The legacy of Lee Petty in NASCAR remains the same. Lee Petty was the first NASCAR racer to win the Cup Series three times. His son Richard Petty is one of the most successful and highest-paid NASCAR drivers in history. Lee Petty won the first Daytona 500 event in 1959 and secured 54 wins in the NASCAR Cup Series. Here is everything about Lee Petty car collections, car numbers, and more.
Lee Petty Car Collections
Lee Petty made his debut in the Cup Series in 1949 for team Gilmer Goode. In his first season, Petty drove #38 Buick. Lee Petty finished second in the race after losing the title to Red Byron. Lee Petty’s success in his first season helped him secure brand deals. In the following seasons, Lee Petty drove Plymouth, Lincoln, Chrysler, Oldsmobile, Dodge, and Chrysler. Lee Petty won the 1954 NASCAR Cup Series for his own team, Petty Enterprises, by driving Chrysler.
Lee Petty won the Daytona 500 race with his #42 Oldsmobile car. The Oldsmobile was a 1959 model. Petty drove Plymouth cars in two Daytona 500 seasons. Most of these cars are available at the Richard Petty Museum. Lee Petty also owned the Diecast editions of Ford, Plymouth, and Dodge. He was the owner of his team and didn’t get many sponsors during his time.
Lee Petty Car Accidents
Lee Petty experienced a major accident during the 1961 Daytona 500 qualifying race where he made contact with Johnny Beauchamp. Petty’s car hit the guardrail and he was injured. Lee Petty’s ribs were broken and his lungs were damaged. He revealed he spent more than 4 months in hospital to recover after the incident. Lee Petty suffered punctured lungs and he could not overcome the incident for a long time.
After the crash, his Oldsmobile #42 was damaged and Lee Petty took an early retirement as well. His last major NASCAR race was the 1964 Glen 151.8. Lee Petty had a short and successful racing career, but it could have been better if he wasn’t part of the crash. This was the only major accident in Lee Petty’s career. There is no information whether he was part of other crashes during his career.
Lee Petty Car Numbers
Lee Petty’s lucky car number in NASCAR was #42. He drove the iconic #42 Chrysler and won the race in 1954. In the 1958 series, he won with #42 Oldsmobile and secured a $575 cash prize. He also won the 1959 NASCAR Cup Series with the same number. Apart from these, Lee Petty drove #41, #42, and #43 Plymouth vehicles.
Lee Petty Car Design
Lee Petty didn’t have a variety of car collections. His #42 vehicle was designed in Black, White, and Blue colors. Lee Petty’s sponsors were Plymouth, Dodge, Buick, and Oldsmobile. He also owned blue-colored Chrysler. Lee Petty’s cars didn’t have many logos and paint schemes.