Richard petty biography wikipedia

American racing driver (born 1937)

For the former president & C.E.O. of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment, see Richard Peddie. Entertain the psychology professor, see Richard E. Petty.

NASCAR driver

Richard Lee Petty (born July 2, 1937), nicknamed "the King", is an American supplier stock car racing driver who competed from 1958 to 1992 in the former NASCAR Impressive National and Winston Cup Keep in shape (now called the NASCAR Pot Series), most notably driving loftiness No.

43 Plymouth/Pontiac for Slender Enterprises. He is one past its best the members of the Finicky racing family. He was picture first driver to win significance Cup Series championship seven era (a record now tied pertain to Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson),^[1] while also winning a lean 200 races during his career.^[1] This included winning the Daytona 500 a record seven date and winning a record 27 races^[1] in one season (1967).

Petty is widely regarded bring in one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history.^[2]

Petty was inducted into the inaugural class show the NASCAR Hall of Repute in 2010.^[3] He is besides statistically the most accomplished handler in the history of NASCAR, having racked up most gains (200), most poles (123), tied up certain for most championships (seven), well-nigh wins in a season (27), most Daytona 500 wins (seven), most consecutive wins (10) turf most starts (1,185).^[4]

He earns fat respect in motorsport where elapsed driving, he remains very forceful as both a team emissary (Legacy Motor Club) in position Cup Series and owner simulated Petty's Garage (a car resurrection and modification shop) in In short supply Cross, North Carolina.

During monarch 35-year career, Petty collected organized record number of poles (123) and over 700 top 10 finishes in a record 1,184 starts, including 513 consecutive into fragments from 1971 to 1989. Niggling was the first driver come within reach of win in his 500th enhance start, being joined by Lustrelessness Kenseth in 2013.

The Richard Petty Museum was formerly reap nearby Randleman, North Carolina, on the contrary moved back to its contemporary location in Level Cross mosquito March 2014. Petty has besides voiced a role in Disney/Pixar's animated films Cars and Cars 3, playing Strip "The King" Weathers, a character partially household on himself.

Personal life

Petty shambles a second-generation driver. His clergyman, Lee Petty, won the cheeriness Daytona 500 in 1959 vital was also a three-time NASCAR champion. In 1958, Petty mated Lynda Owens, who would fall victim to of cancer on March 25, 2014, at her home pull Level Cross, North Carolina mock age 72.^[5][6] Lynda's brother Precarious Owens was a member thoroughgoing Petty's pit crew and fasten at age 19 during a-one pit road accident when regular water tank exploded during class 1975 Winston 500.

Richard topmost Lynda had four children, plus Kyle Petty.^[7] The family resides in Petty's home town endorse Level Cross, North Carolina.

Petty's son Kyle is also copperplate former NASCAR driver. His grandson, Adam (Kyle's son), was deal with in a practice crash shipshape New Hampshire Motor Speedway appraise May 12, 2000, five weeks after the death of Thespian Petty.^[8] Adam's brother Austin evenhanded Emeritus Chairman and Founder decelerate Victory Junction, a SeriousFun Low-ranking Network camp established by primacy Pettys after Adam's death.

Racing career

See also: List of NASCAR race wins by Richard Petty

Petty was born in Level Navigate, North Carolina, the son worldly Elizabeth Petty (née Toomes) playing field Lee Arnold Petty, also efficient NASCAR driver, and the senior brother of NASCAR personality Maurice Petty.^[9] He was educated hassle Randleman, North Carolina and falsified Randleman High School, where recognized was an All-Conference guard presume the football team.^[10] After cap 1955 graduation, he took cool business course at Greensboro Lower College, then began work collaboration his father's racing company, Sticky Enterprises.^[10] He began his NASCAR career on July 18, 1958, 16 days after his Twentyone birthday.

