Richard Petty Bio, Age, Parents, Wife, Children, Net Worth – Richard Petty, born on July 2, 1937, is a retired American NASCAR driver who won seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, the most in NASCAR history, and 200 career victories, also the most in NASCAR history. He is widely considered one of the greatest drivers in the sport’s history.
Richard Petty Biography
Petty was born in Level Cross, North Carolina, into a racing family. His father, Lee Petty, was a successful NASCAR driver, and his son, Kyle Petty, and his grandson, Adam Petty, also became NASCAR drivers. Petty began racing at a young age, and he made his NASCAR debut in 1958, driving a Plymouth in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
Petty’s first NASCAR Cup Series win came in 1960 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, driving a 1959 Oldsmobile. He won two races that season and finished seventh in the championship standings. In 1961, he won eight races and finished second in the championship standings to Joe Weatherly. The following year, he won nine races and his first Cup Series championship.
Petty’s dominance in the 1960s continued, as he won 27 races and three championships from 1964 to 1967. He also won the Daytona 500, NASCAR’s most prestigious race, for the first time in 1964. In 1967, he won a record 27 races in a single season, including ten in a row, a record that still stands today. He won his third championship that year, becoming the first driver in NASCAR history to win three championships in a row.
Petty’s success continued in the 1970s, as he won four more Cup Series championships in 1971, 1972, 1974, and 1975. He also won the Daytona 500 again in 1971 and 1973, becoming the first driver to win the race multiple times. He was known for driving the iconic No. 43 Plymouth and later, the No. 43 Pontiac.
In 1984, Petty made history by winning his 200th NASCAR Cup Series race, driving a Pontiac at the Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway. He is the only driver in NASCAR history to reach that milestone, and his record of 200 wins is likely to stand forever, as no other driver has come close to that number.
Petty retired from full-time racing in 1992, but he continued to make occasional appearances in the Cup Series through 1992. After retiring from racing, he became a team owner, fielding cars for various drivers, including his son, Kyle Petty, and Jeff Green. He was also inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010, along with his father, Lee Petty.
In addition to his racing accomplishments, Petty has also been known for his charitable work. He and his wife, Lynda, founded the Victory Junction Gang Camp in 2004, a summer camp for children with serious medical conditions. The camp, located in Randleman, North Carolina, is named after his late grandson, Adam Petty, who died in a racing accident in 2000.
In conclusion, Richard Petty is a NASCAR legend and one of the greatest drivers in the sport’s history. He won seven Cup Series championships and 200 career victories, a record that is likely to stand forever. He was known for driving the iconic No. 43 car and for his dominance in the 1960s and 1970s. Petty’s contributions to the sport of NASCAR and his charitable work have made him a beloved figure in the racing community.
Richard Petty Age
As of 2022, Richard Petty was 85 years old.
Richard Petty Parents
His parents are Lee Petty and Elizabeth Petty.
Richard Petty Wife
Richard Petty’s wife was named Lynda Petty. They were married in 1958 and remained married until Lynda’s death in 2014.
Richard Petty Children
He has four children – Kyle Petty, Rebecca Petty Moffit, Lisa Petty Luck, and Sharon Farlow.
Richard Petty Net Worth
He is estimated to have a net worth of $65 million.
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