Richard Petty Charges From Pack to Capture Thrilling Virginia 500
Young Plymouth Ace Outlasts Veterans; Leads Final 113 Laps Before 12,000 Fans
MARTINSVILLE, Va., April 10 — Richard Petty, the 22‑year‑old youngster from Randleman, N.C., delivered the finest performance of his budding career here Sunday afternoon, storming from deep in the pack to win the annual Virginia 500 before a bundled‑up crowd of 12,000.
Petty, driving a 1960 Plymouth, was not even listed among the leaders until nearly 300 laps had been posted. Then, almost as if he had been shot from a cannon, the young charger swept past the field, took command of the race, and never looked back.
He briefly surrendered the lead when Bobby Johns darted ahead, but Johns spun moments later, and Petty quickly reclaimed the top spot. From there he steadily widened his advantage, ultimately defeating Jim Massey by more than a full lap.
The victory vaulted Petty into first place in the NASCAR point standings, a remarkable rise for a driver who only recently began making headlines of his own, separate from those of his famous father.
No Tire Change Needed
Petty’s triumph was all the more impressive because he became one of the rare Martinsville winners to finish without a single tire change. He made three stops for fuel — the last with only 18 laps remaining, causing brief concern among his supporters — but his crew worked swiftly, and he rejoined the race without losing the lead.
His winning time over the tight half‑mile oval, with its sharp, punishing turns, was 2:54:34, just four seconds shy of the track record.
Massey, piloting a 1959 Ford owned by Glen Wood, earned $1,675 for his runner‑up finish — a little less than half of Petty’s purse.
White, Wood, and a Wild Afternoon
Rex White, in a 1960 Chevrolet, finished third, while Glen Wood, driving a 1958 Ford, came home fourth after dominating the early going.
Wood, the perennial master of Martinsville time trials, led the first 152 laps and appeared to be in full control. But when the caution flag flew on lap 152, Wood mistakenly believed the green was still out and started to pit. White shot past him on lap 153, gaining a 25‑yard advantage before Wood scrambled back onto the track.
White held the lead until his Chevrolet was caught in a wreck on the north turn on lap 184. Though he lost several laps, he staged a spirited comeback to finish strongly.
Between laps 152 and Petty’s takeover, the lead changed hands repeatedly — so often, in fact, that the scoreboard operators struggled to keep pace with the dizzying action.
Spinouts Frequent, Injuries Few
Spinouts were nearly as common as lead changes, but fortunately no serious injuries were reported. The early laps featured a stirring duel between Wood and White, with White glued to Wood’s bumper for much of the first 150 circuits.
Six different drivers held the lead at one time or another — Wood, Petty, White, Massey, Johns, and Fred Lorenzen — though only Wood and Petty led for more than 100 laps.
Bob Welborn, buried deep in the field for most of the afternoon, mounted a late charge to finish fifth in his 1960 Chevrolet.
A New Star Rising
For young Richard Petty, the day marked another milestone in what is rapidly becoming one of stock‑car racing’s most compelling stories. He came from nowhere, took command, and finished with the poise of a seasoned veteran.
If Sunday’s performance is any indication, the Petty name may soon belong to more than one man.
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Courtesy of The Martinsville Bulletin April 11, 1960 via Newspapers.com