Richard Petty's Racing Career

Born in Level Cross, North Carolina on July 2, 1937, Richard Petty, the man who would be known as “The King”, began his racing career at the age of 21. Petty’s father, Lee Petty, won the first Daytona 500 race in 1959 and won the NASCAR Championship three times. Richard was able to travel with his mother and brother to watch his father’s races and celebrate in his successes. Petty’s brother, Maurice, started his career the same way; however, he choose to work on engines rather than race.

Petty married to his wife, Lynda, in 1958 and they had four children: Kyle Petty, Sharon Petty (Farlow), Lisa Petty (Luck) and Rebecca Petty (Moffit). He also started to run the race tracks in that same year. He won his first race in 1960 at the Charlotte Speedway in North Carolina. After running his last race in 1992, which was held at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, he retired.

Petty was known as “The King” for his championship record. He won the NASCAR Winston Cup Series a total of seven times and he holds a winning record of 200 races during his racing career. He won the Daytona 500 race a record of seven times and holds a winning score of 27 races. Petty has won many trophies and awards in his career and he tributes that to his fans and family. He’s dedicated to his fans by signing every autograph and he honors them all by saluting to them after every race.