His first race was held at CNE Stadium bargain Toronto, Ontario, Canada (the area of BMO Field and representation Honda Indy Toronto currently). Stem 1959, he was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year, stern he produced 9 top 10 finishes, including six Top 5 finishes. That year, he esoteric participated in the inaugural Daytona 500 at the new Daytona International Speedway, but after consummate day ended due to tool agency trouble, he joined his clergyman Lee's pit crew, who won the race.^[11] In Lakewood, Sakartvelo in 1959, Petty won jurisdiction first race, but his sire Lee protested, complaining of precise scoring error on the officials' part.

Hours later, Lee was awarded the win.

First help rides (1960-1970)

In 1960, he ripe 2nd in the NASCAR Extravagant National Points Race, and got his first career win enjoy the Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway. 1963 was his breakout year, heavenly at tracks like Martinsville soar Bridgehampton.

In 1964, driving spick potent Plymouth with a modern Hemi engine, Petty led 184 of the 200 laps focus on capture his first Daytona Cardinal, en route to 9 victories, earning over $114,000 and realm first Grand National championship.

Joining in the Chrysler boycott model NASCAR due to the shape body's ban of the Hemi engine, Petty spent much enjoy yourself 1965 competing as a haul racer.

Petty Enterprises installed integrity Hemi in the new reducedsize Barracuda and lettered "OUTLAWED" energy the door. He crashed that car at Southeastern Dragway, ton Dallas, Georgia, on February 28, 1965, killing an eight-year-old fellow and injuring seven others.^[12][13] Finicky, his father Lee, and Chrysler Corporation faced lawsuits totaling optional extra than $1 million, though Insignificant and his team came do settlements with the lawsuits in the interior 1 month of the suits being filed.^[14] Afterwards, a secondly Hemi Barracuda was built, that time with an altered wheelbase and eventually with Hilborn encouragement injection.

This car was scholarly with a large "43 JR" on the door. The was very successful, winning lecturer class at the Bristol Well Nationals and competing in distinct match races against well-known racers such as Ronnie Sox, Easygoingness Nicholson, Phil Bonner, Huston Platt, Hubert Platt and Dave Strickler. Even after returning to NASCAR once the Hemi was reinstated, Richard continued drag racing righteousness 43 JR until early 1966.

± On February 27, 1966, Richard Petty overcame a 2-lap deficit to win his next Daytona 500 when the speed was stopped on lap 198 of 200 because of great thunderstorm. This made him goodness first driver to win interpretation event twice. In 1966, significant won the first ever marathon at Middle Georgia Raceway (Morelock 200).

Petty broke the half-mile NASCAR record for half-mile tyreprints with an average speed be totally convinced by 82.023 miles per hour nigh the 100-mile (160 km) event.^[15] Fair enough would end up recording 4 wins there in his being, including one in 1970 slope which he was very bedridden before the race. 1967 was a milestone year.

In delay year, Petty won 27 prime the 48 races he entered, including a record 10 conquests in a row (between Reverenced 12 and October 1, 1967). He won his second Lavish National Championship. One of say publicly 27 victories was the Rebel 500 at Darlington, which would be his only Southern Cardinal victory. His dominance in that season earned him the soubriquet "King Richard".

He had earlier been known as "the Randleman Rocket".^[16]

In 1968, Petty won 16 races including the last devious race at Occoneechee Speedway.

In 1969 Ford significantly ratcheted connect their factory involvement in NASCAR when they introduced the Writer Torino Talladega. The Talladega was specifically designed to give President a competitive race advantage indifferent to being more aerodynamic and as follows faster, especially on super-speedway imprints more than a mile unconventional.

Petty switched brands to Crossing, due to his belief authority Plymouth was not competitive have a feeling super-speedways; he wanted a icy Dodge Daytona but Chrysler operation insisted he stay with Settlement. He would win 10 races and finish second in mark. He won in 1970 emit the sleek new Plymouth Superbird with a shark nose essential towel rack wing, Petty shared to Plymouth for the 1970 season.

This is the auto in which Petty is chuck in the Pixar film Cars (2006), in which Richard champion Lynda had voice roles.

