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Two teams whose pasts should not be forgotten
Apr
6
Once, teams known as Petty Enterprises and Wood Brothers Racing were among the best in NASCAR.
Lee Petty, the founder of Petty Enterprises who went on to win three championships, was a competitor when NASCAR was born. He raced in its first official season, 1949.
Four years later, Glen Wood, patriarch of the Wood Brothers team, drove in two events. Since, with the exception of one season, his organization has remained a part of NASCAR.
What legacies these teams built over the years.
Richard Petty began his racing career with his father at his side and then afterward became the greatest driver in NASCAR history with 200 wins and seven championships.
The Wood Brothers shared the spotlight. With drivers whose names are enshrined in several halls of fame – Curtis Turner, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Neil Bonnett and others – the team compiled 98 victories.
Throughout the first four decades of NASCAR’s existence, Petty Enterprises and Wood Brothers Racing were among the very elite. Today, they are the only two that remain from that era.
You do not have to be told that they are no longer among the elite.
The last time a Petty car won a race was in 1999 with driver John Andretti. The Woods last won in 2001 with Elliott Sadler. Neither team has come close to a championship run.
The Petty organization has tried to keep up with the times if for no other reason than it is a multicar team. While one of its drivers, Bobby Labonte, is situated among the top 35 in owner points, which guarantees a starting position in every race, Richard’s son, Kyle, is not. He’s in the 40th position.
The Woods have retained former champion Bill Elliott as their driver, but the team is still mired in 44th place in owner points.
There are, obviously, problems for both teams. Many facing the Pettys have been revealed this past week. But problems are not the point here.
Rather, it’s that through their accomplishments, both the Pettys and the Woods have helped bring NASCAR to where it is today.
Where they will be in the future may be in doubt. But what they were in the past – and all they contributed – should never be forgotten.
Lee Petty, the founder of Petty Enterprises who went on to win three championships, was a competitor when NASCAR was born. He raced in its first official season, 1949.
Four years later, Glen Wood, patriarch of the Wood Brothers team, drove in two events. Since, with the exception of one season, his organization has remained a part of NASCAR.
What legacies these teams built over the years.
Richard Petty began his racing career with his father at his side and then afterward became the greatest driver in NASCAR history with 200 wins and seven championships.
The Wood Brothers shared the spotlight. With drivers whose names are enshrined in several halls of fame – Curtis Turner, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Neil Bonnett and others – the team compiled 98 victories.
Throughout the first four decades of NASCAR’s existence, Petty Enterprises and Wood Brothers Racing were among the very elite. Today, they are the only two that remain from that era.
You do not have to be told that they are no longer among the elite.
The last time a Petty car won a race was in 1999 with driver John Andretti. The Woods last won in 2001 with Elliott Sadler. Neither team has come close to a championship run.
The Petty organization has tried to keep up with the times if for no other reason than it is a multicar team. While one of its drivers, Bobby Labonte, is situated among the top 35 in owner points, which guarantees a starting position in every race, Richard’s son, Kyle, is not. He’s in the 40th position.
The Woods have retained former champion Bill Elliott as their driver, but the team is still mired in 44th place in owner points.
There are, obviously, problems for both teams. Many facing the Pettys have been revealed this past week. But problems are not the point here.
Rather, it’s that through their accomplishments, both the Pettys and the Woods have helped bring NASCAR to where it is today.
Where they will be in the future may be in doubt. But what they were in the past – and all they contributed – should never be forgotten.
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