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Post by ricklou on Jan 22, 2010 22:54:24 GMT -5
Richard Petty's switch to Chevrolet past the mid point of the 1978 Winston Cup season was a blow to the Mopar bretheren but it had to be done and it was not the first time. Winning is much more important. Petty Enterpsies purchased a Chevy Monte Carlo from Cecil Gordon and went racing. Immediately Richard was competitive. Nascar rules allowed the Monte Carlo to have it's engine located further back in the chassis that the other car makes. Surely an advantage that showed up on the track. By 1977 Nascar teams running the Dodge were having difficulty getting good engine pieces for their efforts and it came to a head when the Petty's left Mopar. Another difference was the rear suspension used in Chevrolet race cars compared to the Dodge. The Chevy utilised a coil spring rear where as the Dodge's had been using a leaf spring setup. Dale Inman said that the car did not know the difference. Richard sure did.
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Post by songsmith1950 on Jan 25, 2010 15:10:20 GMT -5
Great read. It really was sad when Richard went to GM's, but you are right, it had to happen. I think Nascar wasn't the same to me after that for a long time but sooner or later it came back again. Changing to Ford this year is also to be competitive. But this time I feel a little different.. Dodge chose Penske over us and I guess somehow that makes it alright. I will always wish we had stayed Dodge but a few wins and perhaps a championship in a Ford will make this a lot better. Most of all I always have been and always will be a Richard Petty fan. From my first days of actually recognising Nascar at about 12 or so til now. Make the 43 good for us and Richard again AJ. Make us proud.
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