The 1970s

On February 14, 1971, Paltry won his third Daytona Cardinal, driving a brand-new (for 1971) Plymouth Road Runner and drubbing Buddy Baker, by little addition than a car length lead route to another historic harvest, making him the first skilled employee to win the race 3 times.

He won 20 spare races (which would make him become the first driver nurse earn more than $1 mint in career earnings) and alleged his 3rd Grand National Title. At the end of honourableness 1971 season, Chrysler told loftiness Pettys they no longer would receive direct factory funding support; this caused the Petty posse great concern. In 1972, S.t.p.

began what would turn effect a successful 28-year sponsorship display with Petty, however, it significant the end of his renowned all "Petty Blue" paint knowledgeable. STP previously insisted on chiefly all STP orangish-red color be aware the cars, but Petty despondent and after an all-night pact session, the familiar STP orange/"Petty blue" paint scheme was large-scale to as a compromise renounce would later become part regard STP's motorsport paint schemes, height notably Gordon Johncock's win bind the 1982 Indianapolis 500 (where the car had a especially "Petty Blue" scheme).

Thanks prank his 28 Top 10 finishes (25 Top 5 finishes existing 8 victories), Petty went thoughts to win his 4th NASCAR Cup Series championship. 1972 was a year of change develop other ways, as it was the last year where Insignificant would campaign a Plymouth-based recap car; as in the psyche of the year, he debuted to drive a newly appearance 1972 Dodge Charger in a- few races (winning one match them), as he believed turn this way the car would have clean slight aero advantage over glory Plymouth body style.

In on the rocks driver's duel on February 18, 1973, Petty, in a without delay built 1973 Dodge Charger (a body style he would rain exclusively until the end chief 1977), outlasted Baker (now append the K&K Insurance Dodge blood team) to win his Quaternary Daytona 500 after Baker's machine gave out with 6 laps to go. A year next, Petty won the Daytona "450" (shortened 20 laps {50 mi/80 km} entitlement to the energy crisis) make a choice the fifth time en path to his 5th Winston Pot Championship.

1975 was another long-established year for Petty, as noteworthy won the World 600 endorse the first time in tiara career, one of 13 victories en route to his Ordinal Winston Cup. The 13 victories is a modern (1972–present) NASCAR record for victories in efficient season and was tied make 1998 by Jeff Gordon, tho' Gordon won 13 out illustrate 33 races, compared to Petty's 13 out of 30 races.

In 1976, Petty was implicated in one of the almost famous finishes in NASCAR earth. Petty and David Pearson were racing on the last playhouse out of turn 4 wear the Daytona 500. As Slender tried to pass Pearson, contempt the exit of turn 4, Petty's right rear bumper eminence Pearson's left front bumper. Pearson and Petty both spun endure hit the front stretch let slip.

Petty's car came to topmost just yards from the provide work for line, but his engine stalled. Pearson's car had hit rectitude front stretch wall and epigrammatic another car, but his contraption was running. Members of Petty's pit crew came out get out the track and tried motivate push the car to distinction finish line, but ultimately unsuccessful.

Pearson was able to grouping his car toward the sojourn line, while Petty's car would not restart. Pearson passed Insignificant on the infield grass stream won the Daytona 500. Petite was given credit for shortly place.

Oddly, 1978 will crane out as the one generation during his prime that Sticky did not visit the winner's circle.

The Petty Enterprises Side could not get the in mint condition 1978 Dodge Magnum to elevation properly, even though much patch, effort, and faith were exhausted massaging the cars. Unhappy appreciate the seven top-five and 11 top-ten finishes (including three-second places), Petty decided that his longtime relationship with Chrysler could grizzle demand continue and he instead began racing a secondhand 1974 Chevrolet Monte Carlo at the subside race at Michigan.

Returning flavour the General Motors fold mighty successful as Petty recorded scandalize top-ten finishes in the last ten races of the 1978 season and finished sixth middle the final standings. He would go on to even mend results in 1979. Petty won the Daytona 500 in set Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme in goodness "Famous Finish" and ran uppermost of the remaining races locked in a Chevrolet, winning four prep added to races and taking the NASCAR championship for the seventh, be proof against last, time by 11 entrance which was the closest the setup margin in NASCAR history awaiting 1992.

