Richard Petty facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Richard Petty |
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Petty at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024
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| Born | July 2, 1937 Level Cross, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) | ||||||
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| 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) | ||||||
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Richard Lee Petty (born July 2, 1937) is a famous American former stock car racing driver. He is often called "the King" because of his amazing career in NASCAR. From 1958 to 1992, he drove the iconic No. 43 car for Petty Enterprises.
Richard Petty holds many records in NASCAR. He won the Cup Series championship seven times, a record he shares with Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson. He also won an incredible 200 races, including the Daytona 500 seven times. In 1967, he had a record-breaking season with 27 wins! Many people consider him one of the greatest drivers ever.
After his racing days, Petty continued to be involved in motorsports. He is an ambassador for Legacy Motor Club and owns Petty's Garage, a shop that restores and customizes cars. He also lent his voice to the character Strip "The King" Weathers in the Disney/Pixar Cars movies.
Contents
Growing Up
Richard Petty was born on July 2, 1937, in Level Cross, North Carolina. His father, Lee Petty, was also a famous NASCAR driver. Richard grew up enjoying simple hobbies like whittling and helped out on his uncles' tobacco fields.
He went to Randleman High School and was a talented football player. After graduating in 1955, he studied business for a short time. Soon after, he started working for his father's racing business, Petty Enterprises. This was the beginning of his legendary career.
Richard Petty's Racing Journey
Richard Petty started his NASCAR career on July 18, 1958, just after his 21st birthday. He quickly showed his talent, earning the NASCAR Rookie of the Year award in 1959. That year, he even helped his father, Lee Petty, win the first-ever Daytona 500 as part of his pit crew!
Early Wins and First Championship
In 1960, Richard got his first official career win. By 1964, he was unstoppable. Driving a powerful Plymouth with a new Hemi engine, he won his first Daytona 500. That year, he earned nine victories and his first Grand National championship.
In 1965, there was a disagreement about engine rules in NASCAR. Richard briefly tried drag racing. During this time, he was involved in a serious crash that led to important safety changes in racing. He soon returned to NASCAR when the Hemi engine was allowed again.
On February 27, 1966, Richard won his second Daytona 500, becoming the first driver to win the event twice. The year 1967 was truly special. Richard won an incredible 27 out of 48 races, including ten wins in a row! This amazing performance earned him his second Grand National Championship and the famous nickname "King Richard".
Dominating the 1970s
Richard started the 1970s strong, winning his third Daytona 500 in 1971. He went on to win 20 more races that year, becoming the first driver to earn over $1 million in career prize money. He also claimed his third Grand National Championship.
In 1972, a company called STP became his main sponsor. This led to his famous orange and "Petty Blue" car design. With 28 top-ten finishes and eight victories, Richard won his fourth NASCAR Cup Series championship. He continued his success, winning the Daytona 500 again in 1973 and 1974, earning his fifth championship.
The year 1975 was another record-breaker, with 13 victories and his sixth Winston Cup. In 1976, he was part of one of NASCAR's most memorable finishes at the Daytona 500. He and David Pearson crashed on the last lap, and Pearson managed to restart his car and win, while Richard finished second.
After a challenging 1978 season, Richard switched from Dodge to Chevrolet and Oldsmobile cars. This change brought him back to victory lane. In 1979, he won the Daytona 500 in an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. This race, known for its exciting finish, was the first to be televised live from start to finish and helped make NASCAR even more popular. Richard won four more races that year and secured his seventh and final NASCAR championship.
The Final Years of Racing
Richard continued to win in the early 1980s, including his seventh and final Daytona 500 victory in 1981. This win was special because he used a clever "fuel only" pit stop strategy.
In 1984, Richard Petty achieved his 200th and final career victory at the Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway. This race was incredibly exciting, with a close finish against Cale Yarborough. Even President Ronald Reagan was there to celebrate this historic moment with Richard and his family!
Richard announced his retirement after the 1992 season. He embarked on a year-long "Fan Appreciation Tour," visiting tracks across the country to thank his fans. His final race was the Hooters 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a truly memorable event in NASCAR history. During the race, Richard was involved in a crash and his car caught fire, but he was uninjured and even managed to get his car running again to finish the race. He took a final lap around the track to wave goodbye to his fans.
