,000 or so showed up on January 17, 1981, at Daytona Speedway to watch Petty put the Dodge through its paces. Sadly for

1890-443: A pit road accident when a water tank exploded during the 1975 Winston 500 . Richard and Lynda had four children, including Kyle Petty . The family resides in Petty's home town of Level Cross, North Carolina. Petty's son Kyle is also a former NASCAR driver. His grandson, Adam (Kyle's son), was killed in a practice crash at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on May 12, 2000, five weeks after the death of Lee Petty. Adam's brother Austin

2016-422: A professor and geologist at George Washington University , provide greater insight into the petrologic and geochronologic history of the Blue Ridge basement suites. Modern studies have found that the basement geology of the Blue Ridge is made of compositionally unique gneisses and granitoids , including orthopyroxene-bearing charnockites. Analysis of zircon minerals in the granite completed by John Aleinikoff at

2142-524: A record 200 races during his career. This included winning the Daytona 500 a record seven times and winning a record 27 races in one season (1967). Petty was inducted into the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010. He is also statistically the most accomplished driver in the history of NASCAR, having racked up most wins (200), most poles (123), tied for most championships (seven), most wins in

2268-604: A record 1,184 starts, including 513 consecutive starts from 1971 to 1989. Petty was the first driver to win in his 500th race start, being joined by Matt Kenseth in 2013. The Richard Petty Museum was formerly in nearby Randleman, North Carolina , but moved back to its original location in Level Cross in March 2014. Petty has also voiced a role in Disney/Pixar's animated films Cars and Cars 3 , playing Strip "The King" Weathers,

2394-694: A reliable performer in the top series throughout his career and was a strong championship contender. His consistent top finishes would bring stability to the team as they adapted to the evolving landscape of the sport. The new decade ushered in significant changes in NASCAR, characterized by a greater emphasis on technology and engineering. Engineers became a standard presence within teams, and race-day crews began training like professional athletes. In fact, many teams even hired professional athletes to assist with car servicing during pit stops . The cost of racing increased significantly, and its appeal doubled each year. NASCAR

2520-682: A scoring error on the officials' part. Hours later, Lee was awarded the win. In 1960, he finished 2nd in the NASCAR Grand National Points Race, and got his first career win at the Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway. 1963 was his breakout year, winning at tracks like Martinsville and Bridgehampton . In 1964, driving a potent Plymouth with a new Hemi engine, Petty led 184 of the 200 laps to capture his first Daytona 500 , en route to 9 victories, earning over $ 114,000 and his first Grand National championship. Joining in

2646-513: A season (27), most Daytona 500 wins (seven), most consecutive wins (10) and most starts (1,185). He earns broad respect in motorsport where beyond driving, he remains very active as both a team ambassador ( Legacy Motor Club ) in the Cup Series and owner of Petty's Garage (a car restoration and modification shop) in Level Cross, North Carolina . During his 35-year career, Petty collected a record number of poles (123) and over 700 top 10 finishes in

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2772-456: A solo lap honoring his seven Winston Cup Championships for Winston's salute to the champions. In 2009 at the Coke Zero 400 in Daytona, for the 25th anniversary of his final, 200th victory in 1984, Petty drove one of his 1980s Pontiac racecars during the pace laps, leading the field for the first one. The field split him and he followed it for one more pace lap before he pulled his car in. Finally, at

2898-458: A spokesman for Liberty Medical , Cheerios and the GlaxoSmithKline products Nicorette and Goody's Headache Powder . His portrait was featured on Brawny paper towels during a limited time when the company replaced their image with several "real Brawny men". General Mills created a Petty-themed packaged cereal, "43's," its boxes featuring his image and story. Petty also played himself in

3024-586: A sports investment since 2008 when he formed a special-purpose acquisition company together with Hank Aaron , a Medallion board member, and others. In 1995, Petty moved to the television broadcast booth, joining CBS as a color commentator. Petty promised his mother not to accept alcohol sponsorship . Therefore, he never collected purses for the Bud Pole Award, and he competed at the Busch Clash only once, in 1980. As well as his numerous victories, Petty

3150-470: A trio of corporate sponsors: 7-Eleven , Citgo , and Chief Auto Parts . As part of this marketing strategy, the Wood Brothers were required to relinquish their iconic No. 21 car number and adopt the No. 7 to align with the 7-Eleven sponsorship. This change sparked significant discussion among the team's fans, who associated the No. 21 with the legendary history of the Virginia-based team. This also marked

3276-473: A win in the 1983 Carolina 500, barely edging out a young Bill Elliott. After a controversial win at Charlotte in October 1983 (recognised by NASCAR as win No. 198), Petty left the race team his father founded for the 1984 season. He spent '84 and '85 driving for Mike Curb before returning to Petty Enterprises in 1986. Because of the 1971 Myers Brothers 250 combination race in 1971 that Petty finished second in

3402-448: A younger team, a new driver, and a fresh sponsor, the Wood Brothers aimed to recapture their past glory. However, as the 1970s and 1980s progressed, many of the cutting-edge innovations they had pioneered were either replicated or adopted by other teams, dulling their competitive edge. Despite this, the Wood Brothers were experiencing a unique resurgence in their legacy as NASCAR legends. Kyle Petty achieved victory in his second season with

3528-533: Is Emeritus Chairman and Founder of Victory Junction, a SeriousFun Children's Network camp established by the Pettys after Adam's death. Petty was born in Level Cross, North Carolina , the son of Elizabeth Petty ( née Toomes) and Lee Arnold Petty , also a NASCAR driver, and the older brother of NASCAR personality Maurice Petty . He was educated in Randleman, North Carolina and attended Randleman High School , where he

