John Gavin
American film actor and former Ambassador to Mexico
Richard Petty, nicknamed “the King”, is one of the most accomplished NASCAR drivers of all time. He won a record 7 NASCAR Cup Series championships, 200 races, and 7 Daytona 500s during his illustrious 35-year career. Petty remains an active ambassador for the sport and owns a car restoration business in North Carolina.
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About the Richard Petty
Richard Lee Pettyand most startsin the Cup Series and owner of Petty’s Garagein Level Cross, North Carolina. During his 35-year career, Petty collected a record number of polesand over 700 top 10 finishes in a record 1,184 starts, including 513 consecutive starts from 1971 to 1989. Petty was the first driver to win in his 500th race start, being joined by Matt Kenseth in 2013.
The Richard Petty Museum was formerly in nearby Randleman, North Carolina, but moved back to its original location in Level Cross in March 2014. Petty has also voiced a role in Disney/Pixar’s animated films Cars and Cars 3, playing Strip “The King” Weathers, a character partially based on himself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Richard Petty is an American former stock car racing driver who competed in NASCAR from 1958 to 1992. He is considered one of the greatest NASCAR drivers of all time, winning a record 7 Cup Series championships and 200 races during his career.
Richard Petty holds the record for most Daytona 500 wins, having won the prestigious race 7 times in his career.
The Petty racing family refers to the dynasty of NASCAR drivers, team owners, and mechanics that includes Richard Petty and his family members such as his father Lee Petty and son Kyle Petty, who were also successful NASCAR competitors.
Richard Petty holds the record for most wins in a single NASCAR season, having won 27 races in 1967, a feat that has not been matched since.
The Richard Petty Museum is a museum dedicated to celebrating the career and accomplishments of NASCAR legend Richard Petty. The museum is located in Level Cross, North Carolina, the original location of Petty’s racing operations.
Even after his retirement from driving, Richard Petty has remained very active in NASCAR, serving as a team ambassador for the Legacy Motor Club and owning a car restoration and modification shop called Petty’s Garage in North Carolina.
Yes, Richard Petty has voiced a role in the Disney/Pixar animated films Cars and Cars 3, playing the character of Strip ,The King, Weathers, which was partially based on himself.
9 Quotes by Richard Petty
- 1.
If guys don’t respect themselves, they don’t respect other people. That’s times and personalities. And all of them are not that way. But it don’t take but one or two to screw up the whole crowd.
Richard PettyAmerican racing driver
- 2.
I quit driving, I’m not retired.
Richard PettyAmerican racing driver
- 3.
No one wants to quit when he’s losing and no one wants to quit when he’s winning.
Richard PettyAmerican racing driver
- 4.
I’d rather be called King than other things I’ve been called.
Richard PettyAmerican racing driver
- 5.
Now they’re getting so politically correct you can’t even stick your tongue out at somebody.
Richard PettyAmerican racing driver
- 6.
I don’t know if it was much of an interview. We just shot the breeze.
Richard PettyAmerican racing driver
- 7.
Cats know, comin’ out of four, they better be standin’ on it, else they’ll be standin’ in it.
Richard PettyAmerican racing driver
- 8.
Cotton Owens was leading and daddy was second. They came up on me and I moved over to let them pass. Cotton went on, but daddy bumped me in the rear and my car went right into the wall.
Richard PettyAmerican racing driver
- 9.
If there are 10 people there, two or three are going to recognize you.
Richard PettyAmerican racing driver