Lee Petty

Motorsport
Inducted: 1966
  • Born in Level Cross, NC, 1914 
  • Won Grand National (Winston Cup) title in 1954, 1958, 1959, the first to win title three times
  • Finished runner-up in 1949 and 1953
  • Competed in first NASCAR events
  • Won first Daytona 500 in 1959
  • Had 54 career victories, including 12 wins in 1959
  • Career ended after serious wreck at Daytona in 1961
  • Oversaw Petty racing empire, which included racing son Richard
  • Lee and Richard are the only father and son in the NCSHOF
  • Died in 2000