"Spitfire" to tell the story of stock car racing pioneer Louise Smith (2024)

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Who is known as the king of stock car racing? ›

Richard Lee Petty (born July 2, 1937), nicknamed "the King", is an American former stock car racing driver who competed from 1958 to 1992 in the former NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series (now called the NASCAR Cup Series), most notably driving the No.

Stock-car racing is said to have originated during the U.S. Prohibition period (1919–33), when illegal still operators, needing private cars capable of more than ordinary speed to evade the law while transporting liquor, tuned and altered ordinary passenger automobiles to make them faster.

Wendell Oliver Scott (August 29, 1921 – December 23, 1990) was an American stock car racing driver. He was the first African-American driver and team owner to compete and win in all divisions of NASCAR at its highest level. Danville, Virginia, U.S.

In February 1964 he won the first of seven Daytona 500s. His most successful season was 1967, when he won 27 of 49 races. Petty drove mostly Chrysler cars during his career, but also piloted Fords and General Motors autos for brief periods.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. On Feb. 15, 1948, following a famous meeting at the Streamline Hotel rooftop bar with founder Bill France Sr., NASCAR staged its first official race — the inaugural stock car race on Daytona Beach.

NASCAR, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, is conceived. FEBRUARY 15, 1948 – NASCAR runs its first race in Daytona Beach at the beach road course. Red Byron wins in a Ford.

Richard Lee Petty (born July 2, 1937) in the Level Cross community of Randleman, North Carolina to Elizabeth (Toomes) and Lee Arnold Petty, also a NASCAR driver and the older brother of Maurice Petty. Richard is nicknamed "The King" for a reason. He is the most respected and accomplished driver of all motorsports.

Richard Petty holds the record for most wins in NASCAR Cup Series history at 200, while Kyle Busch leads active drivers at 63.

Lightning McQueen

There are no ifs ands or buts about it, McQueen is the GOAT. After all, McQueen should hold the record for most Piston Cups. In his rookie year, he displayed the greatest act of sportsmanship, helping Weathers across the finish line, losing himself the race.

We were really kind of citified compared to them. Now, when I'm down there to do shows, a hundred Pettys will turn up and they all want in, and I have no idea who any of them are. You're not related to Richard Petty, the race car driver, are you? I don't think I am, though he looks a great deal like my dad.