Richard Petty
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty, nicknamed The King, is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. He is best known for winning the NASCAR Championship seven times, winning a record 200 races during his career, winning the Daytona 500 a record seven times, and winning a record 27 racesin the 1967 season alonein length, reducing the schedule to 30 races). Statistically, he is the most accomplished driver in the history...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionRace Car Driver
Date of Birth2 July 1937
CityLevel Cross, NC
CountryUnited States of America
We are excited to partner with TEAM, RADD and NHTSA on this campaign, designed to raise awareness of two major safety issues -- impaired driving and seatbelt use. Richard Petty Driving Experience provides the perfect venue for the campaign's messages and incentives, particularly for reaching young men, who make up the highest risk group for motor vehicle crashes, ... The collaboration of our staff, NASCAR driver hosts and fans with the celebrities and dignitaries that represent the campaign at Richard Petty Driving Experience is exciting to see.
He was at Richmond from the time I was a little boy. He was one of the originals in PR, in working with the drivers and the newspapers. He was one of the first to realize you don't just stick up a sign and say we're going to have a race Sunday. He went out, dug up PR and really got the job done. Any time we ran at Richmond, the place was always full.
What's your take on the Jamie McMurray and Kurt Busch deals?
We won it a few times, but that was when we had more family members than anyone else, I guess. A lot has changed since then.
These sprint boys weren't happy with how the sport was being promoted and where it was going, so they asked me if I'd still be interested in helping them, and I am,
I see two or three cars that are really good, but they're not dominant. There's usually somebody who's got one that's a little bit better than everybody.
There's probably not a crew chief out there who hasn't tried something that seemed like a good idea.
Every race is a chapter. Those are two important races. Who knows what Sunday will bring?
So I've realized that this outfit is part of Richard Petty now. And the real Richard Petty is still hidden behind these glasses.
Two Sundays don't make a season. But if we keep it together, we are going to win a whole bunch of races this year.
We ran a whole lot with him. I don't remember him ever causing any trouble, running over anybody or beating on anybody's head as far as Cup racing. I guess they'll remember him as a happy-go-lucky guy. That was my perspective of him.
You haven't been around here long, have you.
I don't know if it was much of an interview. We just shot the breeze.
They said, 'Well, it can be done, but we'll have to do it a different way (rather than purchasing the series).' So here we are.