Kyle Petty Dissects Bowman Gray’s Only Winnerless Race in NASCAR History
NASCAR’s return to Bowman Gray Stadium for the 2025 Clash has resulted in a wave of nostalgia and excitement from core fans and drivers alike. The historic quarter-mile bullring, nestled in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is where legends were made, rivalries were born, and history was written. It’s the track where Richard Petty, “The King” himself, clinched his 100th career win in 1969—a milestone that set the stage for his eventual 200 victories. However, Kyle Petty recently revealed that Bowman Gray is also home to one of the most bizarre stories in NASCAR history: a race that, for 53 years, officially had no winner.
In a candid video, Kyle Petty took fans on a journey through the storied past of Bowman Gray, sharing memories of his father’s triumphs and the track’s unique place in NASCAR lore. But the real gem of his storytelling was the tale of the 1971 Myers Brothers Memorial 250—a race that ended in confusion, controversy, and a winner who wasn’t officially recognized, until now.
The infamous race that never had a winner
Kyle Petty’s connection to Bowman Gray runs deep. “Somewhere in this area,” he said, gesturing to the grandstands, “is where I was sitting with my mom and sisters when my dad won his 100th race. That was 1969. But the history of this track goes beyond that. In 1971, they had a race here. Richard Petty sat on the pole, Bobby Allison won the race, but Bobby didn’t get credit for it. Neither did my dad, who finished second. So, in all the history of NASCAR, Bowman Gray’s very last race had no official winner. Just a guy who went home with a trophy but no credit.”
The 1971 race was a “combination event,” a common practice at the time, where NASCAR allowed Grand American Series cars—lighter, more nimble pony cars like Ford Mustangs and Chevrolet Camaros—to compete alongside the heavier Cup Series machines. Bobby Allison dominated the day, leading 138 of 250 laps in his Mel Joseph-owned No. 49 Mustang. He crossed the finish line three seconds ahead of Richard Petty, took home the trophy, and pocketed the $1,000 prize. But because he was driving a Grand American car, NASCAR didn’t count it as a Cup Series win.
The decision baffled Allison for decades. “I got the money and the trophy,” he once said. “I’ve been told the race was in the record book for a year or two, then it wasn’t. If NASCAR is a major sport, then Bowman Gray was a major race. How can you have a major race without a winner?”
Justice delayed, but not denied
For 53 years, the Myers Brothers Memorial 250 stood as the only NASCAR Cup Series race without an official winner. That changed on October 23, 2024, when NASCAR CEO Jim France and senior advisor Mike Helton visited Bobby Allison to deliver long-overdue news: he was now officially the winner of the 1971 race.
The decision wasn’t just about righting a wrong; it was about honoring a true legend of the sport. Allison, now 86 and in declining health, had long argued that his victory should count. His case gained traction as historians revisited combination races from that era. With Bowman Gray’s Clash on the horizon, another question crosses the mind. Tiny Lund’s wins in similar events at Hickory and North Wilkesboro had been credited as Cup victories. Why not Allison’s?
“For 53 years, the Myers Brothers Memorial 250 was the only race run by NASCAR that did not have an official winner,” France said in the announcement. “As we began preparations for the upcoming Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, the topic of that August 6, 1971 race returned to the forefront. We felt it was the right thing to officially recognize Bobby’s win and honor him as an 85-time NASCAR Cup Series winner.”
The correction moves Allison into sole possession of fourth place on NASCAR’s all-time wins list, ahead of Darrell Waltrip. It also adds another layer to the Petty-Allison rivalry as Richard Petty’s official win total remains at 200 (although let’s be real, neither probably cares anymore). Had the Bowman Gray race been counted differently, Kyle Petty’s 1984 Firecracker 400 victory—celebrated as his 200th win—would have been his 201st.
But back to the point of Kyle’s video. The Bowman Gray Stadium is a living museum of NASCAR history. Built-in 1937 as a public works project during the Great Depression, the stadium has hosted everything from college football to stock car racing. It was here that NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. launched weekly racing in 1949, and where legends like Lee Petty, Ralph Earnhardt, and Richie Evans cut their teeth.
The track’s tight quarters and high banks earned it the nickname “The Madhouse,” and for good reason. Races often devolved into bumper-car battles, with tempers flaring and rivalries boiling over. It’s where Richard Petty won his 100th race, where Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Clint Bowyer tested the Next Gen car in 2021, and where NASCAR will kick off its 2025 season with the Cook Out Clash.
The post Kyle Petty Dissects Bowman Gray’s Only Winnerless Race in NASCAR History appeared first on EssentiallySports.
Comments 0