In those days there was no Victory Circle at North Wilkesboro. The winner simply stopped his car at the start-finish line to receive the trophy. Petty climbed from his battered race car and handed his helmet to brother Maurice, his chief engine builder.
About this time, a spectator came rushing up to get Richard's autograph. In his wild approach, Maurice thought it was an Allison fan trying to harm Richard. Maurice took Richard's helmet and slammed it over the spectator's head, knocking him down. Once Maurice realized he had decked a Petty fan, he helped the poor guy to his feet. Later, as most of the crowd was leaving the track, Maurice and the fan talked over "old times" at a concession stand. Maurice fed the guy hot dogs and soft drinks. Petty, meanwhile, met with the press. "This is carrying our differences too far," he said. "It must stop. He's playing with my life out there, and I don't like that."
Allison took a different approach. "Richard had to wreck me in order to win, and that's what he did. I had so much smoke in my car I could hardly see."
Petty and Allison were like bulldogs on separate leashes. Each time they got close to one another, they growled, barked, and tried to bite.
Allison vs. TurnerWhen Bobby Allison came on the NASCAR circuit, he was as tough as an anvil. He didn't back down from anyone. In August 1966, he took on crusty veteran Curtis Turner on the quarter-mile, flat Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The battle began when Turner hooked Allison's rear bumper, spinning him on Lap 8 of the 250-lap event. Allison lost a lap, but joined right back in running up front, and was trying to pass Turner to get back in the lead lap.
Turner was blocking all comers. As he moved to the outside to block a move for the lead, Allison dove under Turner and the cars rode three abreast into the third turn.
Turner and Allison came together. Turner's Ford spun, and he returned to the track moving slowly, waiting on Allison's Chevrolet. Allison saw what was happening and did not fall into the trap. Rather, he cut back and hit Turner's car in the rear. After that, it was man versus machines for the next 10 laps. They hit each other like they were in bumper cars at the county fair.
Some of the banging occurred under the yellow flag. Turner spun Allison, and Allison came back and spun Turner. Turner waited on Allison once again for another shot at his car. Allison aimed his wrecked racer at Turner and buried the front of his car into Turner's car.
They ran into each other until neither car would move. The drivers climbed from their cars, and Turner jumped over a fence and walked off up through the grandstands.
NASCAR fined each driver $100 for "rough driving."
"I didn't know what to expect, but I figured that Turner would be out to get me," Allison said.
"Finally, we were at another track, and I saw him coming toward me. He put his big, old right arm around my neck and whispered in my ear, 'You know, Pops, we ought to have a big drink and go somewhere and talk about old times.'
"We never had any trouble after that."
Petty vs. PearsonIn 1974 the advantage was being in second place on the last lap at Daytona and Talladega because of the slingshot pass, which drivers used very effectively. David Pearson was leading Richard Petty in the Firecracker 400 at Daytona and couldn't shake him.
As the two lead cars crossed the start-finish line under the white flag, Pearson held up his arm as though he had car trouble and slowed. Petty drove by, and Pearson's problem was solved. He chased down Petty and used the slingshot draft to pass down the homestretch and win the race.