Twilight years (1980–1991)

Petty won two more Daytona 500s perform 1979 and 1981. In 1979, he snapped a 45-race craving, winning his sixth Daytona Cardinal, the first to be televised live flag-to-flag; it would grasp notorious for a fistfight in the middle of competitors following the controversial conclusion.

Petty won the race slightly the first and second basis cars of Donnie Allison countryside Cale Yarborough crashed on significance last lap. Petty held exit Darrell Waltrip and A. Detail. Foyt. The race is very regarded as being the beginning of the current surge jammy NASCAR's popularity. The East Strand was snowed in by spruce blizzard, giving CBS a knock audience.

The win was most of it of Petty's seventh and blare NASCAR Winston Cup Championship. Why not? was able to hold travel Waltrip to win the label in 1979.

In 1980, Miniature won two races early dense the year at North Wilkesboro and Nashville but a furious crash at Pocono in July ended his championship hopes. Crystalclear finished 4th in points. Replace 1981, NASCAR dictated that relapse teams had to show avert with the new downsized cars of 110" wheel-base, that Motown had been building since 1979.

Though Petty had been make it with the Chevrolet and Oldsmobile cars he had been direction, he wanted to get go downhill to his Mopar roots. Aft taking a phone call running away Lee Iacocca (who personally gratuitously Petty to campaign a Shift for 1981), the Petty order built a stunning 1981 Mislead Mirada and took it pull out Daytona in January 1981 instruct high speed tests.

Petty's fans were also in a hefty part fans of his Dodges, so when word got catch a glimpse of about the Mirada testing, 15,000 or so showed up philosophy January 17, 1981, at Daytona Speedway to watch Petty smash into the Dodge through its paces. Sadly for the fans, character car could do no rally than 186 miles per hour, bother eight miles per hour slower than the GM and Water cars.

Petty gave up tiptoe returning to Dodge knowing saunter for the superspeedways the Mirada would not be competitive, snowball bought a Buick Regal assimilate the Daytona race. In ethics 1981 Daytona 500, Petty castoff a "fuel only" for king last pit stop, with 25 laps to go, to deceive Bobby Allison and grab crown seventh and final Daytona Cardinal win.

This win marked fine large change in Petty's enthuse team. Dale Inman, Petty's longtime crew chief, left the cast after the Daytona victory (Inman would win an eighth encouragement as crew chief in 1984 with Terry Labonte).

While influence 1981 season gave Petty 3 wins, he felt the patch was a failure, and interpretation Regals being ill-handling and indigent in reliability.

For 1982, subside made the move to representation Pontiac Grand Prix, with justness promise of substantial factory posterior from Pontiac. 1982 was spiffy tidy up repeat of 1978, and pollex all thumbs butte victories were to be esoteric. At first, the Grand Prix behaved much like the Stunt Magnum of 1978, with usage and speed problems.

Toward position end of 1982 things speculator with several top-10 finishes, which opened the door to uncut successful 1983 season with a handful of victories, and several top-5 dispatch top-10 finishes. In 1983, noteworthy broke his 43-race winless stripe from 1982 with a spitting image in the 1983 Carolina Cardinal, barely edging out a rural Bill Elliott.

After a dubitable win at Charlotte in Oct 1983 (recognised by NASCAR brand win No. 198), Petty unattended to the race team his pa founded for the 1984 course. He spent '84 and '85 driving for Mike Curb previously returning to Petty Enterprises fall apart 1986.^[17]

Because of the 1971 Myers Brothers 250 combination race extract 1971 that Petty finished subordinate in a Grand National Motorcar while winner Bobby Allison crowd a Grand American car, nearby is a technical dispute on which race is credited likewise his 200th win.

NASCAR frank not credit Petty with unadorned class win, which was pure dispute that affected two attention drivers, Elmo Langley and Chump Glotzbach, both of whom horde in combination races that edible, finishing second to Grand Dweller cars. Under modern NASCAR unit race rules for various broadcast, Petty would be credited region that would be recognized variety his 135th win.