Richard Petty's Legacy
Richard Petty is widely considered one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. His records include:
- Most career wins: 200
- Most championships: 7 (tied with Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson)
- Most Daytona 500 wins: 7
- Most wins in a single season: 27 (in 1967)
- Most consecutive wins: 10 (in 1967)
- Most pole positions: 123
- Most career starts: 1,185
He led an incredible 51,514 laps during his career. Richard was known for his exciting driving style and for always being friendly with his fans.
In 1998, the Richard Petty Museum opened in his hometown of Level Cross, North Carolina, to share his life and career with visitors. He was also named one of "NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers" in 1998 and one of "NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers" in 2023.
Awards and Honors
Richard Petty has received many prestigious awards:
- Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (1989)
- International Motorsports Hall of Fame (1997)
- NASCAR Hall of Fame (2010)
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (1992) - the highest civilian award in the United States.
- North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame (1973)
- Automotive Hall of Fame (2002)
The Richard Petty Driver of the Year Award is given each year to NASCAR's most outstanding driver, showing his lasting impact on the sport.
Life After Driving
After retiring from full-time racing, Richard Petty remained very active. He continued to be involved with his racing team, Richard Petty Motorsports, and helped guide new talent.
He also became a television commentator for some NASCAR races, sharing his knowledge with fans. Richard has been a spokesman for various products, including Cheerios.
In 1997, the Richard Petty Driving Experience opened, allowing people to drive real stock cars. He and his son, Kyle Petty, also helped create "Victory Junction," a special summer camp for seriously ill children. This camp provides a fun and safe environment with medical staff available around the clock. In 2025, Richard donated an additional 403 acres of land to the camp.
Richard Petty is often seen wearing his signature sunglasses and a cowboy hat. He continues to be a beloved figure in the world of NASCAR.
Close Calls and Safety
Throughout his career, Richard Petty survived several serious crashes. These incidents, though scary, often led to important safety improvements in NASCAR. For example, after a crash in 1970, NASCAR made it mandatory to install safety nets over the driver's side window, a feature Petty himself helped develop.
In 1988, he was involved in a spectacular crash at the Daytona 500 where his car tumbled many times. Amazingly, he walked away with no serious injuries. These events highlighted the dangers of racing and the constant need for better safety measures.
Personal Life and Family
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Richard Petty comes from a famous racing family. His father, Lee Petty, was a three-time NASCAR champion and won the first Daytona 500 in 1959.
In 1958, Richard married Lynda Owens. They had four children, including Kyle Petty, who also became a NASCAR driver. Lynda passed away in 2014 at the age of 72. The Petty family still lives in their hometown of Level Cross, North Carolina.
Tragically, Richard's grandson, Adam Petty (Kyle's son), was killed in a practice crash in 2000. After this sad event, the Petty family established the Victory Junction camp to honor Adam's memory and help other children. Richard's other grandson, Thad Moffitt, is also a racing driver.
In 2008, Richard and his family founded the Petty Family Foundation, which supports children, veterans, and education in North Carolina. In 2014, he created the Lynda Petty Scholarship in his wife's honor, helping students interested in the automotive field.
Politics and Public Service
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Richard Petty is a registered Republican. He served as a county commissioner for Randolph County for 16 years, starting in 1978. This means he helped make decisions for his local community.
In 1996, he ran for North Carolina Secretary of State but was not elected. He has also supported various Republican presidential candidates over the years.
Film and TV Appearances
Richard Petty has appeared in several movies and TV shows, often playing himself or a character inspired by his racing career:
- He voiced Strip "The King" Weathers in the Disney/Pixar animated movies Cars (2006) and Cars 3 (2017). His wife, Lynda, also voiced The King's wife in Cars.
- He appeared as himself in the Tom Cruise movie Days of Thunder (1990).
- He was in the Burt Reynolds movie Stroker Ace (1983).
- He appeared in the opening credits of the Elvis Presley movie Speedway (1968).
- He was featured in the documentary Petty Blue.
See also
In Spanish: Richard Petty para niños
