4 More NASCAR facts that sound made up, but are true

4 More NASCAR facts that sound made up, but are true

By Brian H Cotnoir

1.)  Richard Petty's father protested his "1st win"

Even the casual NASCAR fan knows that "King" Richard Petty is the All-Time Winningest driver in NASCAR History, with 200 Career wins in the NASCAR Cup Series, but it very nearly was 201 wins, until his father intervened.   In 1959, Richard Petty won his first race in NASCAR at the Lakewood Speedway, a 1-mile dirt oval in Atlanta, Georgia.   Making the moment even more special was that Richard's father (and team owner) Lee had finished 2nd in the race...that was until Lee filed a protest and claimed a scoring error had been made, and that Richard was actually one lap down.   Hours later, the results were overturned, and Lee Petty was declared winner of the race while Richard was credited with a 3rd place finish.  Lee Petty was later quoted to have said "I would have protested my mother if I needed to".

2.) Joe Nemechek won his last 2 NASCAR Races on the same race weekend

"Front Row" Joe Nemechek has had a long and illustrious career.  He has made over 1,000 starts in NASCAR, he won the 1992 NASCAR Busch Series Championship and won four NASCAR races for four different teams.   What I find most unique about Nemechek's career is that his final two wins in NASCAR came the same weekend at Kansas Speedway.  On Saturday Joe Nemechek won his final race in the NASCAR Busch Series driving for his team, NEMCO Motorsports.  The following day he was involved in a late race battle with Ricky Rudd and managed to win the fourth race of his career, and the final win in NASCAR for MB2 Motorsports.

3.)  Dale Earnhardt Sr. is credited with a 12th place finish in the 2001 Daytona 500

February 18, 2001 is regarded by many fans of NASCAR as it's "Darkest Day" or "Black Sunday".  Dale Earnhardt Sr. lost his life during an accident on the final corner of the final lap of 2001 Daytona 500.  Despite losing his life in the race Earnhardt was still credited as the 12th place finisher of the race. Several other drivers have also lost their lives during NASCAR Races and were also named in the finishing order of the races they lost their lives in, and Earnhardt has the macabre distinction of being the highest finish ever for a driver who lost their life during a race.

4.)   Michael Waltrip won the NASCAR All-Star Race 5 years before he won his first Points Paying Race

Michael Waltrip holds the record for Most Career starts in the NASCAR Cup Series before earning his first win in his 463rd start.  However, he did win a non-points race five years earlier.  The All-Star race which, is reserved for winners from the previous and current race season.   Waltrip managed to qualify for the 1996 All-Star Race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway by finishing fifth in the Winston Select Open.   Despite never winning a points' paying race, Waltrip went on to shock the racing world by winning the All-Star Race and took home over $100,000 in prize money.