Panch’s Celebrate at DIS: Bettie and Marvin Panch were able to celebrate their 50th anniversary Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway thanks in part to the efforts of Bill Wimble and Steve Petrasek. Panch greeted fans and signed autographs Wednesday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway, where he nearly lost his life four decades ago. Wimble and Petrasek, who sat with Panch at the head table Wednesday, were among a group of five men who risked their lives in 1963 to save Panch from a burning sportscar. Wimble was a race car driver and Petrasek worked for Firestone Tire’s racing division.(full story at the Daytona Beach News Journal)(1-2-2003) (1-1-2003)
