History of Richard Petty in Timeline
Richard Petty, nicknamed "the King," is a celebrated NASCAR driver who raced from 1958 to 1992. Driving the No. 43 for Petty Enterprises, he achieved remarkable success, including a record seven Cup Series championships and 200 career wins. His accomplishments feature seven Daytona 500 victories and a single-season record of 27 wins in 1967. Petty is considered one of the greatest NASCAR drivers of all time.
July 2, 1937: Richard Petty's Birth
On July 2, 1937, Richard Lee Petty, later known as "The King", was born. He is one of the members of the Petty racing family.
1955: Graduation from Randleman High School
In 1955, Richard Petty graduated from Randleman High School, where he was an All-Conference guard on the football team.
1958: Start of NASCAR Career
In 1958, Richard Petty began his career as a stock car racing driver in the NASCAR Grand National Series.
1958: Marriage to Lynda Owens
In 1958, Richard Petty married Lynda Owens, marking the beginning of their lifelong relationship.
1959: Named NASCAR Rookie of the Year
In 1959, Richard Petty was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year, after producing 9 top 10 finishes, including six Top 5 finishes.
1959: Lee Petty won first Daytona 500
In 1959, Richard Petty's father, Lee Petty, won the inaugural Daytona 500. He was also a three-time NASCAR champion.
1960: First Career Win
In 1960, Richard Petty got his first career win at the Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway, and finished 2nd in the NASCAR Grand National Points Race.
1963: Breakout Year
1963 was a breakout year for Richard Petty, winning at tracks like Martinsville and Bridgehampton.
1964: First Daytona 500 Win and Grand National Championship
In 1964, Richard Petty won his first Daytona 500, leading 184 of the 200 laps, and earned his first Grand National championship.
February 28, 1965: Drag Racing Accident
On February 28, 1965, Richard Petty crashed his Hemi Barracuda drag racer at Southeastern Dragway, resulting in a fatality and injuries.
February 27, 1966: Second Daytona 500 Victory
On February 27, 1966, Richard Petty overcame a 2-lap deficit to win his second Daytona 500, marking the first time a driver won the event twice.
October 1, 1967: End of Record Win Streak
On October 1, 1967, Richard Petty ended his record-breaking 10-race win streak. This was part of a season where he won 27 of 48 races.
1967: Record-Breaking Season
In 1967, Richard Petty had a record-breaking season, winning 27 races, including the Daytona 500. This season established him as a dominant force in NASCAR.
1968: Victory at Occoneechee Speedway
In 1968, Richard Petty won 16 races including the last ever race at Occoneechee Speedway, marking another successful year in his career.
1969: Switch to Ford
In 1969, Richard Petty switched to Ford due to his belief that Plymouth was not competitive on super-speedways, resulting in 10 wins and second place in points.
1970: Return to Plymouth
In 1970, Richard Petty returned to Plymouth and won in the new Plymouth Superbird, showcasing his adaptability and skill.
1970: Win at Middle Georgia Raceway
In 1970, Richard Petty won at Middle Georgia Raceway despite being ill before the race, showcasing his determination.
February 14, 1971: Third Daytona 500 Win
On February 14, 1971, Richard Petty won his third Daytona 500, driving a Plymouth Road Runner and becoming the first driver to win the race three times.
1971: Consecutive Starts Streak Begins
In 1971, Richard Petty began a streak of 513 consecutive starts in NASCAR, showcasing his consistency and dedication.
1972: Modern NASCAR Era Begins
In 1972, Richard Petty had 13 victories in a season, beginning what is now considered the modern NASCAR era.
1972: STP Sponsorship Begins
In 1972, STP began its 28-year sponsorship of Richard Petty, resulting in the iconic STP orange/"Petty blue" paint scheme.
February 18, 1973: Fourth Daytona 500 Win
On February 18, 1973, Richard Petty won his fourth Daytona 500 in a Dodge Charger, outlasting Buddy Baker after Baker's engine failed.
1974: Racing a Chevrolet Monte Carlo
In 1974, Richard Petty started racing a secondhand Chevrolet Monte Carlo at the fall race at Michigan.
1975: Randy Owens killed in Pit Road Accident
In 1975, Lynda's brother, Randy Owens, a member of Petty's pit crew, tragically died at age 19 in a pit road accident.
1975: World 600 Win and Sixth Winston Cup
In 1975, Richard Petty won the World 600 for the first time and secured his 6th Winston Cup Championship, marking another historic year.
1976: Famous Daytona 500 Finish
In 1976, Richard Petty was involved in a famous finish at the Daytona 500 with David Pearson, resulting in Pearson winning after both cars crashed near the finish line. Petty was given credit for second place.
1977: End of Dodge Charger Era
In 1977, Richard Petty ceased using the Dodge Charger body style, marking the end of an era.
1978: Winless Season
1978 was the only year during Richard Petty's prime in which he did not win a race, despite several top finishes, leading to a change in car manufacturer.
