History Richard Petty's Drag Racing Career

Hello everyone.

I'm trying to put together a timeline of Richard Petty's drag racing career. It seems he raced three cars: The "Outlawed" Barracuda, then after the accident he raced Billy West's The Little Pilgrim ('64 Hemi Plymouth) and finally the 43 JR Barracuda. This is what I have found so far:

18-Nov-64 Outlawed at Peidmont, NC (debut)
29-Jan-65 31-Jan-65 Outlawed at Bee Line, AZ AHRA race
28-Feb-65 Outlawed accident at Southeastern Dragway, Dallas, GA

7-Mar-65 Little Pilgrim at Camp Wheeler, Macon, GA
Date? Little Pilgrim at Islip Speedway

11-Apr-65 43 JR at Aquasco, MD (Still has carbs.)
24-Apr-65 43 JR at L***iter Mountian Dragway, lost to Hubert Platt, (carbs)
3-Jun-65 7-Jun-65 43 JR at Bristol NHRA SpringNationals (fuel injection, won B/A cl***)
17-Jul-65 43 JR at Concord, NC vs. Don Nicholson. (won)
23-Jul-65 43 JR at Union Hill, Nashville, TN. Drag raced Don Nicholson (won 2/3, also beat Herb McCandless)
24-Jul-65 43 JR at Union Hill, Nashville, TN. Drag raced Phil Bonner (lost)
15-Aug-65 43 JR at Richmond Dragway vs. Trader (Hank Hankins)
18-Feb-66 20-Feb-66 43 JR at 1966 NASCAR Winter Championship at Deland (FL) Airport (scheduled, but not sure if Richard actually attended)

I also believe he raced at Jackson, SC at least twice against Phil Bonner. Also at Kinston, NC and Suffolk, VA.

If anyone has old pictures, videos or newspaper article, please post them! (please, no pictures of the wrecked Outlawed car.)

I've posted some on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/43jr-352124888304196/

Thanks!

 

Do a search. I can recall at least 2 Petty and the 43 drag car threads here.

 

Thanks. Yes, I've seen them, which is why I posted this here. H.A.M.B. clearly has a lot of knowledgeable people.

 

These threads will keep you reading for quiet a while. HRP

Click link below
Richard Petty

 

Thanks. I've read the all threads here, which is where some of my timeline is from. I'm hoping someone has something new to add and can help fill in the blanks.

This is an interesting photo I would like to know more about. It's the 43 JR before it was painted blue. Is this Concord/Charlotte?

 

That is the second Petty Barracuda after the first one was wrecked in the fatal crowd crash. Looks like he's running against Arnie Beswick in his blown '64 GTO.

 

It looks like the Charlotte Motor Speedway backstretch 1/8 mile drag strip. I was probably there.

 

I believe Richard ran Jim Cagle at Jackson SC. not Phil Bonner. Phil was under orders from Ford not to match race any of the AWB Mopars with his '65 Mustang. Jim Cagle had purchased Phil's blue '64 Falcon and filled in for him at Jackson. Phil was there and made a few p***es in the Mustang to satisfy his appearance obligations but Jim actually raced Richard. There is a video of this on Youtube.

As we all know Phil later had his '65 Falcón built at Holman Moody and hit the match race trail and raced whoever he wanted later.