Maurice Petty (March 27, 1939July 25, 2020) was an American NASCAR crew chief and engine builder for Petty Enterprises, of which he was part owner. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2011. He was subsequently enshrined into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2014. He was the first engine builder to be inducted into that Hall.

Early life Petty was born in Level Cross, North Carolina, on March 27, 1939. As a child, he would follow his father, Lee Petty, to the race track. The younger Petty's mechanical skills were credited as having played an "integral part" in his father's success. Although he himself started 26 times in the NASCAR Cup Series between 1960 and 1964, he soon elected to focus on engine building.

Career Petty Enterprises was founded by Lee Petty and his two sons. The Petty family, working together as a team, corporately won over 250 races. Maurice primarily served the organization as engine builder and crew chief. He raced for the organization in 26 competitions from 1960 to 1964. As a driver, his best finish was third place at the Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1961. In 1970, Petty was the crew chief for Pete Hamilton, who won three races for Petty Enterprises, including the 1970 Daytona 500 and both races at Talladega Superspeedway. As an engine builder, Maurice built the motors that helped his brother Richard win a record 200 victories, along with seven Cup Series championships.

In 2011, Maurice Petty was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, Alabama, in recognition of his career as a team owner, engine builder, crew chief, and driver. Three years later, he was enshrined into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He became the first engine builder to be inducted into that Hall, as well as the fourth member from Petty Enterprises.

Personal life and death Petty was the younger brother of Richard Petty, who depended on his engines throughout the latter's career. He was also the uncle of Kyle Petty and Trent Owens, and the great-uncle of Adam Petty. Maurice was married to Patricia for 52 years, until her death in 2014. Maurice had three sons: Timmy, Mark and Ritchie. Maurice Petty suffered from polio as a child, and ongoing effects of the illness resulted in him becoming less mobile, which played a role in his retirement from the Petty Enterprises team.

Petty died on the morning of July 25, 2020, at age 81. The cause of death was undisclosed.Maurice Petty, NASCAR Hall of Fame engine builder, dies

Honors and awards 2011: International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee 2013: NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee 2014: NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2014

Motorsports career results Source: NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.) Grand National Series NASCAR Grand National Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 Pts 1960 Petty Enterprises 44 Plymouth CLT CLB DAY DAY DAY CLT NWS PHO CLB MAR HCY WIL BGS GPS AWS DAR PIF HBO RCH HMS CLT BGS DAY HEI MAB MBS ATL BIR8 NSV AWS PIF CLB SBO BGS DAR HCY CSF GSP HBO MAR NWS CLT 94th 304 42 RCH9 ATL 1961 43 CLT JSP DAY DAY DAY PIF AWS HMS ATL GPS HBO15 GPS7 59th – 42 BGS14 MAR NWS CLB HCY RCH MAR DAR CLT CLT RSD ASP CLT PIF3 BIR GPS7 BGS13 NOR HAS STR DAY ATL CLB MBS18 BRI NSV HBO4 44 BGS21 AWS RCH SBO DAR HCY RCH CSF ATL MAR NWS CLT BRI 1962 43 CON26 AWS DAY DAY DAY CON 57th 1278 41 AWS4 SVH HBO6 RCH CLB NWS GPS MBS MAR BGS BRI19 RCH HCY CON5 DAR PIF CLT ATL BGS AUG RCH SBO DAY CLB ASH GPS AUG SVH MBS BRI CHT NSV HUN AWS STR BGS PIF VAL DAR HCY RCH DTS AUG MAR NWS CLT ATL 1963 42 BIR14 GGS6 THS5 RSD DAY DAY DAY PIF AWS HBO ATL HCY BRI AUG RCH GPS SBO BGS MAR NWS 74th 944 43 CLB20 THS DAR ODS RCH CLT BIR ATL DAY MBS SVH DTS BGS ASH OBS BRR BRI GPS NSV CLB AWS PIF BGS ONA DAR HCY RCH MAR DTS NWS THS CLT SBO HBO RSD 1964 41 CON5 AUG JSPDNQ RCH7 BRI GPS7 BGS ATL AWS6 HBO22 PIF CLB NWS MAR SVH DAR LGY HCY SBO CLT GPS ASH ATL CON NSV CHT BIR VAL PIF DAY ODS OBS BRR ISP GLN LIN BRI NSV MBS AWS DTS ONA CLB BGS STR DAR HCY RCH ODS HBO MAR SVH NWS CLT HAR AUG JAC 61st 1760 42 SVH4 RSD DAY DAY DAY

References

External links

"2 Minutes With.." Interview Video