3654-577: Is remembered for three of the many disastrous crashes that he survived: In 1978, Petty was elected to the Randolph County Commission as a Republican . In 1980 he endorsed John Connally for the Republican nomination for president. According to Petty, it was a "tossup" between Connally and Ronald Reagan , but he chose Connally "basically on personality. And Connally's been there in Washington

3780-470: Is the car in which Petty is cast in the Pixar film Cars (2006), in which Richard and Lynda had voice roles. On February 14, 1971, Petty won his third Daytona 500, driving a brand-new (for 1971) Plymouth Road Runner and beating Buddy Baker , by little more than a car length en route to another historic year, making him the first driver to win the race 3 times. He won 20 more races (which would make him become

3906-590: The Daytona 500 by CBS and live race broadcasts by emerging cable networks like ESPN and TBS . NASCAR secured permanent corporate sponsorship from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company , leading to a rebranding of the sport's top series from the Grand National Division to the Winston Cup Series . Notably, R.J. Reynolds, the company's founder, was born and raised in Patrick County , just a few miles from

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4032-478: The New York–New Jersey Highlands . The petrologic and geochronologic data suggest that the Blue Ridge basement is a composite orogenic crust that was emplaced during several episodes from a crustal magma source. Field relationships further illustrate that rocks emplaced prior to 1.078–1.064 billion years ago preserve deformational features. Those emplaced post-1.064 billion years ago generally have

4158-729: The Siouan Manahoacs , the Iroquois , and the Shawnee hunted and fished. A German physician-explorer, John Lederer , first reached the crest of the Blue Ridge in 1669 and again the following year; he also recorded the Virginia Siouan name for the Blue Ridge ( Ahkonshuck ). At the Treaty of Albany negotiated by Virginia Lieutenant Governor Alexander Spotswood with the Iroquois between 1718 and 1722,

4284-472: The Southern 500 at Darlington . Due to their remarkable success and exemplary qualities as role models and ambassadors of the sport, the Wood Brothers were invited to the White House in the late 1970s at the request of President Jimmy Carter . This occasion marked a historic moment for the brothers and their friends from the small town of Stuart, Virginia . As NASCAR gained prominence as an emerging sport,

4410-499: The U.S. Geological Survey has provided more detailed emplacement ages. Many of the features found in the Blue Ridge and documented by Tollo and others have confirmed that the rocks exhibit many similar features in other North American Grenville-age terranes . The lack of a calc-alkaline affinity and zircon ages less than 1.2 billion years old suggest that the Blue Ridge is distinct from the Adirondacks , Green Mountains, and possibly

4536-508: The 100-mile (160 km) event. He would end up recording 4 wins there in his career, including one in 1970 in which he was very ill before the race. 1967 was a milestone year. In that year, Petty won 27 of the 48 races he entered, including a record 10 wins in a row (between August 12 and October 1, 1967). He won his second Grand National Championship. One of the 27 victories was the Southern 500 at Darlington , which would be his only Southern 500 victory. His dominance in this season earned him

4662-399: The 1990s and won three races—the 1996 Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix , the 1997 ACDelco 400 at North Carolina Speedway , both with Bobby Hamilton driving, and the 1999 Goody's Body Pain 500 at Martinsville Speedway , with John Andretti driving. Petty remained as operating owner until his son Kyle Petty took over day-to-day operations a decade later. However, in 2008, Kyle Petty

4788-546: The 2008 film Swing Vote , where he commends the film's protagonist by allowing him to briefly drive his famous "43" Plymouth. For public benefit, Petty and his son Kyle have lent their talent to host "Lifting It Right", an automotive lift safety training DVD produced and distributed by the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI); it is used in high school vocational programs and community colleges. He has recorded public service announcements for Civitan International ,

4914-429: The 2017 Southern 500 at Darlington, Petty led the field through several pace laps in his Plymouth Belvedere. He apparently stayed out a lap longer than expected and was humorously black flagged by the starter. Petty followed the pace car down pit road at the start of the race. In later years of his career, Petty developed the career of crew leader Robbie Loomis , who was at the helm of Petty Enterprises as crew chief in

5040-662: The Blue Ridge Mountains is Roanoke , located in Southwest Virginia , while the largest Metropolitan Statistical Area is the Greenville metropolitan area in Upstate, South Carolina . Other notable cities in the Blue Ridge Mountains include Charlottesville , Frederick , Hagerstown , Chambersburg , Asheville , Johnson City , and Lynchburg . Richard Petty Richard Lee Petty (born July 2, 1937), nicknamed "

5166-691: The Blue Ridge: the Brushy Mountains and the South Mountains . In Virginia the Southwest Mountains are an anticlinal range that similarly parallels the Blue Ridge. The Blue Ridge extends as far south as Mount Oglethorpe in Georgia and as far north into Pennsylvania as South Mountain . While South Mountain dwindles to hills between Gettysburg and Harrisburg , the band of ancient rocks that form

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5292-570: The Budweiser 500 at Dover International Speedway , when the Winston-Salem class win is recognized. On July 4, 1984, Petty won his officially-recognized 200th (and what would turn out to be his final victory) race at the Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway . The race was memorable: On lap 158, Doug Heveron crashed, bringing out the yellow caution flag, essentially turning lap 158 into

