“This is Something Else” – NASCAR “King” Richard Petty Recalls His First Ever Daytona Outing in 1959

Numerous legends have dominated NASCAR and proved their worth to the entire world. However, among them, one still stands out, Richard Petty. Having a plethora of achievements in his box, including the most wins with 200, the most poles with 123, and a magnificent seven championships, Petty, during his prime, was a force to be reckoned with. However, when the legendary racer stepped foot on the Daytona International Speedway for the first time, what he witnessed blew even his mind.

Now, three decades after he bid adieu to the sport, Richard Petty reminisces upon his first-ever outing at Daytona in 1959 as he tells his tale after a whopping 64 years.

The 1959 Daytona outing that left the “King” in awe  

During an episode of ‘Shift: NASCAR’s Evolution through the Eyes of The King’, the 7x Cup Series champion pondered back on the day when he first witnessed the iconic Daytona track and revealed his candid thoughts that came across while seeing the 2.5-mile oval beauty.

Richard Petty expressed his astonishment upon visiting the track for the first time. He said, “None of us had ever seen the thing. We had no idea what it was, and we went through the tunnel in the third and fourth turn. It was just so massive but looked like a wall and we got in and it was just flat. I said, man, this is something else.“

However, as it was a new track for many, Richard Petty mentioned the lack of experience and said, “Nobody had any experience on the racetrack. I think I run 130 mph and that’s the fastest I’ve ever been.” 

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Despite not having much experience in driving and knowing little to nothing about drafting, Petty put forth a display that shocked the spectators and even came as amazement to himself.

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Richard Petty’s “blow by them all” portrayal at the 2.5-mile Speedway

While recollecting the past, Petty hilariously revealed an incident, where, on the very first lap, because of driving on the high bank, the legendary racer was handed a black flag. But that didn’t stop him from making some bold moves on the track.

While expressing his disbelief over the way he seamlessly overtook the pack, Petty said, “I pull out, just blow by them all. I said man this is easy. I go through three and four, come off of four, come back by me, I just made my move too quick. We were geared to run 130 mph. All of a sudden I’m running 145.”

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Being an inexperienced driver on an International Speedway is a tough ask, let alone pulling off some daredevil overtakes. Still, the NASCAR Hall of Famer showcased an impressive performance, breaking his speed cap of 130 mph and proving that he’s a legend for a reason.