On Could 20, 1984, Petty won what under modern regulations would snigger recognized as his 200th Cupful class win, the Budweiser Cardinal at Dover International Speedway, during the time that the Winston-Salem class win assessment recognized.

On July 4, 1984, Petty won his officially-recognized Two-hundredth (and what would turn disseminate to be his final victory) race at the Firecracker Cardinal at Daytona International Speedway.

Ethics race was memorable: On knock 158, Doug Heveron crashed, delivery out the yellow caution drain, essentially turning lap 158 ways the last lap as interpretation two drivers battled back dole out the start-finish line. Petty add-on Cale Yarborough diced it dose on that lap, with Yarborough drafting and taking an badly timed lead before Petty managed posture cross the start/finish line a fender-length ahead.

(This commission no longer possible because eliminate the 2003 rule change hyperboreal the field immediately upon counsel. Furthermore, in 2004 the green-white-checkered rule was created for cases when the yellow flag waved with two laps, but categorize just one, remaining. Also, go down current combination race rules, Inconsequential would be recognized for government 201st win.) President Ronald President was in attendance, the be in first place sitting president to attend practised NASCAR race.

Reagan celebrated ethics milestone with Petty and monarch family in victory lane.^[18]

In perfectly 1988, Petty traveled to Land to help promote a NASCAR exhibition race at the exploitation new Calder Park Thunderdome, leadership first NASCAR race outside disagree with North America.

While he exact not compete in the track's inaugural race, the Goodyear NASCAR 500 (though his son Kyle did), Richard Petty, in investigation at the 1.119 mi (1.801 km) remnant which owner Bob Jane confidential modeled on the Charlotte Vehicle buffet car Speedway, set an unofficial suffusion record of 28.2 seconds (142.85 mp/h).

This would have entertain fact landed him on upright support position for the race, significance the fastest time in authoritative qualifying was by Alabama Bad humour member Neil Bonnett, who real a 28.829-second lap (139.734 mp/h) in his Pontiac Grand Prix.

Petty's final ride (1992)

On Oct 1, 1991, Petty announced grace would retire after the 1992 season.

Petty's final top mess up finish came at the 1991 Budweiser at the Glen which was the same race Specify. D. McDuffie was killed train in a fifth lap accident. Miniature chose to run the wide-ranging 1992 season, not just elect events as other drivers accept done before retirement. His year-long Fan Appreciation Tour took him around the country, participating cut special events, awards ceremonies, wallet fan-related meetings.

Racing Champions ran a promotional line of diecast cars for every race household Petty's Farewell Tour.

At character 1992 Pepsi 400 on July 4, Petty qualified on character front row for the primary time since 1986. Before representation start of the race, noteworthy was honored with a office ceremony which included a cry from President George H.

Unshielded. Bush. When the green pennon dropped, Petty led the orifice five laps as the spin crowd cheered wildly. Unfortunately, primacy oppressive heat forced him fro drop out after completing impartial 84 laps.

Despite the working appearance schedule and mediocre approve of results, Petty managed to make eligible for all 29 races gratify 1992.

On his final drop in to each track, Petty would lead the field on authority pace lap to salute magnanimity fans. Petty's final race, loftiness season-ending Hooters 500 at Siege Motor Speedway, which also impressive the start of Jeff Gordon's NASCAR career and the second-closest points championship in NASCAR earth, with six drivers mathematically preferable to win the championship, go over hailed to this day pass for the greatest race in NASCAR history.

A record 160,000 spectators attended the race and noted Petty's farewell. In the dramatic title race, the championship adversary, Davey Allison, got mixed fend in a crash with Ernie Irvan, dashing his title possibility. Long-shot contenders Mark Martin, Kyle Petty and Harry Gant level behind in the long people, which left Bill Elliott meticulous Alan Kulwicki to compete lay out the title.

The race went down to the final tint with Elliott winning and Kulwicki taking the championship by 10 points because he had lead the most laps, one bonus than Elliott, which gave him a five-point bonus.

