History of Kyle Petty in Timeline

Kyle Petty is an American former NASCAR driver and current commentator, known for his multi-generational racing legacy. The son of Richard Petty and grandson of Lee Petty, he also experienced personal tragedy when his son, Adam Petty, also a racer, died in a crash. Kyle Petty drove the No. 45 Dodge Charger for Petty Enterprises, where he also served as CEO. His racing career concluded in 2008, after which he transitioned to broadcasting.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

June 2, 1960: Kyle Petty's Birth

On June 2, 1960, Kyle Eugene Petty was born. He is the son of Richard Petty and the grandson of Lee Petty.

1978: Dodge Magnum origin year

In 1978, Kyle Petty's father owned the Dodge Magnum he later used to win the Daytona ARCA 200 in 1979.

1979: Winston Cup Series Debut

In 1979, Kyle Petty made his Winston Cup Series debut, driving an STP Dodge Magnum No. 42 for his family's team, achieving a ninth-place finish in his first race, the Talladega 500.

1979: Marriage to Pattie Petty

In 1979, Kyle Petty married Pattie Petty.

1979: Major-League Debut and First Win

In 1979, at the age of 18, Kyle Petty made his major-league stock car debut and won the Daytona ARCA 200 in his father's 1978 Dodge Magnum. At the time, he became the youngest driver to win a major-league stock car race.

1980: Fifteen Starts in No. 42

In 1980, Kyle Petty made fifteen starts in the No. 42 car, achieving six top-ten finishes and finishing twenty-eighth in points.

1980: Birth of Adam Kyler Petty

In 1980, Kyle Petty's son, Adam Kyler Petty, was born.

1981: Full Schedule in No. 42

In 1981, Kyle Petty drove his father's No. 43 for one race before running a full schedule in his regular No. 42, finishing in the top-ten ten times and finishing twelfth in points.

1982: Splitting Time Between Cars

In 1982, Kyle Petty began the season with two top-ten finishes but later split time between his No. 42 and the No. 1 UNO/STP car owned by Hoss Ellington, ending the season fifteenth in points.

1982: Birth of Austin Kemp Petty

In 1982, Kyle Petty's son, Austin Kemp Petty, was born.

1983: Stroker Ace

In 1983, Kyle Petty appeared in the film Stroker Ace, as himself.

1983: Funding from 7-Eleven

In 1983, Kyle Petty secured funding from 7-Eleven and switched his number to 7, achieving two top-ten finishes and improving to thirteenth in the standings.

1985: Move to Wood Brothers Racing

In 1985, Kyle Petty moved to Wood Brothers Racing, achieving a career-high seven top-fives and his first top-ten points finish.

1985: Birth of Montgomery Lee Petty Schlappi

In 1985, Kyle Petty's son, Montgomery Lee Petty Schlappi, was born.

1986: Record Contract

In 1986, Kyle Petty signed a record contract with RCA Records and began work on an album with Don Light. His lone single, "The Other Guy", led to appearances on Hee Haw and opening for acts such as Randy Travis and The Oak Ridge Boys.

1986: First Career Win

In 1986, Kyle Petty won his first career race at the Miller High Life 400 in Richmond and finished tenth in the final standings.

1987: New Sponsorship and Coca-Cola 600 Win

In 1987, Kyle Petty switched to the #21 car and received new sponsorship from Citgo, winning the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.

1988: Released from Ride

In 1988, Kyle Petty failed to pick up a win and fell to thirteenth in points, resulting in his release from his ride.

1989: Part-Time Schedule with SABCO Racing

In 1989, Kyle Petty signed on to a part-time schedule for SABCO Racing, securing sponsorship from Peak Antifreeze after a top-ten finish at the Daytona 500 and competing in nineteen races with a best finish of 4th at Atlanta.

1990: Full-Time Sponsor and Win at North Carolina Speedway

In 1990, Peak became the full-time sponsor for Kyle Petty and he won the GM Goodwrench 500 at North Carolina Speedway, finishing eleventh in points.

1991: Broken Leg at Winston 500

In 1991, Kyle Petty suffered a broken leg in a crash at the Winston 500 at Talladega, causing him to miss eleven races and finish the season 31st in points. Mello Yello replaced Peak as sponsor of the #42.

1992: Career-Best Points Finish and Two Race Wins

In 1992, Kyle Petty rebounded to a career-best fifth-place finish in points, winning races at Watkins Glen and Rockingham. He almost won the championship that year, but did not get the title due to flat tire issues.

