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was an American stock car driver in the 1950s and 1960s. He was one of the pioneers of NASCAR, and one of its first superstars. He was born near Randleman, North Carolina. Lee Arnold Petty was thirty-five years old before he began racing. He began his NASCAR career at NASCAR's first race at the three-quarter mile long dirt track, Charlotte Speedway. He finished in the Top 5 in season points for NASCAR's first eleven seasons. He won the NASCAR Championship on three occasions and the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959. In the first 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 Dynamic 88 (#42), Beauchamp a 1959 Ford Thunderbird (#73) and Weatherly a 1959 Chevrolet (#48), all coupés. Beauchamp was declared the unofficial 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. Picture of Petty with his Daytona trophy above. Video of 1959 Daytona 500 here. He is the father of Richard Petty, who would become NASCAR's all-time race winner. In 1961 Lee Petty would have a major crash Johnny Beauchamp (see video) at Daytona tearing out the fourth turn wall and flying out of the track. He almost died, and it effectively ended his

career. With sons Richard and Maurice Petty, he founded Petty Enterprises, which became NASCAR's most successful racing team. Petty Enterprises ran from 1949 until 2008. The team closed shop in January 2009 and merged with Gillett Evernham Motorsports after sponsorship could not be found for any of the cars in the Petty stable; the merged team took the name Richard Petty Motorsports, adopting a logo similar to that of Petty Enterprises' logo. He was the grandfather of Kyle Petty, and great grandfather of Adam Petty who died in a racing accident during a NASCAR Xfinity 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. Lee Petty died at 4:50 a.m. on April 5, 2000 at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, North Carolina, at the age of 86, several weeks after undergoing surgery for a stomach aneurysm. Petty was selected as one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers, elected to the North Carolina Hall of Fame, Motorsports Hall of Fame, International Motorsports Hall of Fame, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Lee won all his races driving for Petty Enterprises, and all driving the #42. Some info from Wikipedia

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LEE ARNOLD PETTY - 03/14/1914 - 04/05/2000