No. 1 – Richard Petty Leaves Petty Enterprises to Drive for Curb Racing
In one of the biggest surprises during NASCAR’s silly season, seven time Winston Cup Series champion Richard Petty decided that he needed a change and left his family ran organization following the 1983 season.
At the time Richard Petty was NASCAR’s biggest name and Petty Enterprises was the most legendary team in NASCAR history. The team began in 1949 with Richard’s father, Lee as driver. Lee Petty became the first three-time champion in NASCAR history. After a devastating crash during the 1961 Daytona 500 that saw Lee Petty break several bones in his body, Lee Petty’s racing career was over and Richard Petty became the lead driver at Petty Enterprises. At the time Lee Petty retired, following the 1964 season, he led all of NASCAR with 54 victories.
Richard Petty began racing in 1959, when he ran in the inaugural Daytona, the same race his father Lee won. Richard won his first career race in 1960 at the Southern State Fairgrounds and so began his assault on NASCAR. Petty would go on to become the King of NASCAR, winning the Daytona 500 a record seven times and recording a record seven championships.
From 1962 through 1977 Petty would win an unbelievable 180 races including winning over ten races a season eight times. In that time period Petty would win six championship and five Daytona 500’s. It was the most dominate period anyone ever has had or will have in NASCAR history.
However, the dominance began to fade a little bit when Petty would go win-less in 1978. The team came back in 1979 and won five races including the Daytona 500 and the 1979 championship but the days of dominate days of Petty Enterprises were fading. Petty would win two races in 1980 and then win the 1981 Daytona 500, his final victory in the prestigious event.
However, it was after that race it was learned that Petty’s crew chief and second cousin Dale Inman was leaving the organization effective March 1st. Inman was Petty’s crew chief since he began racing in 1959 and was a big reason why Petty Enterprises was so dominate for so many years. Inman left to oversee Rod Osterlund’s operation with driver Dale Earnhardt.
That was the beginning of a lot of changes at Petty Enterprises the next couple of seasons. In 1982, Petty would go win-less once again. He would win three races in 1983 putting his total victories at 198. His 198th victory, though came with loads of controversy.
Petty won the October 9th, Miller High Life 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in dramatic fashion. The anticipation for Richard Petty winning 200 races had been going on for several seasons so all of Petty’s wins would get major attention from the media. That October day was no different.
However, NASCAR officials found some violations on Petty’s car after the race including a significantly bigger engine and four left side tires on his car. The team was fined $25,000 and docked 104 Winston Cup points due to the incident. Petty kept the victory but the team was never the same. Speculation grew that there was a rift going on with the team after the incident.
Then the news came out that Petty himself was leaving Petty Enterprises, in a shocking development. Petty claimed it was to focus on his own racing and focus on just one racecar. Petty would move to Curb Racing for the 1984 season, where’d he win two races including his 200th win in the July Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
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He would remain with the team through the 1985 before moving back to Petty Enterprises in 1986. Petty would never win again and would drive through the 1992 season with limited success. The team wouldn’t find victory lane again until 1996 when Bobby Hamilton won at Phoenix. It was the organization’s first victory since 1983. Hamilton would win one more race for the team, in 1997 at Rockingham. The team would win their final race at Martinsville in 1999 with driver John Andretti. It was the organizations 268th and final victory.
Petty Enterprises would merge with Gillette Evernham Motorsports and Yates Racing in 2009. The merger turned into what is now known as Richard Petty Motorsports.