Skip to content

Official Site Of NASCAR

Home Click to view NASCAR Cup Series NewsNASCAR Cup Series News Click to view NASCAR Xfinity Series NewsNASCAR Xfinity Series News Click to view NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NewsNASCAR Camping World Truck Series News Click to view eNASCAReNASCAR Click to view NASCAR RootsNASCAR Roots Videos Photo Galleries Results Standings Weekend Schedule Click to view DriversDrivers Click to view Driver StatsDriver Stats Historic Results Click to view Buy TicketsBuy Tickets Click to view Camping InfoCamping Info Click to view Fantasy LiveFantasy Live Click to view BetCenterBetCenter Click to view Mobile AppMobile App Click to view NASCAR PodcastsNASCAR Podcasts Click to view NASCAR ShopNASCAR Shop Click to view My ProfileMy Profile
  • Most Recent
  • Power Rankings
  • Paint Scheme Preview
  • Fantasy Fastlane
  • XMost Recent@nascarcasmDriver WinseNascarFantasy FastlaneLineup GalleryMemorable MomentsNASCAR CompetitionPaint Scheme PreviewPower RankingsThrough the YearsTrack Winners
X

Richard Petty through the years

By Staff Report | Thursday, July 2, 2020
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Getty Images
1 of 48
View Fullscreen
Richard Petty's turns 83 on July 2. Take a look back at the NASCAR icon's Hall of Fame career through the years.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
2 of 48
View Fullscreen
1955: Petty, all of 18 years old, stands next to his father Lee Petty's car. Richard Petty's own NASCAR Cup career would not start until 1958.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
3 of 48
View Fullscreen
1959: Petty (L) and his father, Lee, take a break for a photo.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
4 of 48
View Fullscreen
1959: Petty and his 1957 Oldsmobile convertible at the first annual Daytona 500, Feb. 22, 1959 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Petty fell out of the race with engine failure.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
5 of 48
View Fullscreen
1960: Petty finished sixth in the Southern 500 at Darlington.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
6 of 48
View Fullscreen
1961: Drivers and part-time pranksters (L-R) Richard Petty, Lee Petty, Jim Rathmann and Fireball Roberts share a moment at a NASCAR race.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
7 of 48
View Fullscreen
1962: Petty (L) holds his infant son, Kyle, after winning the Gwyn Staley Memorial 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Making the presentation are announcer Bob Montgomery and race queen Dainne Kuenzuel.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
8 of 48
View Fullscreen
1963: Drivers Ned Jarrett (L) and Petty (R) smile for the camera at a race. Together, the two combined to win 22 of the 55 races on the Cup schedule that year.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
(Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images)
9 of 48
View Fullscreen
1964: Petty waves to the crowd after leading a 1-2-3 sweep by Plymouths in the Daytona 500, thrilling a sold-out crowd of almost 70,000. Petty led all but 16 laps, defeating Jimmy Pardue and Paul Goldsmith for his first superspeedway victory.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
10 of 48
View Fullscreen
1964: Petty captured his first Daytona 500 in 1964, later gaining the nickname 'The King' for his record seven points championship titles.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
11 of 48
View Fullscreen
1964: Petty started the most races in NASCAR history (61) in winning the season-ending national title, his first of seven.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by Racing Photo Archives/Getty Images
12 of 48
View Fullscreen
1965: Counterclockwise from bottom: Race winner David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty, Donnie Allison and LeeRoy Yarbrough surround the new Ford Boss 429 engine at the Sandlapper 200.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
13 of 48
View Fullscreen
1966: Junior Johnson and Petty next to Johnson's Ford prior to the running of the Old Dominion 500 race at Martinsville Speedway.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
14 of 48
View Fullscreen
1960s: Petty poses with the Daytona 500 trophy after one of his Daytona victories.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
15 of 48
View Fullscreen
1966: Petty celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Daytona 500 on Feb. 27, 1966.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
16 of 48
View Fullscreen
Fellow Hall of Famer Pearson (L) talks with Petty before a race.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
17 of 48
View Fullscreen
1967: Petty in Victory Lane after winning the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
18 of 48
View Fullscreen
1967: One of many Petty-David Pearson duels took place as the No. 43 runs in the low groove under the 'Silver Fox' at the Asheville-Weaverville Speedway. The pair finished 2-3, respectively.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
19 of 48
View Fullscreen
1967: Petty with his father, Lee, as Richard was presented with a plaque to celebrate his all-time record of 55 career premier series victories, eclipsing his dad's previous mark of 54.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
20 of 48
View Fullscreen
1967: Crew chief Dale Inman (L) goes over a race plan with Petty. The chat paid off, as they won the Macon 300.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
