When Petty retired, NASCAR President Bill France Jr. told USA Today, "Richard Petty is NASCAR Winston Cup racing." That was not hyperbole. Richard Petty was born in Level Cross, North Carolina on July 2, 1937. He was the son of Lee Petty, a three-time NASCAR Grand National champion, and his wife Elizabeth. From an early age, Petty showed an interest in cars and motorsports. He worked as a driver/mechanic for his family's motor sports team when he wasn't attending school. In 1955, at the age of 19, Petty started working full time for his family business. He quickly became one of the most successful race drivers of all time, winning seven championships over 16 years. His record of winning races while wearing many different types of hats (sponsors) is still intact today.
Petty announced his retirement on April 30, 2003 after finishing 33rd at the Aaron's 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. He said then that he wanted to spend more time with his family and less time at the track. Since his retirement, Petty has continued to make appearances at NASCAR races and has become a popular speaker at corporate events. He also remains active in the sport, serving as an advisor to NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.
He is married to Linda Petty. They have four children: Amy, Christopher, Mark, and Mattie. The couple resides in Mooresville, North Carolina.
Richard Petty is estimated to be worth about $80 million.
Petty is a third-generation racer. Lee Petty, his father, won the first Daytona 500 in 1959 and was a three-time NASCAR champion. Kyle, his son, was also a NASCAR driver.
| Richard Petty | |
|---|---|
| First race | 1958 Jim Mideon 500 (Toronto) |
| Last race | 1992 Hooters 500 (Atlanta) |
| First win | 1960 untitled race (Southern States) |
Petty is a third-generation racer. Lee Petty, his father, won the first Daytona 500 in 1959 and was a three-time NASCAR champion. ...
| Richard Petty | |
|---|---|
| 1,184 races run over 35 years | |
| Best finish | 1st (1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979) |
| First race | 1958 Jim Mideon 500 (Toronto) |
| Last race | 1992 Hooters 500 (Atlanta) |
Richard Lee Petty (born July 2, 1937) is a former NASCAR driver who competed in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era as well as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.
He still wears the famous number 43 for the STP Pontiac squad and may be found signing autographs for his adoring fans. Kyle Petty, his son, is a NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver. Owns the record for finishing second in a NASCAR championship points event.
Petty, Richard Kyle Petty/Day Father's
Kyle Eugene Petty (born June 2, 1960) is a former stock car racing driver and current racing pundit from the United States. He is the son of racer Richard Petty, grandson of racer Lee Petty, and father of racer Adam Petty, who died in a practice collision in May 2000.
Richard Petty was born on July 2, 1937, and is currently 82 years old. He remains one of the most successful race car drivers in history, with more than $70 million in career winnings.
Petty started out racing stock cars before moving up to sprint cars. It wasn't until late in his career that he began winning races across the country. In 1979, he won his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship. Since then, he has gone on to win eight more championships, making him the most successful driver of the "modern era" of NASCAR.
He has also won the Daytona 500 five times and the All-Star Race twice. Petty's best season came in 1971 when he finished second in the points standings of the NASCAR Grand National Series. He has been named the Most Popular Driver six times by NASCAR fans.
After retirement, Petty ran a few races in 1992 and 1993 before retiring for good. He continues to work for his family's business, the Richard Petty Motorsports team, which includes drivers Josh Boyer and Aric Almirola.
He has three children: Jennifer, Kyle, and Adam.
Richard Petty, the King of Stock Car Racing, retired from NASCAR competition following the 1992 season. He won 200 Winston Cup races (a record that will never be broken), seven Winston Cup titles (matched by Dale Earnhardt in 1994), and seven Daytona 500s throughout his illustrious career.
He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Tallahassee, Florida, in 1995 and into the National Motorsports Press Association's Gallery of Great Drivers in 1996. Petty died on May 2, 2003, at the age of 44 due to heart failure caused by an earlier stroke. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
During his career, Petty won seven championships in various series he competed in, most notably the Winston Cup Series. His record of winning more than any other driver has yet to be beaten. He remains the only driver to win the premier series championship before it became known as the NASCAR Cup Series.
Petty made his first start in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1973, driving a Ford Mustang developed by Andy Hillenburg and Ron Kersey. The team finished eighth overall and second in its class. He returned to Le Mans in 1975 and 1976, finishing second in both years. In 1977, Petty and David Pearson teamed up to win the event for the first time in history.
Copyright © 2020 - 2023 Sportsmanist Inc.
