Editor’s Note: NASCAR is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2023. This set up Waltrip’s dramatic pass in “Wanda,” the car he drove in his first victory of the season. The following week, Waltrip ended the day in victory lane in the first Winston Cup race at Texas World Speedway since 1973. Petty started the season in the much the same manner he ended too many races the previous season. Petty, on the other hand, finished in the top 10 in each of the final 11 races, including victories at Michigan Int’l Speedway, Dover Downs Int’l Speedway and North Carolina Motor Speedway, after which he took the point lead for the first time all season.

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