How Lee and Richard Petty Nearly Died In The Same Race

During the first Daytona qualifier in the 1961 Speedweeks, Richard Petty was involved in a multi-car crash. As his car went up the track, he used the guardrail as a ramp to flip out of the track and miraculously escaped with little injury. As he was leaving the infield care center, he got word that his father, Lee, had suffered an eerily similar crash – although it was much worse. Despite these being horrific incidents, it just scratches the surface of the carnage of the 1961 Daytona Speedweeks.

• Learn about the awful crash that ended Lee Petty’s career
• Dive into the story of one of the wildest Speedweeks ever
• Explore the controversies that headlined the 1961 Daytona 500

Imagine if things turned for the worst that day, and how different NASCAR history would have been. Thankfully, everything turned out okay in the end. Be sure to subscribe to NFJJ for more great NASCAR content.

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