By Rick Houston
When Richard Petty spun Ned Jarrett out of the lead in a long-ago race at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C., Jarrett carried the slight with him. He remembered it … and knew that he would one day return the favor.
That day came on July 14, 1963 at Asheville-Weaverville Speedway in the North Carolina mountains. Jarrett bided his time, then turned Petty out of the lead with twenty laps to go.
After the race, Petty was livid and confronted Jarrett, who was still in his car. Order was quickly restored, and both men would come into their own as two of the most respected people NASCAR has ever known.
Make no mistake about it, however. Ned Jarrett and Richard Petty were fierce competitors once upon a time.
For more than 32 years, Grand National/Winston Cup/NASCAR Scene writers and photographers were there to record NASCAR history as it was being made. Join hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid each week on The Scene Vault Podcast Presented by Q Ware as they take a look back at the extraordinary people, places and events woven into the rich tapestry that is our sport.
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