In 2008, I was the editor for The Racing Journal, and I was visiting Farmington Dragway. A couple of drag racing folk were telling me that a drag racer in Greensboro, N.C., was more famous than Richard Petty.
I was stunned that they'd think this, since I had never heard of this guy. Clearly, he wasn't as famous as John Force (whom I've met) and Shirley Muldowney (whom I interviewed by phone).
I pointed out that every drag-racing fan in the world had heard of Richard Petty, and NOT ONE NASCAR FAN had ever heard of their guy.
They stuck by their guns, and I gave up on the argument. Still, their view was unbelievable to me.
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