Richard Petty "the King" is considered by many the greatest NASCAR drivers of all time. He proved by records for both Cup Championships and number of WINS. He is best known for the NASCAR championship won seven times. He is a second generation, under the direction of his father Lee petty won the first Daytona 500 in the years 1959 and 3 NASCAR winner was.
Third and fourth generation would follow in his son Kyle and grandson Adam. (Unfortunately his grandson Adam lost Richard in an accident in the year 2000.) Richard Petty was born in a small town in North Carolina and began his racing career in 1958, just 16 days after his 21st birthday. He started with a bang and was named NASCAR Rookie of the year 1959 were top-10-results six of which with 9 in the top 5.
In 1964 and 1966 Richard took WINS in the Daytona 500, the him the first driver who twice win. Soon his opponents began to say to protest that his machines were larger. He was frustrated with the sports and links to participate after drag race, but that venture was short lived. He crashed his car at a Raceway in Georgia, 7 people hurt and kill an eight year-old boy.
Back to NASCAR in 1964 was a milestone year. He won 27 of 48 events, which he ran. Another occurred "first" for Richard Petty when he again won the Daytona 500, for the first time to win the event three times in 1971. He won it again in 1973 and 1974. In the 1975 season had it 13 WINS (a record of NASCAR, the 1998 by Jeff Gordon tied). Only in 1978 missed Richard make to the winner of the district but victory was not to be of his understanding of long-he went wild in 1979 and won the NASCAR championship in his seventh and last time.
Richard, the seventh and last victory at Daytona came, as he "Fuel pump only" on his final pit stop took in 1981. A smart move that foxed from Bobby Allison. "The King" his 200th won races under caution at the firecracker 400 at Daytona on 4 July 1984. petty managed a Fender before the Yarborough, Cale cross the finish line. (At that time the field not respecting was fixed.)
Richard Petty's career, he took more time for the fans. He could through the fence for hours signing autographs permanent be seen. It was never removed a fan. His last season before retirement 1992 was and he finished 35th in his final race. It passed Pontiac the checkered flag and circled the track for the fans one last time in his # 43 STP.
Career Awards
In 1997, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
In 1998, he was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers.
He was car-in the first class only floor, inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1989.
He received the Medal of freedom by President George H. W. Bush in 1992 who will be honored first Motorsports athlete ever to receive this recognition.