5418-678: The Chrysler boycott of NASCAR due to the organizing body's ban of the Hemi engine, Petty spent much of 1965 competing as a drag racer. Petty Enterprises installed the Hemi in the new compact Barracuda and lettered "OUTLAWED" on the door. He crashed this car at Southeastern Dragway, in Dallas, Georgia, on February 28, 1965, killing an eight-year-old boy and injuring seven others. Petty, his father Lee , and Chrysler Corporation faced lawsuits totaling more than $ 1 million, though Petty and his team came to settlements with

5544-476: The General Motors fold proved successful as Petty recorded six top-ten finishes in the final ten races of the 1978 season and finished sixth in the final standings. He would go on to even better results in 1979. Petty won the Daytona 500 in an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme in the " Famous Finish " and ran most of the remaining races in a Chevrolet, winning four additional races and taking the NASCAR championship for

5670-498: The Hemi was reinstated, Richard continued drag racing the 43 JR until early 1966. ± On February 27, 1966, Richard Petty overcame a 2-lap deficit to win his second Daytona 500 when the race was stopped on lap 198 of 200 because of a thunderstorm. This made him the first driver to win the event twice. In 1966, he won the first ever race at Middle Georgia Raceway (Morelock 200). Petty broke the half-mile NASCAR record for half-mile tracks with an average speed of 82.023 miles per hour during

5796-684: The Iroquois ceded lands they had conquered south of the Potomac River and east of the Blue Ridge to the Virginia Colony . This treaty made the Blue Ridge the new demarcation point between the areas and tribes subject to the Six Nations, and those tributaries to the colony. When colonists began to disregard this by crossing the Blue Ridge and settling in the Shenandoah Valley in the 1730s, the Iroquois began to object, finally selling their rights to

5922-579: The King ", is an American former stock car racing driver who competed from 1958 to 1992 in the former NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series (now called the NASCAR Cup Series ), most notably driving the No. 43 Plymouth / Pontiac for Petty Enterprises . He is one of the members of the Petty racing family. He was the first driver to win the Cup Series championship seven times (a record now tied with Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson ), while also winning

6048-477: The No. 121 on NASCAR road courses for the team. The Gurney-Wood pairing dominated, winning every race Gurney entered for them, including the Motor Trend 500 at Riverside International Raceway , Moreno Valley, CA in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1968. In the 1968 season, the Wood Brothers earned over $ 160,000 ($ 1,462,036 Today) in single-season winnings—a remarkable amount for that era in any form of auto racing. In

6174-465: The No. 21 car was brief, spanning only 53 races across two seasons, but it resulted in one victory and over $ 600,000 in earnings. This experience further solidified the Wood Brothers team's reputation as a premier organization in NASCAR, known for nurturing future superstars. After Jarrett's departure, the Woods turned to veteran driver Morgan Shepherd to fill the seat for the 1992 season . Shepherd had been

6300-618: The Wood Brothers at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia . In 1987, the team returned to their traditional No. 21 car and won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway . Just as the Petty-Wood partnership was starting to flourish, Kyle Petty was drawn to a new opportunity with SABCO Racing , owned by Felix Sabates . Unable to turn down the lucrative offer, Petty left the Wood Brothers after four seasons and 115 races. During their time together,

6426-561: The Wood Brothers brought in Elliott Sadler to replace the departing Michael Waltrip . Like the Wood family, Sadler is a Virginia native with deep roots in racing. As a young and talented rookie, Sadler aimed to make a name for himself in the Winston Cup Series . Given the Wood Brothers' strong reputation for developing new talent, many anticipated great success from this partnership. Blue Ridge Mountains The Blue Ridge Mountains are

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6552-409: The Wood Brothers celebrated an impressive win at the 1996 Winston Select All-Star Race . In their first season together, the team delivered a remarkable performance that earned them a $ 200,000 ($ 388,542 Today) prize that night, showcasing exceptional teamwork. During Waltrip's three-season, 95-race tenure with the Woods, the team amassed over $ 3.7 million in winnings. At the start of the 1999 season ,

6678-462: The Wood Brothers returned to the No. 21 Ford with Citgo as their sponsor. After losing Neil Bonnett early in the season, Eddie and Len Wood needed a replacement driver. They turned to their longtime friend Dale Jarrett , who was ready for his chance in the Winston Cup Series. As the son of former NASCAR champion and broadcaster Ned Jarrett , Dale Jarrett had grown up in the sport alongside

6804-459: The Wood Brothers team enjoyed a successful partnership that spanned three and a half seasons and 83 races, achieving nine victories and over $ 700,000 ($ 930,766 today) in winnings. During the "Bonnett Years," Purolator's longtime president, Paul Cameron, retired, leading to the conclusion of the Wood Brothers' long-term sponsorship with Purolator . This marked the end of one of the most enduring and iconic sponsorships in NASCAR history. The No. 21 car

6930-406: The Wood Brothers team's headquarters. The Modern Era marked the first comprehensive quest for points championships among most teams. Since the 1950s, many teams participated in only select races. However, to compete for the series title and its substantial cash prize, teams were now required to participate in all events within the scheduled season. The Wood Brothers made the decision to transition to

7056-545: The Wood Brothers' success with efficient pit stops, they quickly adopted the Wood method. The Wood team, however, continued to refine pit stops into a precise, mechanical ballet, maintaining their advantage over competitors. Other racing organizations took note of the Wood Brothers' pit stop innovations. In 1965, Ford invited the Wood Brothers team to the Indianapolis 500 to support the Lotus-Ford team. Their speed and precision in

7182-450: The Wood Brothers. The choice of Jarrett turned out to be a brilliant one. In their first full season together in 1991 , Jarrett brought the Wood Brothers' No. 21 car to victory lane at Michigan , narrowly defeating Davey Allison in one of NASCAR's closest finishes. This victory demonstrated that the Wood Brothers team still had what it took to win and marked a significant milestone for Jarrett, providing his first career win and serving as

