from 1996: Heading home from the Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sept. 11, Richard Petty apparently felt the car in front of him wasn't going fast enough.
According to Petty, both cars were traveling about 70 m.p.h. in the fast lane- 5 m.p.h. over the posted speed limit - when the other driver, James Rassette, jammed on his brakes.
Petty's 1996 Dodge pickup truck bumped into the rear of Rassette's 1996 Mazda. Unfazed, the winning-est driver in NASCAR history continued on his way, while Rassette, of Oak Ridge, N.C., pulled off the road and flagged down a state trooper.
Four counties and 45 miles from the scene of the incident, Trooper M.W. Mantel caught up with Petty.
Rassette ``got a little aggravated because I kept running up on the back of him,'' Petty said. ``Instead of shooting each other or throwing rocks at each other, he retaliated by putting on his brakes.''