The First Stock Car Racing Petty Race Track Legends - Before Kyle raced and won, before Richard earned the unofficial title of "King", the first and perhaps greatest Petty of them all raced and won on the NASCAR circuit. It was Lee Petty, the first racer from Level Cross, NC, who brought to an infant sport the style and daring that his son and grandson would show the modern NASCAR crowd. Petty was a part of the early days of racing and one who set a standard for sportsmanship that still lives on today. One of the greatest moments in Petty's career came in 1959. This was the year that the giant Daytona International Speedway opened in February and Petty won the inaugural Daytona 500 over Johnny Beauchamp, but it took officials three days of studying the photo finish to make their final decision. In November of that same year, Petty wrapped up an unprecedented third Grand National championship, the other two having come in 1954 and 1957. Petty continued to race and win until the 1961 Daytona 500 when a heart stopping crash landed him outside of the track. The wreck proved to be one that would alter his career and make this one of his last major races.