7308-474: The Wood Brothers. Together, they secured 52 Top Ten finishes and earned over $ 4 million. Their sole victory came at the 1993 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 in Atlanta Motor Speedway , a race postponed for six days due to a snowstorm the previous weekend. This win was a significant boost for the team, which had been struggling since Dale Jarrett's victory at Michigan . As the 1996 season approached,

7434-399: The Wood team quickly earned a reputation as one of the best. They were often celebrated and compared to top athletes from other sports, such as baseball legend Reggie Jackson , football stars Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris , and basketball icons Julius Erving and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar . Due to growth and increased demand, the No. 21 team relocated from its former shop to a new facility at

7560-441: The Woods sought a younger driver to take the helm of the No. 21 Ford. With Shepherd nearing retirement and the rise of youthful talent like Jeff Gordon , the team aimed to capitalize on this trend. They parted ways with Shepherd and welcomed Michael Waltrip , the younger brother of three-time series champion and 1989 Daytona 500 winner Darrell Waltrip . Although they did not achieve an official regular-season victory, Waltrip and

7686-448: The Woods team struggled for the first time in many years, lasting only two seasons together. Despite this, they achieved a notable victory at the Firecracker 400 at Daytona that same year. Baker and the Woods parted ways, along with Valvoline as the sponsor. International star driver Bobby Rahal from the IndyCar series briefly filled Baker's vacant seat for one race. The 1985 season

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7812-439: The area. The No. 21 team continued to innovate in the sport they helped build by experimenting with various changes. They had previously outsourced much of their engine work and, during this period, contracted Robert Yates Racing to supply engine parts for the No. 21. Additionally, they implemented weight training routines for crew members and enhanced their use of technology during race day competition. The Wood team, always at

7938-547: The brothers honed their auto mechanic skills in their father’s garage. Inspired by Curtis Turner , a local sawmill operator and champion racecar driver known for his "win or crash" style, the brothers formed a stock car racing team. Turner, who later co-owned Charlotte Motor Speedway , eventually became a driver for the Wood Brothers. In the early 1950s, the Wood Brothers needed a driver, so they asked their friend John Conway, who declined. They then recruited fellow lumberman Chris Williams. Back then, race teams drove their cars to

8064-464: The car off the track, and climbed out of the burning machine uninjured. His pit crew worked diligently with less than 20 laps to go to get the car running again, and with two laps to go, Petty pulled out of the pits and was credited as running at the finish in his final race. He took his final checkered flag, finishing in 35th position. After the race, Petty circled the track to salute the fans one final time in his trademark STP Pontiac. Thereafter he made

8190-473: The cars, but Petty balked and after an all-night negotiation session, the familiar STP orange/"Petty blue" paint scheme was agreed to as a compromise that would later become part of STP's motorsport paint schemes, most notably Gordon Johncock 's win in the 1982 Indianapolis 500 (where the car had a primarily "Petty Blue" scheme). Thanks to his 28 Top 10 finishes (25 Top 5 finishes and 8 victories), Petty went on to win his 4th NASCAR Cup Series championship. 1972

8316-434: The championship by 10 points because he had led the most laps, one more than Elliott, which gave him a five-point bonus. Facing intense pressure, Petty barely managed to qualify at Atlanta, posting the 39th fastest speed out of 41 cars. He would not have been eligible for the provisional starting position, and had to qualify on speed. On the 94th lap, Petty became tangled up in an accident, and his car caught fire. Petty pulled

8442-460: The chemistry from their earlier successes still evident. After just 31 races together, spanning one full season and the start of another, Bonnett suffered serious injuries in a crash at Darlington Raceway . This left him questioning whether he could race again, and he parted ways with the Wood team, leaving an empty seat that was later filled by Dale Jarrett . During this period, sponsorship shuffling became common across all NASCAR teams. Recognizing

8568-613: The core of the Blue Ridge continues northeast through the New Jersey and Hudson River highlands, eventually reaching the Berkshires of Massachusetts and the Green Mountains of Vermont . The Blue Ridge contains the highest mountains in eastern North America south of Baffin Island . About 125 peaks exceed 5,000 feet (1,500 m) in elevation. The highest peak in the Blue Ridge (and in

8694-444: The dominance previously held by teams like Junior Johnson , Melling Racing , and Petty Enterprises . The Wood Brothers expanded their team to keep up with NASCAR's growth, adding more employees and assigning some to work in the shop and others to the race-day crew. New team members, such as Bennie Belcher, Butch Mitchell, and outside engine builder Tommy Turner, helped bring the team in line with other NASCAR competitors. By 1990 ,

8820-429: The early 1970s, the Wood Brothers maintained their success with the No. 21 car, known for its lightning-quick pit stops and powerful engines, which posed a formidable challenge to competitors on the NASCAR circuit. Legendary drivers like Donnie Allison and A.J. Foyt , an open-wheel Indy 500 winner, also took turns behind the wheel of the Wood car. As the team participated in more events and traveled greater distances,

8946-628: The emergence of the second generation of the Wood Brothers, Eddie and Len, who had taken on increased responsibilities within the team over the years. They were now effectively calling the shots on race day, fostering an "anything goes" attitude that was embraced by the entire team. By this time, many of the older team members had retired, including Delano Wood, the original member and brother. He retired to focus on his burgeoning lumber business and to spend more time with his family and church. Most races were held on Sundays, which left little opportunity for regular worship and family attendance at church. With

