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Lee Petty and his 1959 Daytona 500 #43

1959 Was the Very First Daytona 500 on the Brand New 2.5 Mile Superspeedway

From , former About.com Guide

In 1959 true "stock" cars ruled the Daytona 500. Richard raced this famous #43 while his father Lee Petty was declared the winner of this legendary race.
Richard Petty and his 1959 Daytona 500 #43

Richard Petty and his 1959 Daytona 500 #43

Photo Credit: Richard Petty 1959 Daytona 500 / RacingOne Multimedia
Some features of a 1959 Daytona 500 race car:
  • Cars are "stock"
  • Basic roll bars added
  • Headlights covered
  • Hood and doors are bound shut
  • Convertibles race in NASCAR's top series for two years
  • Only a few small sponsor decals
  • 1959 race winning average speed 135.521 MPH

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Gallery Index: 50 Years of Daytona 500 Race Cars

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