October 9 - This day in Petty history

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1955 - Lee finishes 11th in a 200 lap race at Memphis-Arkansas in LeHi, Arkansas.

1964 - Richard finishes 2nd to Ned Jarrett at Savannah Speedway.

1983 - Richard wins the Miller High Life 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway for win #198...but is later fined $35,000 for having an oversized engine and illegal tires. Whoops.





1994 - John Andretti qualifies an impressive 3rd in the #43 but finishes a disappointing 24th in the Mello Yello 500 at Charlotte.

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What did Maurice say, he didnt think it would help them win the race just keep up with the guys that were cheating{DW}?

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As I recall, all sorts of chaos reigned that day. The 43 was busted for the oversized engines and having left side tires on the right side of the car. DW squalled about how he should have been given the win over Richard. But Junior Johnson had the Pepsi #11 loaded up and half-way back to Wilkes County before the Petty tear down had finished. There was no way for NASCAR to inspect Waltrip's car. So how could they take away Richard's win and give it to 2nd or 3rd or 4th place if they didn't inspect them post-race too.

Its interesting to me the precedent set that day. I can't think of a time since October 1983 when the win was taken away based on post-race inspections. Points, dollars, and double-secret probation periods have been doled out - but not win reversals.

I do think NASCAR wanted the positive pub of Richard getting to 200, and they knew his chances of getting there were getting fewer. But in this case, it was their own flawed policy of post-race inspections that resulted in basically having to stick with Richard as the winner.

So while the post-race inspections at the track and in Mooresville have strengthened in the 20+ years, the Sunday winner=the race winner policy hasn't changed at all.