One of NASCAR's greatest drivers, Richard 'The King' Petty, retired from competition on this day in 1992. As stock car racing has evolved from dirt track derby to billion-dollar business, his family has linked its history. In today's Great Read, Mark Hughes examines the Petty dynasty
As US Air Force One touched safely down, STP Pontiac number 43 raced past it on the parallel back straight of Daytona. Its driver was in the midst of one of the most intense duels of his long career. As the aircraft's special passenger stepped down on this Independence Day and made his way to the reception area, the race, in its closing stages, went into a yellow period.
By the time the green flag signalled its resumption, the VIP had a grandstand view of one of the great last laps of motor racing history: Richard Petty's Pontiac and Cale Yarborough's Chevrolet trading paint, banging fenders in an anything-goes fight to the line. Petty won, for the 200th time, and 200,000 fans went delirious. A few minutes later The President was granted an audience with The King.
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