Richard Petty

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Petty's career was defined by historic seasons that reshaped the sport. In 1967, a milestone year, he won 27 of the 48 races he entered, including a record ten consecutive victories between August 12 and October 1. This dominance earned him the nickname "King Richard," replacing his earlier moniker, "the Randleman Rocket." He also holds the single-season record for most wins (27) and set the modern-era record of 13 wins in a season during 1975, a mark later tied by Jeff Gordon. His rivalry with David Pearson produced iconic moments, such as the 1976 Daytona 500 finish where both drivers spun after contact on the last lap; Petty's engine stalled just yards from the line while Pearson's continued running. Additionally, his switch to Ford in 1969 to race the aerodynamic Torino Talladega, before returning to Plymouth for the 1970 Superbird season, showcased his adaptability against changing manufacturer dynamics.

In Their Own Story

On February 28, 1965, tragedy struck when Petty crashed a Hemi-powered Barracuda drag racer at Southeastern Dragway in Dallas, Georgia. The accident killed an eight-year-old boy and injured seven others, leading to lawsuits exceeding $1 million against Petty, his father Lee, and Chrysler Corporation, all settled within one month. Despite this, the team rebuilt with an altered wheelbase and Hilborn fuel injection, creating the "43 JR" which dominated drag racing until early 1966. In a different kind of battle on February 27, 1966, Petty overcame a two-lap deficit to win his second Daytona 500 after a thunderstorm halted the race on lap 198. Later, in 1973, he outlasted Buddy Baker in a driver's duel at Daytona, winning his fourth 500 when Baker's engine failed with six laps remaining. These moments highlighted his resilience and strategic mastery under pressure.

Reader's Guide

Petty began his career on July 18, 1958, just sixteen days after turning 21, at CNE Stadium in Toronto. After a Rookie of the Year season in 1959 with nine top-ten finishes, he won his first race in Lakewood, Georgia, though initially denied due to a scoring error protested by his father Lee before being awarded later that day. His first Daytona 500 victory came in 1964, leading 184 of 200 laps in a Plymouth Hemi. He became the first driver to win the event three times in 1971 and four times in 1973. A record 513 consecutive starts occurred between 1971 and 1989, part of his total 1,184 career starts. In 2013, he was joined by Matt Kenseth as the only drivers to win in their 500th race start. Off-track, he served as a county commissioner for sixteen years and ran unsuccessfully for North Carolina Secretary of State in 1996.

Did You Know?

• Petty won his first race at the Charlotte Fairgrounds on February 28, 1959, but had to wait hours after protesting a scoring error before officials officially awarded him the victory.
• In 1967, Petty set the single-season win record by winning 27 of the 48 races he entered, including ten straight victories between August and October.
• During a drag racing crash in 1965 that killed an eight-year-old boy, Petty and his team faced lawsuits totaling over $1 million, with the settlement process taking several years to resolve.
• Petty voiced the character Strip "The King" Weathers in Disney/Pixar's 'Cars' and 'Cars 3', a role partially based on himself.
• In 1972, Petty negotiated a compromise with STP to keep "Petty Blue" on his car, creating the iconic orange/blue paint scheme instead of the all-red color the sponsor initially demanded.