1979: Sixth Daytona 500 Win and Championship
In 1979, Richard Petty won his sixth Daytona 500, which was the first to be televised live flag-to-flag, and secured his seventh NASCAR Winston Cup Championship.
1979: Seventh NASCAR Championship
In 1979, Richard Petty won the Daytona 500 and secured his seventh and final NASCAR championship, marking a significant achievement.
1981: Another Daytona 500 Win
In 1981, Richard Petty won another Daytona 500, adding to his impressive record at the event.
1982: STP Car Wins Indianapolis 500
In 1982, Gordon Johncock won the Indianapolis 500 in an STP car with a primarily "Petty Blue" scheme, showcasing the lasting impact of Petty's partnership with STP.
1989: End of Consecutive Starts Streak
In 1989, Richard Petty's streak of 513 consecutive starts came to an end, marking the conclusion of a remarkable achievement in NASCAR.
1992: Retirement from NASCAR
In 1992, Richard Petty retired from NASCAR after a long and successful career.
1992: Closest points margin in NASCAR history
In 1992, the points margin in NASCAR history was recorded at 11 points, until then.
1998: Victory Record Tied
In 1998, Jeff Gordon tied Richard Petty's modern-era record of 13 victories in a season, with Petty achieving this in 30 races and Gordon in 33.
1999: D. Jarrett Wins
In 1999, D. Jarrett achieved a victory, marking a significant moment in their career.
May 12, 2000: Death of Adam Petty
On May 12, 2000, Adam Petty, Richard Petty's grandson, was killed in a practice crash at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
2000: B. Labonte Wins
In 2000, B. Labonte secured a win, highlighting their skill and performance.
2001: J. Gordon Wins
In 2001, J. Gordon emerged victorious, adding to their list of accomplishments.
2002: T. Stewart Wins
In 2002, T. Stewart celebrated a win, demonstrating their competitive edge.
2003: M. Kenseth Wins
In 2003, M. Kenseth achieved a victory, marking a notable moment in their racing career.
2004: Ku. Busch Wins
In 2004, Ku. Busch secured a win, showcasing their talent and determination.
2005: T. Stewart Wins
In 2005, T. Stewart achieved another win, further solidifying their reputation.
2006: J. Johnson Wins
In 2006, J. Johnson celebrated a win, marking another success in their career.
2006: Voice Role in Pixar's Cars
In 2006, Richard Petty and his wife Lynda had voice roles in Pixar's film Cars, where Richard voiced a character based on himself.
2007: J. Johnson Wins
In 2007, J. Johnson secured another victory, continuing their winning streak.
2008: J. Johnson Wins
In 2008, J. Johnson achieved a win, maintaining their high level of performance.
2009: J. Johnson Wins
In 2009, J. Johnson achieved a win, adding to their impressive record.
2010: J. Johnson Wins
In 2010, J. Johnson continued their success with another victory.
2010: Induction into NASCAR Hall of Fame
In 2010, Richard Petty was inducted into the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
2011: T. Stewart Wins
In 2011, T. Stewart celebrated a win, showcasing their racing talent.
2012: B. Keselowski Wins
In 2012, B. Keselowski secured a win, marking a significant achievement.
2013: J. Johnson Wins
In 2013, J. Johnson achieved another victory, maintaining their competitive edge.
2013: Wins in 500th race start joined by Matt Kenseth
In 2013, Matt Kenseth joined Richard Petty as the only drivers to win in his 500th race start
March 2014: Richard Petty Museum moved to Level Cross
In March 2014, the Richard Petty Museum was moved back to its original location in Level Cross, North Carolina.
March 25, 2014: Death of Lynda Petty
On March 25, 2014, Lynda Petty, Richard Petty's wife, passed away at the age of 72 at her home in Level Cross, North Carolina, after battling cancer.
2014: K. Harvick Wins
In 2014, K. Harvick celebrated a win, adding to their career accomplishments.
2015: Ky. Busch Wins
In 2015, Ky. Busch secured a victory, marking a memorable moment.
2016: J. Johnson Wins
In 2016, J. Johnson achieved a win, continuing their successful streak.
2017: M. Truex Jr. Wins
In 2017, M. Truex Jr. celebrated a victory, highlighting their skill.
2018: J. Logano Wins
In 2018, J. Logano achieved a win, marking a significant moment in their career.
2019: Ky. Busch Wins
In 2019, Ky. Busch achieved a victory, marking a notable accomplishment.
2020: C. Elliott Wins
In 2020, C. Elliott celebrated a win, adding to their list of successes.
2021: K. Larson Wins
In 2021, K. Larson secured a victory, showcasing their talent and determination.
2022: J. Logano Wins
In 2022, J. Logano celebrated a win, marking another success in their career.
2023: R. Blaney Wins
In 2023, R. Blaney achieved a victory, highlighting a significant moment.
2024: J. Logano Wins
In 2024, J. Logano secured another victory, continuing their successful journey.