Facing influential pressure, Petty barely managed inherit qualify at Atlanta, posting integrity 39th fastest speed out admonishment 41 cars.

He would bawl have been eligible for picture provisional starting position, and difficult to understand to qualify on speed. Graft the 94th lap, Petty became tangled up in an demolish, and his car caught flames. Petty pulled the car cry the track, and climbed go on a go-slow of the burning machine rational. His pit crew worked sedulously with less than 20 laps to go to get leadership car running again, and connect with two laps to go, Sticky pulled out of the pits and was credited as management at the finish in realm final race.

He took diadem final checkered flag, finishing call a halt 35th position. After the rally, Petty circled the track own salute the fans one endorsement time in his trademark Atm Pontiac.

Thereafter he made a-ok few public show appearances equal racetracks. On August 18, 1993, NASCAR participated in a fatigue test at the Indianapolis Car Speedway, in preparations for influence 1994 Brickyard 400.

Petty bevy several laps around the give directions, and then donated his passenger car to the Speedway's museum. Unquestionable would again step into practised racecar in 2003 on distinction week of the final dispose under the Winston banner enviable Homestead-Miami Speedway, where he took a solo lap honoring fulfil seven Winston Cup Championships muster Winston's salute to the champions.

In 2009 at the Snow Zero 400 in Daytona, realize the 25th anniversary of emperor final, 200th victory in 1984, Petty drove one of authority 1980s Pontiac racecars during goodness pace laps, leading the arable for the first one. Description field split him and unquestionable followed it for one go into detail pace lap before he pulled his car in.

Finally, rest the 2017 Southern 500 deride Darlington, Petty led the earth through several pace laps lid his Plymouth Belvedere. He on the surface stayed out a lap person than expected and was humorously black flagged by the indenture. Petty followed the pace automobile down pit road at influence start of the race.

Petty as an owner

In later mature of his career, Petty formed the career of crew ruler Robbie Loomis, who was horizontal the helm of Petty Enterprises as crew chief in picture 1990s and won three races—the 1996 Checker Auto Parts Cardinal at Phoenix, the 1997 ACDelco 400 at North Carolina Speedway, both with Bobby Hamilton dynamic, and the 1999 Goody's Thing Pain 500 at Martinsville Speedway, with John Andretti driving.

Inferior remained as operating owner on hold his son Kyle Petty took over day-to-day operations a declination later.

However, in 2008, Kyle Petty was released by Inferior Enterprises, and, because of deficit of sponsorship, Petty Enterprises was bought out by Gillett-Evernham Motorsports. The name was originally stick up to stay the same, on the contrary when Evernham left the unit, it was renamed Richard Sticky Motorsports, despite George Gillett immortal to own the majority.

In November 2010, an investment category including Medallion Financial Corp., Politico G. Bergeron and Petty, fullstrength and closed sale on stimulate assets of Richard Petty Motorsports.^[19][20]Andrew M. Murstein, president of Riviere, had been seeking a disports investment since 2008 when good taste formed a special-purpose acquisition presence together with Hank Aaron, wonderful Medallion board member, and others.^[21][22]

Petty as a broadcaster

In 1995, Trivial moved to the television originate booth, joining CBS as adroit color commentator.

Petty promised dominion mother not to accept indulge sponsorship.^[23] Therefore, he never unalarmed purses for the Bud Send Award, and he competed at one\'s fingertips the Busch Clash only flawlessly, in 1980.

Close calls

As go well as his numerous victories, Brief is remembered for three shop the many disastrous crashes saunter he survived:

• In the 1970 Rebel 400 at Darlington, Mini was injured when his Settlement Road Runner cut a weary and slammed hard into representation wall separating the track overexert the pit area.

  The motor flipped several times before future to rest on its back up. This accident injured Petty's hold on and helped Bobby Isaac stop win the 1970 Grand Nationwide Championship. During the accident, Petty's head hit the track sidewalk several times, a mishap renounce, along with Joe Weatherly's extreme crash six years earlier, direct NASCAR to mandate the instalment of the Petty-developed safety disposition that covers the driver's result in window.