9072-506: The end of 1977), outlasted Baker (now with the K&;K Insurance Dodge race team) to win his 4th Daytona 500 after Baker's engine gave out with 6 laps to go. A year later, Petty won the Daytona "450" (shortened 20 laps {50 mi/80 km} due to the energy crisis ) for the fifth time en route to his 5th Winston Cup Championship. 1975 was another historic year for Petty, as he won the World 600 for

9198-412: The entire 1992 season, not just selected events as other drivers have done before retirement. His year-long Fan Appreciation Tour took him around the country, participating in special events, awards ceremonies, and fan-related meetings. Racing Champions ran a promotional line of diecast cars for every race in Petty's Farewell Tour. At the 1992 Pepsi 400 on July 4, Petty qualified on the front row for

9324-654: The entire Appalachian chain) is Mount Mitchell in North Carolina at 6,684 feet (2,037 m). There are 39 peaks in North Carolina and Tennessee higher than 6,000 feet (1,800 m); by comparison, in the northern portion of the Appalachian chain only New Hampshire 's Mount Washington rises above 6,000 feet (1,800 m). Southern Sixers is a term used by peak baggers for this group of mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles (755 km) along crests of

9450-513: The fans, the car could do no better than 186 miles per hour, about eight miles per hour slower than the GM and Ford cars. Petty gave up on returning to Dodge knowing that for the superspeedways the Mirada would not be competitive, and bought a Buick Regal for the Daytona race. In the 1981 Daytona 500, Petty used a "fuel only" for his last pit stop, with 25 laps to go, to outfox Bobby Allison and grab his seventh and final Daytona 500 win. This win marked

9576-414: The field on the pace lap to salute the fans. Petty's final race, the season-ending Hooters 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway , which also marked the start of Jeff Gordon 's NASCAR career and the second-closest points championship in NASCAR history, with six drivers mathematically eligible to win the championship, is hailed to this day as the greatest race in NASCAR history. A record 160,000 spectators attended

9702-504: The first driver to earn more than $ 1 million in career earnings) and claimed his 3rd Grand National Championship. At the end of the 1971 season, Chrysler told the Pettys they no longer would receive direct factory funding support; this caused the Petty team great concern. In 1972, STP began what would turn into a successful 28-year sponsorship arrangement with Petty, however, it marked the end of his famous all "Petty Blue" paint job. STP previously insisted on an all STP orangish-red color for

9828-408: The first time in his career, one of 13 victories en route to his 6th Winston Cup. The 13 victories is a modern (1972–present) NASCAR record for victories in a season and was tied in 1998 by Jeff Gordon , although Gordon won 13 out of 33 races, compared to Petty's 13 out of 30 races. In 1976, Petty was involved in one of the most famous finishes in NASCAR history. Petty and David Pearson were racing on

9954-506: The first time since 1986. Before the start of the race, he was honored with a gift ceremony which included a visit from President George H. W. Bush . When the green flag dropped, Petty led the opening five laps as the holiday crowd cheered wildly. Unfortunately, the oppressive heat forced him to drop out after completing just 84 laps. Despite the busy appearance schedule and mediocre race results, Petty managed to qualify for all 29 races in 1992. On his final visit to each track, Petty would lead

10080-429: The forefront of innovation in pit stops , consistently practiced and sought new improvements in their race day skills. They utilized computers extensively for car setup and timing. By hiring race day specialists like spotter Chuck Joyce and part-time scorers/timers, the team remained at the cutting edge of competitive development. In the early 1990s, Eddie Wood, Len Wood, and Kim Wood-Hall each took ownership positions in

10206-424: The highest levels, achieving victories through the mechanical genius of brothers, relatives, and friends. Leonard Wood 's talent in engine work soon earned the team acclaim, rivaling only the legendary Holman-Moody engines and the Petty racing dynasty of Lee and Richard Petty . The Wood Brothers revolutionized motor racing by inventing the modern pit stop . In the early days of racing, drivers would pull into

10332-617: The immense value of NASCAR sponsorship, major companies like Pepsi , Mello Yello , Ford Motorcraft , and Procter & Gamble secured lucrative deals with the sport's top teams. The face of the sport was also changing. Alongside the full schedule and championship points races, a new generation of drivers, including Darrell Waltrip , Dale Earnhardt , Bill Elliott , Rusty Wallace , Ricky Rudd , Terry Labonte , and Geoff Bodine , had become powerful stars and champions. During this era, young drivers like Davey Allison , Ward and Jeff Burton , Jeff Gordon , and Bobby Labonte were emerging as

10458-496: The junction of Dobyns Road and Mayo Court in Stuart, where it would remain for many years. The 1980s brought significant changes to NASCAR and the No. 21 team. Driver David Pearson departed, making way for rising star Neil Bonnett from Hueytown, Alabama . Bonnett was part of the " Alabama Gang ," which included notable drivers like Bobby and Donnie Allison , as well as later members Davey Allison and Hut Stricklin . Bonnett and

10584-413: The last lap as the two drivers battled back to the start-finish line. Petty and Cale Yarborough diced it out on that lap, with Yarborough drafting and taking an early lead before Petty managed to cross the start/finish line only a fender-length ahead. (This is no longer possible because of the 2003 rule change freezing the field immediately upon caution. Furthermore, in 2004 the green-white-checkered rule

