Hall of fame's first class: Richard Petty
Tuesday, Oct. 06, 2009
Richard Petty – a.k.a. "The King" – had just recorded his 200th victory when this photo was taken in early July 1984 at the Petty Enterprises shops in Level Cross, N.C. – File
David Pearson inches to the finish line Feb. 15, 1976, at Daytona International Speedway to win the Daytona 500, his first in the event. In the infield is Richard Petty, who finished second after the rivals slammed into each other, then the wall while battling on the final lap. – File
AP
Former NASCAR drivers Richard Petty, left, and David Pearson share a laugh during practice for the Kobalt 500 NASCAR Sprint CUp auto race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga., Friday, March 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Glenn Smith)
AP
NASCAR legend Richard Petty arrives for the premiere of the Disney/Pixar animated film "Cars" at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Friday May 26, 2006. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
UPI
08/29/1980 (From L) Maurice Petty and brother Richard Petty discuss an engine change that kept Petty out of the first round of qualifying for the Southern 500. UPI FILE PHOTO
- Slideshow | Richard Petty
- Slideshow | Hall of Fame nominees
- Slideshow | Bill France Sr.
- Slideshow | Bill France Jr.
- NASCAR Hall committee got first 25 right
- Petty and the president - and on the Fourth of July
- The day Mrs. Petty whipped ol' Tiny
- More on the inaugural class, slideshows
- Hall deliberations, vote, announcement near
- Petty: Don't base hall picks on popularity
- David Poole's picks for NASCAR's hall
- Handicapping the hall's starting field
- NASCAR sets May date for hall's opening in Charlotte
- Parks collection a boost for hall
- The official NASCAR hall site
Richard Petty’s Cup Series records are staggering: Most wins (200), most poles (123), tied for most championships (seven) and more.
Competed: 1958-1992
Starts: 1,185
Wins: 200
Poles: 123
Petty’s Cup Series records are staggering: Most wins (200), most poles (123), tied for most championships (seven), most wins in a season (27), most Daytona 500 wins (seven), most consecutive wins (10) and most starts (1,185).
In all, Petty Enterprises totaled 268 victories before merging with Gillett Evernham Motorsports for the 2009 season to become Richard Petty Motorsports.
Tom Higgins on 'The King'
Motorsports writer and historian Tom Higgins shares a standout memory of each of the 10 nominees we're featuring as we count down to the NASCAR Hall of Fame vote and announcement.
Richmond, Va. – the 1982
The van slowly circled the expansive, empty parking lot at the old Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in February of 1982, strangely starting and stopping intermittently.
“What’s with that guy?” I asked a media buddy as we made our way toward the press box prior to time trials for the Richmond 400, scheduled two days later. My pal expressed confusion, too.
Suddenly the van turned toward us and rolled to a stop. Down came a heavily tinted driver’s-side window and we were greeted with a glowing, familiar grin.
The driver was Richard Petty.
“I haven’t gone crazy, boys,” Petty said with a chuckle. “I’m just practicing my braking and using the clutch pedal.”
Petty needed the practice because he’d suffered torn ligaments and a broken foot the weekend before in a Daytona 500 crash. He had a cast on his right leg from calf to toe. The cast was hinged at the ankle to improve his mobility in using the pedals.
Such dedication, including driving while hurt, was pivotal as Petty gained the pinnacle of his sport and unequaled popularity, becoming “The King” forever.
He finished second in that race incidentally.
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