Catchfence

In 1992, when Richard Petty — still considered by many to be America’s greatest stock-car driver — was doing his farewell tour, Waterford’s Dillon Moltz was a 1-year-old still figuring out how to stand on two legs.

Since then, Moltz, the current Late-Model Stock Car Division points leader at Stafford Motor Speedway, has mastered going much faster.

Moltz was selected by Petty and his group in April to compete at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in the Richard Petty Driver Search.

Not only was Moltz there, but after four days in intense racing in 11 difficult modules, he came out ahead of the field.

The King of Stock Car Racing saw something in this yet to be 19-year-old who could handle a full-blown, 850-horsepower Nextel Cup car at speeds of more than 190 miles per hour on the mile-and-a-half Charlotte, N.C., track.

- Norwich Bulletin