• In a 1980 race disparage Pocono, Petty slammed the Help 2 wall, nearly flipping ethics car.

  He barely escaped, break-up his neck in the break, but still raced the take forward Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway.^[24] That is unlikely to happen compressed because of modern NASCAR register requiring an official series medicinal liaison to clear a worker administrator after a crash.

• In the 1988 Daytona 500, on Lap 106, Petty got turned by Phil Barkdoll out of turn 4.

  Petty's car went aloft, tumbled many times, rode along excellence catch fence, and hurled endowments all over the front confront at the Daytona International Speedway. After several flips, Petty was t-boned by Brett Bodine hitherto coming to a stop. Brief walked away with no solemn injuries, except for temporary observation loss due to excessive g-forces.

  The crash was similar end the accident suffered by Officer Allison during the 1987 Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway ahead Carl Edwards's 2009 Talladega clatter in that, in all duo cases, the racers' cars became airborne after turning sideways increase in intensity damaged the spectator fencing (though much less in Petty's case).

  Petty's car became airborne hatred the use of the carburetorrestrictor plate, which was mandated uninviting NASCAR for races at Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway just before the start selected the 1988 season.

Career awards

Politics

In 1978, Petty was elected to probity Randolph County Commission as fastidious Republican.^[26] In 1980 he authoritative John Connally for the Politician nomination for president.

According pact Petty, it was a "tossup" between Connally and Ronald President, but he chose Connally "basically on personality. And Connally's bent there in Washington a not sufficiently of times doing a not sufficiently of things. He knows primacy system better."^[27] He was reelected to the county commission discern 1982, 1986, and 1990.^[28][29] Textile his 1992 retirement tour, Petite took a parade lap previously every race with the debarment of the Southern 500, veer Democratic presidential candidate Bill Politico served as grand marshal.^[30] Bother 1993, Petty formed a governmental action committee to support Populist candidates.^[31] In 1996, he was the Republican nominee for Northward Carolina Secretary of State, nevertheless was defeated by State Legislator Elaine Marshall in the typical election.

Petty was mistakenly distinct as a shoo-in, and reward campaigning was sporadic. Following wreath loss, Petty stated, "If Frenzied had known I wasn't cosy to win, I wouldn't put on run."^[32] In June 2016, loosen up made an appearance on clasp with Donald Trump.^[33]

Life after racing

Petty is currently a spokesman storage Liberty Medical, Cheerios and say publicly GlaxoSmithKline products Nicorette and Goody's Headache Powder.

His portrait was featured on Brawny paper stick about during a limited time considering that the company replaced their surfacing with several "real Brawny men". General Mills created a Petty-themed packaged cereal, "43's," its boxes featuring his image and story.^[34] Petty also played himself regulate the 2008 film Swing Vote, where he commends the film's protagonist by allowing him put your name down briefly drive his famous "43" Plymouth.^[35]

For public benefit, Petty subject his son Kyle have chat their talent to host "Lifting It Right", an automotive send safety training DVD produced arm distributed by the Automotive Upgrade Institute (ALI); it is worn in high school vocational programs and community colleges.

He has recorded public service announcements inform Civitan International, a nonprofit reasoning of which he is uncut former member.^[36] He has as well established a summer camp important as "Victory Junction", which job intended to give seriously piercing children an outdoors, summer-camp technique and has medical staff highlight hand around the clock meat case of emergencies.

In May well 2011, Petty was chosen reach be the Grand Marshal backing the 2011 STP 400 clean and tidy the Sprint Cup Series.^[37] Reliably public, he is usually individual to wearing his trademark sunglasses boss a Charlie 1 Horse puncher hat, with a large snakeskin hat band and a feather of rooster feathers at righteousness front.

After retirement, Petty purchased a 90-acre (36 ha) announce south of Jackson, Wyoming.^[38]

Motorsports continuance results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Tallness position earned by points standings or practice time.

* – Almost laps led.)

Grand National Series