1993: Duplicated Points Finish and Pocono Win

In 1993, Kyle Petty duplicated his fifth-place points finish and won the Champion Spark Plug 500 at Pocono.

1994: Drop in Points and Loss of Sponsorship

In 1994, Kyle Petty dropped ten spots in points, failing to finish higher than fourth, and lost the Mello Yello sponsorship.

1995: "Oh King Richard" Tribute

In 1995, Kyle Petty recorded "Oh King Richard", a tribute to his father Richard, and released it as part of a NASCAR-themed country music compilation album. A music video featured Petty playing an acoustic guitar in front of his father's No. 43 racecar.

1995: Final Career Cup Race Win

In 1995, Kyle Petty secured Coors Light as his new sponsor and won his final career Cup race at the Miller Genuine Draft 500 at Dover, but fell further down to 30th in points.

1996: Parting Ways with SABCO and Soundgarden song

In 1996, Kyle Petty improved to a 27th-place points finish despite injuries, failed to qualify for the season-ending race, and parted ways with SABCO at the end of the season. The rock group Soundgarden recorded a song about him entitled "Kyle Petty, Son of Richard."

1997: Formation of PE2 Motorsports

In 1997, Kyle Petty formed his own team, PE2 Motorsports, and fielded the No. 44 Hot Wheels Pontiac Grand Prix for himself, finishing 15th in points.

1998: Return to Petty Enterprises

In 1998, Kyle Petty only had two top-tens and fell back to 30th in points, causing him to return to Petty Enterprises, became Petty Enterprises' new CEO.

1999: Continued Career and ESPN Commentary

In 1999, Kyle Petty had two early DNQs but finished 26th in points, appearing on ESPN to provide commentary during Busch Series races.

May 2000: Death of Adam Petty

In May 2000, Kyle Petty's son, Adam Petty, tragically died in a crash during practice.

2000: Death of Son Adam, Switch to Busch Series, and Cup Attempts

In 2000, Kyle Petty had one top-ten before his son Adam's death, moved to the Busch Series, and attempted two Cup races with the No. 45 Sprint PCS Chevrolet. He also filled in at the Brickyard 400.

2000: Death of Adam Kyler Petty

In 2000, Kyle Petty's son, Adam Kyler Petty, died.

2001: Full-Time Cup with Dodge

In 2001, Kyle Petty brought the No. 45 to Cup full-time and switched to Dodge, finishing 43rd in points after failing to qualify for twelve races.

2002: Top-Ten at Talladega

In 2002, Kyle Petty qualified for every race and had a top-ten at Talladega, raising him to 22nd in the points.

2003: Food City 500 Crash

During the 2003 Food City 500, Kyle Petty crashed his No. 45 car in a hard driver's side impact, recording a hit of 80 g's. Petty held the record for hardest hit until Elliott Sadler crashed at Pocono in 2010.

2003: New Sponsor and Missed Races

In 2003, Sprint left the team and Brawny/Georgia Pacific became his new sponsor. Kyle Petty missed three races and fell back to 37th in the standings.

2004: Improved Finish

In 2004, Kyle Petty moved up four spots and had a best finish of 12th.

2005: Full Season and Top-Tens

In 2005, Kyle Petty competed in every race for the first time in three years, had two top-tens, and finished 27th in points.

2006: New Sponsors

After Georgia Pacific left after 2005, Wells Fargo, Schwan's, and Marathon Oil became the team's new primary sponsors and Kyle Petty duplicated his top-ten total in 2006, but fell five spots further in points.

2007: Top-Five Finish and Broadcasting Incident

In 2007, Kyle Petty had his first top-five finish in ten years at the Coca-Cola 600, finishing 3rd in the Coke Zero Dodge. During the Toyota Save Mart 350 he crashed with Matt Kenseth causing him to accidentally swear during the broadcasting.

2008: Kyle Petty's Last Race

In 2008, Kyle Petty drove his last race in the No. 45 Dodge Charger for Petty Enterprises, where he was the CEO.

2008: Color Commentator and Petty Enterprises Purchase

In 2008, Kyle Petty worked as a color commentator for TNT's Nextel Cup coverage and Petty Enterprises was purchased by Boston Ventures, causing Petty to step aside as the team's CEO. He finished 39th in his final start in the fall race at Phoenix International Raceway.