Where were you the day that man first stepped foot on the moon?

If you were Richard Petty, you were helping rival David Pearson drive the No. 17 Ford to victory lane at Bristol Motor Speedway – then called Bristol International Speedway.

The 1969 Volunteer 500 on July 20, was just hours before ‘one small step’ captivated mankind. It was the first Bristol race on the new, high-banked configuration put in by track owner Larry Carrier, who wanted the fastest half-mile track in the world. 

Cale Yarborough started on the pole, shattering the qualifying record by nearly 15 miles per hour.  Like most of his competitors though, Yarborough’s race didn’t last long. An early nine-car wreck, coupled with multiple engine issues caused by the mid-summer heat, sidelined two-thirds of the field before they reached the midpoint of the race.

Petty and Yarborough were among the early race spectators, along with fellow NASCAR Hall of Famers Bobby Allison and Buddy Baker. Petty’s time outside the car didn’t last long, however. Pearson was suffering from the flu, and in need of a relief driver.

“I saw Richard was out of the race, so I decided to grab him before someone else did,” said Pearson. “Richard did a fine job for me.”

Petty spent 155 laps in the Holman-Moody Ford and led the field for about half of them. Pearson got back in the car on lap 256, and eventually cruised to a three-lap victory over Bobby Isaac, who himself needed mid-race relief in the form of Bobby Allison.

In a twist of irony, Petty’s help gave Pearson his 55th career victory, breaking the tie of second for all-time wins with Richard’s father, Lee Petty. Pearson also went on to become the series 1969 champion.

Another tidbit from the race according to urban legend, Henley Gray deliberately quit the race so he could get home in time to watch the moon landing on television. As a result, he only won $550 in prize money and finished only 206 of the 500 laps in the race.