[Racer Duck]

I've got a series of "Who was first ...?" trivia questions. This is the first one:

Who was the first driver to win a NASCAR race in car #43?

[Quality88]

Bob Ross.......

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Bob Ross.......

nope .. my sources don't show Bob Ross ever winning a NASCAR race, tho he did get a 2nd (in #43)

[Quality88]

Jimmy Lewallen is my next guess, followed by Lee Petty. This will be my final guesses.

[LSC9901]

Lee Petty 10th race in 1959

[Racer Duck]

Lee Petty is correct. 4/5/59, N. Wilkesboro

[Bob Tanner]

I have a question Duck, and I DO NOT know the answer. I'm just looking for some additional knowledge...

Why did Petty drive a #43?

His regular number for years had been #42. He ran #43 in March at Bowman Grey and again at N. Wilks and my records show that three weeks later, at the next NASCAR race in Reading, PA, he was back in a #42. When he won the next month at Martinsville, he was in #42? In '59 #43 was normally Richard's number.

Why drive #43 for two races? If you have an answer I'd be very interested.

[Racer Duck]

Bob, this is only a guess.

Prior to 58 (Richard's 1st year) Lee Petty drove #42. When Richard started in '58, he drove 142, 42A (twice), 2 (5 times) & 42 in his last race of '58. In '59 he started in 24, then 43 twice, then 42 at Winston-Salem, and from then on it was #43. Since Lee didn't retire until '61, and since he was still active, I suspect they took the 43 as the next closest number to 42.

But, as I say, it's only a guess.