Pete Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Pete Hamilton is a retired American NASCAR
racer. He won four times in his career (including the 1970 Daytona 500
), three times driving for Petty Enterprises
. His father was a Ph.D.
from Harvard University
.
After that season he moved south to race in NASCAR. He started racing in the NASCAR Grand National (now Sprint Cup) division in 1968, and was the series Rookie of the Year
. In 1969 he competed in NASCAR's Grand American
division, a division of smaller pony car
s. He won 12 of 26 races that year and won the series championship.
He had three wins in 1970 for Petty Enterprises
in the #40 Superbird
. He won the 1970 Daytona 500
and both races at Talladega Superspeedway
. He won his fourth race of the season at the July Daytona race in Cotton Owens
' car. Hamilton won his Twin 125 mile qualifying race for the 1971 Daytona 500. He retired from full-time racing in 1971 because of a neck injury suffered in a Grand American race in 1969.
Hamilton won the 1974 Snowball Derby
in his late model
racecar.
in 1998, its first class.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
racer. He won four times in his career (including the 1970 Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
), three times driving for Petty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises was a NASCAR racing team based in Randleman, North Carolina, USA. The team was owned by Richard Petty, his son Kyle Petty, and Boston Ventures. At the time of its folding the team operated the #43 and #45 Dodge Chargers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Petty Enterprises ran from...
. His father was a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Racing career
Hamilton began racing in the street division in 1962 at Norwood Arena. In 1965 he was the Thompson World Series Twin 50s champion. He won the 1967 NASCAR National Sportsman division in 1967.After that season he moved south to race in NASCAR. He started racing in the NASCAR Grand National (now Sprint Cup) division in 1968, and was the series Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Rookie of the Year
The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year....
. In 1969 he competed in NASCAR's Grand American
Grand American
Grand American was a NASCAR sanctioned series of pony car stock cars. The series ran from 1968 until 1971. The series was called "Grand Touring" from 1968 to 1969. It was sometimes nicknamed the Baby Grand series.-History:...
division, a division of smaller pony car
Pony car
Pony car is an American class of automobile launched and inspired by the Ford Mustang in 1964. The term describes an affordable, compact, highly styled car with a sporty or performance-oriented image.-Origins of the breed:...
s. He won 12 of 26 races that year and won the series championship.
He had three wins in 1970 for Petty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises was a NASCAR racing team based in Randleman, North Carolina, USA. The team was owned by Richard Petty, his son Kyle Petty, and Boston Ventures. At the time of its folding the team operated the #43 and #45 Dodge Chargers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Petty Enterprises ran from...
in the #40 Superbird
Plymouth Superbird
The short-lived Plymouth Road Runner Superbird was a highly modified version of the Plymouth Road Runner with well known graphics and horn. It was the factory's follow up stock car racing design for the 1970 season to the Dodge Charger Daytona of 1969, and incorporated many engineering changes and...
. He won the 1970 Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
and both races at Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
. He won his fourth race of the season at the July Daytona race in Cotton Owens
Cotton Owens
Everett "Cotton" Owens "the King of the Modifieds" was a NASCAR driver. For five straight years , Owens captured at least one Grand National series win.-Modified driving career:...
' car. Hamilton won his Twin 125 mile qualifying race for the 1971 Daytona 500. He retired from full-time racing in 1971 because of a neck injury suffered in a Grand American race in 1969.
Hamilton won the 1974 Snowball Derby
Snowball Derby
The Snowball Derby is a 300-lap super late model stock car automobile race held annually at the half-mile Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. The race has been contested every year since 1968 and is always run on the first weekend in December...
in his late model
Late model
A "late model car" is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. The term is broadly used in car racing, and often appears in common use, as in "The officer was driving an unmarked, late model sedan."There is no precise...
racecar.
Career award
He was inducted in the New England Auto Racers Hall of FameNew England Auto Racers Hall of Fame
The New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for racing-related people in the New England region of the United States. NEAR was established in 1981. The New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame was established in 1998 by the New England Antique Racers.-New England Antique Racers:The...
in 1998, its first class.