what NASCAR driver went drag racing briefly and had a crash which killed a spectator?
Richard Petty in 1965 breifly entered drag racing, driving a Plymouth Barracuda with a 426 Hemi engine after NASCAR banned that engine from its stock car races following the 1964 season. On February 28, 1965 driving a Barracuda called “Outlawed,” in a match race with Arnie Beswick, the Barracuda experienced transmission problems off the line. As Petty tried to find second gear, the car started to get loose. When Petty finally got it into second gear the car suddenly broke loose, turned towards the spectator area, and hit the embankment. The Petty Blue Barracuda vaulted the embankment, and went into the crowd. Seven people were injured; the eighth victim, 8 year old Wayne Dye of Austell, Georgia died of his injuries before reaching the hospital.
