Photo for Headline Surfer ®/ Wikipedia / DAYTONA BEACH -- Johnny Beauchamp won the inaugural Daytona 500 on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 22, 1959, or did he?
There was no Warner Wolfe back then with with "lets go to the videotape," or digital cameras measuring in milliseconds. But there was a photo and it was what NASCAR used to take the win away from Beauchamp and give it to Lee Petty, father of Richard Petty and grandfather of Kyle Petty, beginning a family racing tradition.
Here is how declaring the winner was described in Wikipedia: Lee Petty took the lead with three laps left, and was leading at the start of the final lap. Petty and Beauchamp drove side by side across the finish line at the end final lap for a photo finish. Beauchamp was declared the unofficial winner by NASCAR officials, and he drove to victory lane.
But Petty protested, saying, "I had Beauchamp by a good two feet. In my own mind, I know I won." Beauchamp responded with the same figure, adding, "I glanced over to Lee Petty's car as I crossed the finish line and I could see his headlight slightly back of my car. It was so close I didn't know how they would call it, but I thought I won."
Early leader Fireball Roberts, who was standing by the finish line, said, "There's no doubt about it, Petty won."
Early leader Fireball Roberts, who was standing by the finish line, said, "There's no doubt about it, (Lee) Petty won."
It took NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr. three days to decide the winner the following Wednesday. In the end, with the help of photographs and newsreel footage, Petty was officially declared the winner.
1959 Daytona 500 racing notes:
Daytona 500 Through the Years Stories:
Daytona 500 Through the Years: 1959, Lee Petty wins in photo finish