Richard Petty’s 3rd Daytona 500 Win (1971) | The Rise of The King & NASCAR’s New Era

Ramjack Media

14 February 2026

On February 14, 1971, at the 13th running of the Daytona 500, Richard Petty became the first driver in history to win the Great American Race three times. Driving the iconic No. 43 Plymouth at Daytona International Speedway, Petty’s victory wasn’t just another checkered flag — it marked a turning point in NASCAR history. The 1971 season was the inaugural year of what became known as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, ushering in a new era of corporate sponsorship and national growth for the sport. Petty’s Daytona triumph helped propel him to the first-ever Winston Cup championship later that season, further cementing his legacy as “The King.” He would go on to win a record seven Daytona 500s and seven championships, becoming the standard of greatness in stock car racing. In today’s episode of Sports History Daily, we relive the race that helped define a legend — and launched a new chapter in NASCAR history.