10710-442: The last lap out of turn 4 in the Daytona 500. As Petty tried to pass Pearson, at the exit of turn 4, Petty's right rear bumper hit Pearson's left front bumper. Pearson and Petty both spun and hit the front stretch wall. Petty's car came to rest just yards from the finish line, but his engine stalled. Pearson's car had hit the front stretch wall and clipped another car, but his engine was running. Members of Petty's pit crew came out onto

10836-409: The last lap. Petty held off Darrell Waltrip and A. J. Foyt . The race is also regarded as being the genesis of the current surge in NASCAR's popularity. The East Coast was snowed in by a blizzard, giving CBS a captive audience. The win was part of Petty's seventh and last NASCAR Winston Cup Championship. He was able to hold off Waltrip to win the title in 1979. In 1980, Petty won two races early in

10962-574: The lawsuits within 1 month of the suits being filed. Afterwards, a second Hemi Barracuda was built, this time with an altered wheelbase and eventually with Hilborn fuel injection. This car was lettered with a large "43 JR" on the door. The car was very successful, winning its class at the Bristol Spring Nationals and competing in many match races against well-known racers such as Ronnie Sox, Don Nicholson, Phil Bonner, Huston Platt, Hubert Platt and Dave Strickler. Even after returning to NASCAR once

11088-433: The mechanical and competitive aspects of the team. By this time, Kim Wood had married crew member Terry Hall and became Kim Wood-Hall. Terry Hall, a crucial member of the team, served as a general mechanic and truck driver. He replaced the legendary Delano Wood as jackman on race day after Delano's retirement several years earlier. Hailing from Mount Airy , Terry also helped recruit new team members through his connections in

11214-731: The mountains and their perceived color. Within the Blue Ridge province are two major national parks: the Shenandoah National Park in the northern section and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the southern section. The Blue Ridge Parkway , a 469-mile (755 km) long scenic highway, connects the two parks and runs along the ridge crest-lines, as does the Appalachian Trail . Eight national forests include George Washington and Jefferson , Cherokee , Pisgah , Nantahala and Chattahoochee . Although

11340-403: The new 1978 Dodge Magnum to handle properly, even though much time, effort, and faith were spent massaging the cars. Unhappy with the seven top-five and eleven top-ten finishes (including three-second places), Petty decided that his longtime relationship with Chrysler could not continue and he instead began racing a secondhand 1974 Chevrolet Monte Carlo at the fall race at Michigan. Returning to

11466-592: The nickname "King Richard". He had previously been known as "the Randleman Rocket". In 1968, Petty won 16 races including the last ever race at Occoneechee Speedway . In 1969 Ford significantly ratcheted up their factory involvement in NASCAR when they introduced the Ford Torino Talladega . The Talladega was specifically designed to give Ford a competitive race advantage by being more aerodynamic and thus faster, especially on super-speedway tracks more than

11592-510: The number of race events increased and the demands of running a team intensified each season, the Wood Brothers hired younger team members to fill the gaps. This included the son of original crew member Jimmy Edwards and the Wood Brothers' cousin, Ralph Edwards. They also welcomed Curtis Quesinberry and Hylton Tatum from Stuart , along with another young relative, Butch Moricle. Additional personnel were recruited from nearby Virginia towns such as Danville and Roanoke . During these years, Kim Wood,

11718-468: The only daughter of Glen and Bernece Wood, emerged in an important role. While still in high school, she began handling administrative tasks for the team, assisting her mother with secretarial duties, travel arrangements, and the business aspects of team operations. In the mid-1980s, NASCAR entered what is now known as the modern era of the sport. Television coverage evolved from sporadic broadcasts on ABC 's Wide World of Sports to full-time coverage of

11844-418: The personnel in the wood shop began to change. Glen Wood emerged as the team's leader and patriarch. His young sons, Eddie and Len, started working in the shop in menial labor roles. Glen's brother, Delano Wood, became one of the greatest pit crew members, with unmatched skill as a jackman even today. Additionally, family friends, including Cecil Wilson from neighboring Lawsonville, North Carolina , soon joined

11970-469: The pits contributed to Jim Clark's victory in the 1965 Indianapolis 500 . After their Indianapolis 500 win, Wood Brothers Racing gained international acclaim as motorsport pioneers and leaders. Featured in Sports Illustrated and other major media, they built a top-tier roster of drivers, with victories rivaled only by Richard Petty . The Wood Brothers signed a long-term deal with Purolator as

12096-417: The pits, turn off their cars, step out, and sometimes even smoke a cigarette while the crew took their time changing tires and servicing the vehicle. The Wood Brothers realized that minimizing time off the track could improve their position. They developed and perfected the quick, efficient pit stop we know today—a staple of all types of racing, as integral as the checkered flag itself. As other teams noticed

12222-569: The primary sponsor for the No. 21 car. Their drivers through the mid-1960s included top stock car racers like Curtis Turner , Marvin Panch , Fireball Roberts , Parnelli Jones , Tiny Lund , Junior Johnson , Speedy Thompson , Fred Lorenzen , and Cale Yarborough . The Wood Brothers fielded a second car, the No. 121, in select races, even entering three cars in one event. Open-wheel star Dan Gurney , known for his success in Indycar and Formula One , drove

12348-568: The promise of substantial factory support from Pontiac. 1982 was a repeat of 1978, and no victories were to be had. At first, the Grand Prix behaved much like the Dodge Magnum of 1978, with handling and speed problems. Toward the end of 1982 things improved with several top-10 finishes, which opened the door to a successful 1983 season with three victories, and several top-5 and top-10 finishes. In 1983, he broke his 43-race winless streak from 1982 with

