Lee Petty was the patriarch of NASCAR's first family: a three-time Grand National champion (1954, 1958, 1959) with 54 victories, including the first Daytona 500 in 1959, decided by a famous photo finish over Johnny Beauchamp. He founded Petty Enterprises, the team his son Richard would make legendary.
Petty died in 2000 at 86, having lived to see Richard become 'The King' and grandson Kyle carry the family name into a third generation. His 1959 Daytona 500 trophy remains one of the sport's most cherished artifacts.
At a Glance
- Born: March 14, 1914, Level Cross, North Carolina
- Died: April 5, 2000, Greensboro, North Carolina
- Age: 86
- Cause of death: Natural causes
Final Resting Place
Level Cross United Methodist Church Cemetery, Randleman, North Carolina.
Photo: Kathy Mayo via Find a Grave
From the Book
This profile is adapted from Legends at Rest: NASCAR Legends by Howard Wear.
Grave photo: Photo: Kathy Mayo via Find a Grave.