Richard Petty facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

For the former president & C.E.O. of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment, see Richard Peddie. For the psychology professor, see Richard E. Petty.

Quick facts for kids

Richard Petty

Petty at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024

Born

July 2, 1937 (age 88)
Level Cross, Randolph County, North Carolina, U.S.

Achievements

1964, 1967, Grand National Series Champion
1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979 Winston Cup Series Champion
Tied with Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson for most NASCAR Cup Series Championships (7)
1964, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1981 Daytona 500 Winner
1967 Southern 500 Winner
1975, 1977 World 600 Winner
1983 Winston 500 Winner
All-Time Wins Leader in NASCAR Cup Series (200)
All-Time Poles Leader in NASCAR Cup Series (123)
Holds record for most NASCAR Cup Series wins in a season (27 in 1967)
Holds record for most consecutive NASCAR Cup Series wins (10 in 1967)
Most all time wins at Daytona International Speedway (10)

Awards

1959 Grand National Series Rookie of the Year
NASCAR's Most Popular Driver (1962, 1964, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978)
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (1989)
International Motorsports Hall of Fame (1997)
NASCAR Hall of Fame (2010)
Diecast Hall of Fame (2011)
Named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers (1998)
Presidential Medal of Freedom (1992)

Named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers (2023)

NASCAR Cup Series career

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)

First win

1960 untitled race (Southern States)

Last win

1984 Firecracker 400 (Daytona)

Wins	Top tens	Poles
200	712	123

NASCAR Convertible Division career

15 races run over 2 years

Best finish

4th (1959)

First race

1958 Race No. 14 (Columbia)

Last race

1959 Race No. 14 (Greenville-Pickens)

First win

1959 Race No. 13 (Columbia)

Wins	Top tens	Poles
1	8	10

Richard Lee Petty (born July 2, 1937) is a former American stock car racing driver who is famously known by his nickname, "the King." He raced from 1958 to 1992 in what is now called the NASCAR Cup Series. He is best known for driving the No. 43 car for his family's team, Petty Enterprises.

Petty is one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history. He was the first driver to win the Cup Series championship seven times. This record is now shared with Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson. He also won a record 200 races in his career. This includes winning the famous Daytona 500 seven times. In the 1967 season alone, he won 27 races, which is still a record.

Because of his amazing achievements, Petty was chosen for the first class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010. He holds many NASCAR records, including most wins (200), most pole positions (123), and most starts (1,184). A pole position is the best starting spot in a race, which a driver earns by having the fastest practice time.

Even after retiring from driving, Petty has stayed involved in racing. He is an ambassador for the Legacy Motor Club team and owns Petty's Garage, a shop that restores and customizes cars.

Personal life
Racing career
Life After Racing
Images for kids
See also

Personal life

Racing runs in the Petty family. Richard's father, Lee Petty, was also a three-time NASCAR champion and won the very first Daytona 500 in 1959. Richard's brother, Maurice Petty, was a key part of their racing team.

In 1958, Richard married Lynda Owens. They had four children, including Kyle Petty, who also became a NASCAR driver. Lynda passed away in 2014. The family has always lived in their hometown of Level Cross, North Carolina.

Richard's grandson, Adam Petty, was also a race car driver. Sadly, Adam died in a crash during a practice session in 2000. After Adam's death, the Petty family started a camp called Victory Junction. The camp gives children with serious illnesses a fun and safe summer camp experience.

Racing career

Richard Petty was born in Level Cross, North Carolina. In high school, he was a talented football player. After graduating, he went to college for business and then started working for his father's racing company.

He began his NASCAR career in 1958, just after his 21st birthday. The next year, he was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year. In one of his early races in 1959, Petty thought he had won, but his father Lee protested. Officials reviewed the race and gave the win to Lee instead.

The 1960s: Becoming "The King"

Petty's famous Plymouth Superbird, on display at The Richard Petty Museum.

In 1960, Petty earned his first official win. His career took off in 1964 when he drove a powerful Plymouth with a new Hemi engine. He won his first Daytona 500 and his first Grand National championship that year.

In 1965, Chrysler, the company that made his car's engine, boycotted NASCAR. So, Petty tried drag racing for a short time. He was involved in a serious accident during a drag race, which made him focus even more on safety in motorsports.

He returned to NASCAR in 1966 and won his second Daytona 500. The year 1967 was incredible for Petty. He won 27 of the 48 races he entered, including 10 in a row. This amazing season earned him the nickname "King Richard."

In 1969, Petty switched to driving a Ford because he felt it was faster on the big tracks. He won 10 races that year. He returned to Plymouth in 1970, driving the sleek Plymouth Superbird. This car is so famous that a character based on it, Strip "The King" Weathers, appeared in the movie Cars.

The 1970s: A Decade of Dominance

Petty's IROC Porsche 911 from the 1970s.

The 1970s were a great time for Petty. He won his third Daytona 500 in 1971 and became the first driver to earn over $1 million in career prize money.

In 1972, he began a long partnership with the sponsor STP. This led to his car's famous orange and "Petty Blue" paint design. He won his fourth championship that year.

Petty won the Daytona 500 again in 1973 and 1974. By 1975, he had won his sixth Winston Cup championship. That year, he won 13 races, a record for the modern era of NASCAR.

One of the most famous moments in NASCAR history happened at the 1976 Daytona 500. Petty and David Pearson were battling for the lead on the final lap. They crashed into each other and spun out. Petty's car stalled just before the finish line. Pearson's car was also damaged, but he was able to slowly drive it across the line to win.

Petty won his seventh and final championship in 1979. That year's Daytona 500 had a dramatic finish. The two leaders crashed on the last lap, allowing Petty to sneak by and take the win. The race was the first to be shown live on TV from start to finish and helped make NASCAR very popular.

The 1980s and Final Years

Petty's racecar in 1983.

Petty won his seventh and final Daytona 500 in 1981. For this win, his crew chief, Dale Inman, made a clever call. On the last pit stop, they only added fuel instead of changing tires. This quick stop put Petty in the lead, and he held on to win.

On July 4, 1984, Petty won his 200th and final race at the Firecracker 400 in Daytona. The race was very exciting. Petty and another driver, Cale Yarborough, were side-by-side on the final lap. Petty won by just a fender. President Ronald Reagan was at the race, making him the first sitting president to attend a NASCAR event.

Petty's Final Race in 1992

Petty driving the No. 43 during a test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

In 1991, Petty announced that the 1992 season would be his last. He went on a "Fan Appreciation Tour" to thank his fans across the country.

His final race was the Hooters 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This race is considered one of the greatest in NASCAR history. It was also the first race for future star Jeff Gordon. During the race, Petty's car was involved in an accident and caught fire. He was not hurt. His crew worked hard to fix the car so he could finish the race. He drove the final two laps and was cheered by the crowd as he crossed the finish line one last time.

Life After Racing

Petty with President George W. Bush in 2006.

After retiring, Richard Petty has stayed busy. He became a team owner in NASCAR, and the team Richard Petty Motorsports was named after him. He also worked as a TV commentator for a short time.

He is often seen wearing his trademark cowboy hat and sunglasses. He has appeared in movies, including a role as the voice of "The King" in the Disney/Pixar movie Cars.

Petty has also been involved in politics. In 1996, he ran for the office of Secretary of State in North Carolina as a Republican. Although he did not win, he has supported various political candidates over the years.

In 1992, President George H. W. Bush awarded Petty the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest honor a civilian can receive in the United States. Petty was the first motorsports athlete to receive this award.