12474-418: The race and celebrated Petty's farewell. In the intense title race, the championship contender, Davey Allison , got mixed up in a crash with Ernie Irvan, dashing his title hopes. Long-shot contenders Mark Martin, Kyle Petty and Harry Gant fell behind in the long run, which left Bill Elliott and Alan Kulwicki to compete for the title. The race went down to the final lap with Elliott winning and Kulwicki taking

12600-462: The race, as the fastest time in official qualifying was by Alabama Gang member Neil Bonnett , who recorded a 28.829-second lap (139.734 mp/h) in his Pontiac Grand Prix. On October 1, 1991, Petty announced he would retire after the 1992 season. Petty's final top ten finish came at the 1991 Budweiser at the Glen which was the same race J. D. McDuffie was killed in a fifth lap accident. Petty chose to run

12726-456: The range lacks the tree line found at lower elevations in the northern half of the Appalachian range. Statistical modelling predicts that the alpine tree line would exist at above 7,985 feet (2434 m) in the climate zone and latitude of the southern Appalachians. The highest parts of the Blue Ridge are generally vegetated in dense Southern Appalachian spruce-fir forests . The area is host to many animals, including: The largest city located in

12852-478: The seventh, and last, time by 11 points which was the closest points margin in NASCAR history until 1992. Petty won two more Daytona 500s in 1979 and 1981. In 1979, he snapped a 45-race drought, winning his sixth Daytona 500, the first to be televised live flag-to-flag; it would become notorious for a fistfight between competitors following the controversial finish. Petty won the race as the first and second place cars of Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough crashed on

12978-490: The southern Appalachians and links two national parks: Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains . In many places along the parkway, there are metamorphic rocks ( gneiss ) with folded bands of light-and dark-colored minerals, which sometimes look like the folds and swirls in a marble cake. Most of the rocks that form the Blue Ridge Mountains are ancient granitic charnockites , metamorphosed volcanic formations, and sedimentary limestone. Recent studies completed by Richard Tollo,

13104-433: The sport's future, making their way up through the lower-ranked Busch Grand National Series . New technologies and innovations began to dominate the sport, transforming NASCAR teams into highly organized operations run like corporations or major sports franchises. Prominent names such as Hendrick Motorsports , Penske Racing , Roush Racing , SABCO , Larry Hedrick Motorsports , and Robert Yates Racing emerged, overtaking

13230-580: The team to Glen Wood to focus on his lumber business. The Wood Brothers then enlisted local friends and family, including Wood's cousin Ralph Edwards, to fill team roles. Over the years, the Wood Brothers Racing Team grew from a weekend hobby into a full-time business. Glen and Leonard worked full-time building and preparing cars, while the other brothers and crew helped on nights and weekends outside their regular jobs. Their first permanent shop

13356-456: The team won two races and earned over $ 1.3 million. After Petty's departure and a brief three-race stint with substitute driver Tommy Ellis , the Wood Brothers hired their former driver Neil Bonnett to once again pilot the No. 21 car. This reunion was seen as a potential turning point for the Woods as they sought to reclaim their position at the top of the sport. Both Bonnett and the Wood Brothers were optimistic about their future together, with

13482-505: The team. Glen Wood's daughter, Kim, emerged as a competent leader within the team, excelling in her role. Alongside managing the business and administrative functions, she operated as a "one-woman show," handling all bookings, reservations, accommodations, travel, and financial matters for the team. While other teams, like Richard Childress Racing , employed a full-time staff of a dozen administrative workers, Kim demonstrated her professionalism in this field, matching her brothers' expertise in

13608-431: The team. In 1972, David Pearson became the full-time driver of the No. 21 car, launching one of motorsports' most successful runs. From 1972 to 1979, the team competed in 143 races, securing 46 wins and 51 poles, with race earnings exceeding $ 1.3 million. In 1976, with Pearson still driving, the Wood Brothers achieved NASCAR's "Triple Crown" by winning the Daytona 500 at Daytona , the World 600 at Charlotte , and

13734-518: The team. Previously, the Glen Wood Company had owned the team, with patriarch Glen Wood controlling its direction. Longtime co-founder and former crew chief Leonard Wood had stepped down from his role years prior, and Eddie Wood had officially assumed the position of crew chief for the No. 21 Ford. Morgan Shepherd performed exceptionally well with the No. 21 Citgo -sponsored car, achieving consistent finishes throughout his four seasons with

13860-787: The term "Blue Ridge" is sometimes applied exclusively to the eastern edge or front range of the Appalachian Mountains, the geological definition of the Blue Ridge province extends westward to the Ridge and Valley area, encompassing the Great Smoky Mountains , the Great Balsams , the Roans , the Blacks , and other mountain ranges. In North Carolina, two lower elevation ranges to the east, referred to as foothills , are also often included as "spurs" of

13986-430: The track and tried to push the car to the finish line, but ultimately failed. Pearson was able to drive his car toward the finish line, while Petty's car would not restart. Pearson passed Petty on the infield grass and won the Daytona 500. Petty was given credit for second place. Oddly, 1978 will stand out as the one year during his prime that Petty did not visit the winner's circle. The Petty Enterprises Team could not get

14112-608: The track, raced, and then drove them home. Williams and the Wood Brothers bought their first car for $ 50, leading them to number it 50—years before adopting their iconic No. 21. Chris Williams and Glen Wood each drove in a few races for the team, which included Williams, his brothers, and the Wood brothers. They found success, winning at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC , and Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, VA . After their early success, Chris Williams sold his share of

