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Article: Oldsmobile has rich racing history.
- Article from:
- Automotive News
- Article date:
- August 4, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Crain Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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On Feb. 22, 1959, when Bob Latford was a young public relations director for the brand new Daytona International Speedway, he was in the pit of racer Johnny Beauchamp when the first Daytona 500 stock-car race ended in a dead heat.
Three cars crossed the line at the same time: Beauchamp's Ford Thunderbird on the inside, Lee Perry's Oldsmobile in the middle, and a Chevrolet driven by Joe Weatherly, one lap down to the other two cars, along the wall on the outside.
Latford didn't get a good view of the finish, but neither did anybody else. It was just too close to call.
Beauchamp took the checkered flag and went on to Victory Lane to celebrate. But Petty ...