Sad news from North Carolina, a statement by Richard Petty Enterprises pointing to the death of Maurice Petty, the famous engine maker, a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and a founding member of the Petty family’s auto racing dynasty.
The statement said:
The Petty family sadly announces the loss of Maurice Petty, who died peacefully on Saturday, July 25, 2020. Maurice, a car racing pioneer whose career provided the power that propelled Petty Enterprises to victories, passed away surrounded by the family before. this morning. He was 81 years old.
Born in 1939 at Petty’s of Level Cross, North Carolina, to a legendary family known for their victories and championships, Maurice would soon become an integral part of the continuation of the dynasty. Maurice was a track participant even before his teens, and would be part of his father Lee’s three championships and 54 wins.
Maurice, the top engine manufacturer at Petty Enterprises, was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2014. He was the first engine manufacturer to enter the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Brothers Richard and Maurice Petty were part of a Petty family dynasty that had 198 wins and seven titles in the sport’s main series. He built engines that roared, and he was a talented mechanic and driver, an occasional crew chief and general manager of the team that became known in the garage simply as “Boss.”
Maurice’s talent-building engine secured his place in history, credited with 212 wins as an engine builder among six different drivers. In addition to Richard Petty, the drivers who won with their engines were Lee Petty, Buddy Baker, Jim Paschal and Pete Hamilton.
Maurice was the crew chief for Pete Hamilton for the 1970 Superspeedway victories at the Daytona 500 Mile and the Talladega (Ala.) Superstars. As a driver, Maurice had 26 NASCAR Cup starts with seven results in the top five and 16 in the top 10 between 1960 and 1964.
He was preceded in death by Patricia, his wife of 52 years, in 2014. Patricia’s loving support was an integral part of her legendary career and provided the foundation for the family.
Later, NASCAR President and CEO Jim France released a statement commenting: The ‘Boss’ was one of the most talented mechanics in NASCAR history. It provided the power that helped Petty Enterprises define dominance in sports. While he was known for his work under the hood, Maurice played multiple roles “behind the scenes”, doing whatever it took to help deliver his cars to Victory Lane. On behalf of the French family, I offer my condolences to the friends and family of Maurice Petty, a true NASCAR giant.
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