“I’d Have a Little Something He Didn’t Know I Had”- Richard Petty Unravels Tactical Ploy Behind Historic 200th Win

In NASCAR history, there have been few like the King. Richard Petty is the most prolific winner in the sport’s history. However, when he reached his 199th win, the NASCAR community had only one question: could Petty make it to the exclusive 200-win club? But it was not straightforward.

Richard Petty’s iconic 200th win was a close affair. In an intensely contested Firecracker 400 at the Daytona International Speedway in 1984, Petty beat a formidable rival in Cale Yarborough, who expected everything but a little track magic in Petty’s arsenal. Reminiscing his historic win, the King dives deep into the final sequence on the latest episode of NASCAR’s Shift.

Richard Petty recollects a close affair with Cale Yarborough for his 200th Cup win

The 1984 Firecracker 400 was a big event. With then-President Ronald Reagan hopeful of a thrilling finish in the grandstands, Richard Petty faced the challenge of a 200th win against a hotrod Cale Yarborough. A photo finish between the pair who battled to the checkered line showed everyone how close the race was.

Speaking to NASCAR about the weight of expectations on that day, Petty said, “We had won the 199th in Dover. So everybody in the press, everybody in racing and stuff said, ‘Okay, how long is it going to take to get to 200?’ I think a lot of people were pulling for you just to go ahead and get the 200.”

Driving the #43 Pontiac for Curb Racing, the seven-time Cup Series champion used the rules in the best way possible. Before 2003, NASCAR allowed passing in the lead lap during a caution period. In the final stretch of the track, a drag race against Yarborough ensued. Richard Petty knew this would be his chance to defend the lead against one of the sport’s all-timers and got to work instantly.

“When we did get to Daytona, everything played out exactly to be able to win. Cale and myself kind of wound up in front of everybody else. Cale had a quick car, but he followed me in those last laps, knowing he’s just going to pass me going up to the backstretch, and it’s going to be an easy win. But he didn’t.” claimed Petty.

However, the news of an unexpected Doug Heveron crash on Turn 1 arrived on the team radio with a couple of laps to the end of the race. This incident raised the urgency of the situation exponentially. Stepping on the gas pedal, Yarborough took a close lead on the backstretch as the pair headed into Turn 3. That was where Richard Petty devised a secret strategy to win the race.

Petty revealed its buildup: “I’d started letting off on the accelerator a little bit. Maybe 100 RPMs each lap, but Cale didn’t realize that because he was busy just keeping his eye on where I was at. When we did come to the last lap, I’d have a little something that he didn’t know I had.”

Doug Heveron’s crash catalyzed the fierce battle at the front. While Yarborough was the happier man on Turn 3, a cruel twist of fate awaited him in the next turn.

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When Petty saved his best for the last turn

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Richard Petty was aware of an impending overtake from Yarborough. The #43 Pontiac was slower on a straight. However, he didn’t let this drag him down and used the fourth turn as best as possible. As Yarborough led the battle, Petty went inside his opponent to gain a lead of a few inches.

Having been too focused on the battle, Yarborough had failed to notice that Richard Petty had another trick up his sleeve. Petty recalled the change in the winds since Heveron’s crash: “I think with a couple of laps to go, somebody spun out in the first turn. We knew whoever got back that was going to be the last lap. We went almost into the corner before he got by me, and then when he did, he went in and went up. There was no way that I could pass him.

“We ran down the front stretch, and I kept him high(…) If you get really close to a car, then you kind of bog it down, or it bogs you down. In other words, kind of stick together. When we got there, it was automatically going to put me in front because I was going to run shorter distance than he did.”

The 1984 win pushed him to a pedestal that seems untouchable. The closest driver to Petty in the all-time wins list is David Pearson, who has 105 wins. Revealing a whirlwind of emotions as he raced to a career-defining victory, the King said, “You don’t lose your enthusiasm for winning. The reason you go out there is to try to beat everybody. It’s very satisfying when the race is over. Whether you look into it or outrun them or whatever, that was what you set out that day or that week to do.”

The win was Petty’s 200th and final win in NASCAR. He continued to race for eight more years and started in 241 more races, but Richard Petty was never seen in the victory lane again. Decades have passed since his victory in front of Ronald Reagan, but it remains one of the best finishes in stock-car racing history.

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