Richard Petty Question

[hanks73340]

Without me checking the Internet, I have a bet going with a neighbor about the year 1971 Nascar Champion, Richard Petty. Did he win the championship driving the Charger more or did he drive the Road Runner more? I said RR and the neighbor said Charger. Rib dinner is the bet. PS - He also is not allowed to check out the Internet.

 

[chargervert]

I believe Richard won the 71 Championship in a Plymouth. The factory sponsorship dried up after 71. Petty didn't drive a Dodge Charger until 72,when he ran both the Dodge and Plymouth. He secured sponsorship from STP. 72 was the last year Petty drove a Plymouth.

 

[Don Frelier]

 

[65Bel]

In the 48 races of the 1971 NASCAR series, Petty drove his Plymouth Road Runner to his 3rd championship with 21 victories, 38 top-five and 41 top-ten finishes. Richard didn't start driving Dodges until 1972. He won the 1972 championship driving both Dodges (11 races) & Plymouths (21 races) and won the 1974 Championship driving Dodges only.

 

[WileE]

He drove a 71 Plymouth to the championship that year. Edit: and, as a matter of fact, it was the last model that used a factory body. Afterwards, the cars were not really "stock" .

 

[Budnicks]

not sure the year of the red white & blue STP livery

Daytona Victory lane 1971

cars behind his shop 1971

 

[WileE]

With the restyled road runner and charger, Ma Mopar corrected the faults of the prior gen aerodynamic bricks. Petty started with the Plymouth, then the Dodge afterwards.

 

[hanks73340]

Thanks everyone. I'm getting a nice rib dinner this weekend.

 

[MarPar]

Thanks everyone. I'm getting a nice rib dinner this weekend.

 

[Geetex]

Before it's been eaten please, not after.

 

[MarPar]

Before it's been eaten please, not after.

 

[SlingLow]

Well, not to be a party pooper but wouldn't getting info here be considered 'checking the internet'?

Doesn't change the fact that you're right though...

 

[Don Frelier]

Well, not to be a party pooper but wouldn't getting info here be considered 'checking the internet'?

Doesn't change the fact that you're right though...

No this is just a bulletin board.
I'm connecting with my Hayes "smart modem"

 

[hanks73340]

Well, not to be a party pooper but wouldn't getting info here be considered 'checking the internet'?

Doesn't change the fact that you're right though...

I trust the folks more here than the Internet. Besides, the memories we have stuck in our heads were way before the Internet came along, and yes, technically this is using the Internet but the info still comes from the data base between our ears.

 

[WileE]

Besides, the memories we have stuck in our heads were way before the Internet came along,

My memories were watching King Richard back in the day, and yes, stuck in my head !

 

[j-c-c-62]

My fondest memory of Richard was sneaking into the winner's circle at the 1964 Daytona 500 as a kid.
He wasn't King yet.
I even got to shake his hand as he left the winners circle as he walked up to the Grandstand press box.

 

[65Bel]

My fondest memory of Richard was sneaking into the winner's circle at the 1964 Daytona 500 as a kid.
He wasn't King yet.
I even got to shake his hand as he left the winners circle as he walked up to the Grandstand press box.

View attachment 1736828

And that sweet '64 Plymouth Belvedere that he drove! It was the first appearance of the 426 Hemi engine in NASCAR racing. Shown here is a tribute car, which includes many parts from the original, on display at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC . . .

 

[j-c-c-62]

I remember the '64 in one race, 500 or the Firecracker it having chrome wheels. In my winner's circle B/W pic above the wheels looks rather shiny, so I am not sure.
It was a drop dead gorgeous looking real stock car.

 

[64BEL]

He has another '64 Belvedere in his museum. I'm not clear on the pedigree of that one. I took these pictures in March of 2023.

 

[64BEL]

Upon further review, it appears to be the same car that 65Bel posted. Note the decals on the windshield.