Editor’s Note: NASCAR is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2023. Petty did return to Grand National competition in 1965 when NASCAR and the United States Auto Club, the other major race sanctioning body, agreed upon one set of rules effective in June. With this news the defending champion climbed out of his drag racer and into a Plymouth Fury for four victories (Plymouth’s season total) in 14 starts in 1965. With Petty out of action for most of the season, 1964 points runner-up Ned Jarrett raced his No. With nine victories in 52 starts, Dick Hutcherson finished second in the standings. Ford-convert Junior Johnson added 13 races to Ford’s incredible tally in only 36 starts. Although he started 18 fewer races than Jarrett, Johnson led more laps (3,998-2,244) and more races (30-29) than the champion.

Follow MotorMouth on social media:

• 
• 
• 
•