Pete Hamilton

Pete Hamilton of Dedham, Mass., came from an unlikely start to become a stock car racing legend. The son of a Harvard Ph.D., Hamilton started his racing career in 1962, driving street division races at the Norwood Arena. In 1965, he garnered his first championship in the Thompson World Series Twin 50’s. In 1967 Hamilton won NASCAR’s National Sportsman Championship.

At the end of the 1967 season, Hamilton took his driving skills South to give NASCAR’s Grand National Series a try. He earned Rookie of the Year honors. That same year saw Hamilton win 12 races on NASCAR’s Grand American circuit.

Hamilton’s biggest break came when Petty Enterprises signed him at the end of the 1969 season. It would result in immediate results as Hamilton drove the winged No. 40 Petty Enterprises Plymouth Superbird to a commanding win in the 1970 Daytona 500. That same year saw Hamilton sweep both events at Talladega, becoming the first driver to accomplish the feat in the track’s second year.

Hamilton’s four wins in Cup competition came in 64 races, with three pole positions. He was the first driver to win $100,000 on superspeedways in one season.