A Look Back at Richard Petty, Petty Enterprises, and The Firecracker 400

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for NASCAR)

RPM returns this weekend to Daytona, where in the season opener all RPM drivers finished in the top fifteen, and three of them (Allmendinger, Sadler and Sorenson) finished in the top ten.

A win for RPM, on the fourth of July, and on the anniversary of The King's 200th career victory would be simply...magical.

Here's a look back at the 1984 Firecracker 400:

• Richard Petty obviously won his 200th win in the event. It would be the last of his career. The drivers for his team now at the time were nine (Elliot Sadler), four (Kahne), three (A.J. Allmendinger) and Reed Sorenson wasn't born until two years later.
• The race ended under caution when, with four laps remaining, the No. 01 of Dough Heveron flipped into the infield.
• Thirteen drivers failed to finish the event, and only six finished on the lead lap.
• Benny and Phil Parsons were the only pair of brothers in the race. They finished fifth and 13th, respectively. Richard and Kyle Petty, who both led laps during the race, were the only father and son to compete.
• Ken Ragan, NASCAR Sprint Cup driver David Ragan's father, finished 26th.
• 26 Chevrolets, six Pontiacs, six Fords, two Buicks, one Chrysler and one Oldsmobile made up the 42 car field.
• Fourteen states and one foreign country (Canada) were represented. Ten drivers were from North Carolina.
• The '84 Firecracker 400 had eight different leaders. Cale Yarborough, who finished third, led the most laps (79).

Thanks to Scene Daily, The Ledger, Racing Reference, Toledo Blade, SPEED TV and FOX Sports for the information, quotes and stats used in this article.

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