The race was so close that Beauchamp was initially named the
winner by William France, the owner of the track and head of
the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.

However, Petty, who was driving a hardtop Oldsmobile 88,
challenged the results and three days later, with the assistance
of news photographs, he was officially named the champ.

Petty’s son, Richard (1937- ) became one of the greatest drivers
in NASCAR history, winning the Daytona 500 a record seven
times between 1964 and 1981.

The Petty Museum.