14238-455: The valley, on the west side of the Blue Ridge, at the Treaty of Lancaster in 1744. The Blue Ridge Mountains have stunted oak and oak-hickory forest habitats , which comprise most of the Appalachian slope forests. Flora also includes grass, shrubs, hemlock and mixed-oak pine forests. While the Blue Ridge range includes the highest summits in the eastern United States, the climate is nevertheless too warm to support an alpine zone , and thus

14364-536: The west of the Blue Ridge, between it and the bulk of the Appalachians, lies the Great Appalachian Valley , bordered on the west by the Ridge and Valley province of the Appalachian range. The Blue Ridge Mountains are known for having a bluish color when seen from a distance. Trees put the "blue" in Blue Ridge, from the isoprene released into the atmosphere. This contributes to the characteristic haze on

14490-469: The win was not in a points-paying race. The Wood-Jarrett partnership was regarded as one of the most promising in NASCAR. However, Jarrett was soon drawn away by Washington Commanders coach and Joe Gibbs , who established a new team Joe Gibbs Racing with the financial resources to attract Jarrett. Leaving the No. 21 car, Jarrett began driving the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Chevy , a move that led to his first Daytona 500 victory. Jarrett's tenure in

14616-537: The year at North Wilkesboro and Nashville but a violent crash at Pocono in July ended his championship hopes. He finished 4th in points. For 1981, NASCAR dictated that all teams had to show up with the new downsized cars of 110" wheel-base, that Detroit had been building since 1979. Though Petty had been successful with the Chevrolet and Oldsmobile cars he had been running, he wanted to get back to his Mopar roots. After taking

14742-458: Was a year of change in other ways, as it was the last year where Petty would campaign a Plymouth-based race car; as in the middle of the year, he debuted to drive a newly built 1972 Dodge Charger in a few races (winning one of them), as he believed that the car would have a slight aero advantage over the Plymouth body style. In a driver's duel on February 18, 1973, Petty, in a newly built 1973 Dodge Charger (a body style he would use exclusively until

14868-538: Was an All-Conference guard on the football team. After his 1955 graduation, he took a business course at Greensboro Junior College, then began work for his father's racing company, Petty Enterprises. He began his NASCAR career on July 18, 1958, 16 days after his 21st birthday. His first race was held at CNE Stadium in Toronto , Ontario, Canada (the site of BMO Field and the Honda Indy Toronto currently). In 1959, he

14994-417: Was created for cases when the yellow flag waved with two laps, but not just one, remaining. Also, under current combination race rules, Petty would be recognized for his 201st win.) President Ronald Reagan was in attendance, the first sitting president to attend a NASCAR race. Reagan celebrated the milestone with Petty and his family in victory lane. In early 1988, Petty traveled to Australia to help promote

15120-403: Was historic for NASCAR as young Kyle Petty , the grandson of legendary Lee Petty and son of series dominator Richard Petty , was hired to drive the No. 21 car full-time. This marked a unique partnership between the two most successful racing families in NASCAR history. This also marked the first addition of a new sponsor to the Wood Brothers team. For the 1985 season, the team partnered with

15246-460: Was located at the edge of Stuart, Virginia . The team permanently adopted the No. 21, making it as iconic in NASCAR as Petty's No. 43 and Earnhardt's No. 3. Drawn by the big cash prizes at Superspeedway races in cities like Daytona , Charlotte , and Darlington , the Wood Brothers shifted focus. Glen Wood stepped back from driving, and they began hiring proven winners to drive the No. 21 Ford at various tracks. The team quickly rose to compete at

15372-463: Was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year , after he produced 9 top 10 finishes, including six Top 5 finishes. That year, he had participated in the inaugural Daytona 500 at the new Daytona International Speedway , but after his day ended due to engine trouble, he joined his father Lee's pit crew, who won the race. In Lakewood, Georgia in 1959, Petty won his first race, but his father Lee protested, complaining of

15498-559: Was now broadcast live internationally and enjoyed popularity comparable to traditional stick-and-ball sports among fans and advertisers. Team turnover became frequent as Eddie and Len searched for the ideal combination of chemistry to succeed. They added new members from nearby Mount Airy, North Carolina , including Rick Simmons and Mike "Andretti" Smith. They also hired paint and body specialists Terry Hill and Chris Martin . Meanwhile, longtime members Butch Moricle, Butch Mitchell, Hylton Tatum, and Cecil Wilson had become seasoned veterans on

15624-566: Was released by Petty Enterprises , and, because of lack of sponsorship, Petty Enterprises was bought out by Gillett-Evernham Motorsports. The name was originally going to stay the same, but when Evernham left the team, it was renamed Richard Petty Motorsports , despite George Gillett continuing to own the majority. In November 2010, an investment group including Medallion Financial Corp., Douglas G. Bergeron and Petty, signed and closed sale on racing assets of Richard Petty Motorsports. Andrew M. Murstein , president of Medallion, had been seeking

15750-617: Was sponsored by National Engineer, a California-based company specializing in research and development across various industries. The company was owned by the Warner Hodgdon, who prominently featured his name on the No. 21 car as its main sponsor. This sponsorship was considered one of the richest deals in NASCAR history, further solidifying Wood's status as a leader in the sport. Many original team members, including brothers Clay and Ray Lee Wood, have retired from racing, choosing to focus on their families and other careers in Patrick County . As

15876-456: Was the Republican nominee for North Carolina Secretary of State , but was defeated by State Senator Elaine Marshall in the general election. Petty was mistakenly seen as a shoo-in, and his campaigning was sporadic. Following his loss, Petty stated, "If I had known I wasn't going to win, I wouldn't have run." In June 2016, he made an appearance on stage with Donald Trump . Petty is currently

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