21 of 48
View Fullscreen
Petty, who used to work on his father Lee's car as a teenager in the mid-'50s, was never above working on his own cars.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
22 of 48
View Fullscreen
Petty reads a book to his children.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
23 of 48
View Fullscreen
The Petty family.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo By Dozier Mobley/Getty Images
24 of 48
View Fullscreen
1970s: Petty climbs into his car.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
25 of 48
View Fullscreen
Pearson (L) and Petty.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
26 of 48
View Fullscreen
1973: (L-R) Mark Donohue, Bobby Allison, and Petty.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
27 of 48
View Fullscreen
1973: Richard Petty with his STP Dodge Charger at Daytona International Speedway. Petty went on to win the Daytona 500 and finished second in the July 4th Firecracker 400.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
28 of 48
View Fullscreen
Three generations of Pettys: (L-R) Adam, Richard, and Kyle.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
29 of 48
View Fullscreen
Several NASCAR stars including Buddy Baker, Tim Richmond, Kyle and Richard Petty play the popular card game UNO.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
30 of 48
View Fullscreen
Petty greets a young fan at a race.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
31 of 48
View Fullscreen
Early-1970s: Buddy Baker (L) drove for Petty Enterprises in 28 NASCAR premier series races during the 1971 and 1972 Cup seasons as teammate to Petty (R). Baker won twice during his tenure racing for the Pettys.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
32 of 48
View Fullscreen
A young Kyle Petty (R) joins his dad Richard in Victory Lane after a race.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
33 of 48
View Fullscreen
Late-1970s: Petty and son Kyle Petty together on a cool day at Martinsville Speedway before a race.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
34 of 48
View Fullscreen
Petty with his ever-present cigar.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
35 of 48
View Fullscreen
Although his driving career was winding down, Richard Petty still won 10 NASCAR premier races from 1980 through 1984, securing his place as the all-time wins leader with 200 victories.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
36 of 48
View Fullscreen
Petty relaxes against a toolbox in the garage area at a race.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
37 of 48
View Fullscreen
Petty listens to his cousin and crew chief Dale Inman at a race. Inman was crew chief for 198 of Petty's 200 career NASCAR Cup victories and for all seven of his Cup championships.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
38 of 48
View Fullscreen
2015: Petty looks on during practice for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images
39 of 48
View Fullscreen
2015: Petty signs autographs during qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Subway Firecracker 250 at Daytona.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images
40 of 48
View Fullscreen
2016: Petty meets with former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning before the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images
41 of 48
View Fullscreen
2017: Richard Petty poses with a young fan at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images
42 of 48
View Fullscreen
2017: Team owner Richard Petty speaks with driver Bubba Wallace during practice at Pocono.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images
43 of 48
View Fullscreen
2017: Bubba Wallace, Richard Petty and Ryan Blaney pose for a photo prior to Wallace's premier series debut race at Pocono Raceway.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
44 of 48
View Fullscreen
2017: Always 'The King.'
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images
45 of 48
View Fullscreen
2017: NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty drives the No. 43 STP Plymouth on the parade laps for the Bojangles' Southern 500. Petty was reluctant to pull off the track, so NASCAR showed 'The King' the black flag.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
46 of 48
View Fullscreen
Oct. 25, 2017: Richard Petty Motorsports names Bubba Wallace as the driver of the No. 43 for the 2018 season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Photo by Jason Miczek/Getty Images
47 of 48
View Fullscreen
2019: Petty was part of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class in 2010, and now votes on the new inductees each here. Here, he's shown reviewing paperwork for the class that includes Tony Stewart, Buddy Baker and Joe Gibbs.
Saved to `My Liked Photos`
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
48 of 48
View Fullscreen
2020: Richard Petty supports his driver, Bubba Wallace, during pre-race ceremonies at Talladega Superspeedway.
Presented By:
Leaderboard
Leaderboard
NASCAR Drive
Live Cameras
NASCAR Mobile Download
Download APP
 
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

INFORMATION

  • Help/Contact Us
  • About NASCAR
  • Careers
  • Official Sponsors
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • Accessibility
  • Site Map
  • AdChoices
  • NDM Advertising
  • Sponsorship

PRODUCTS

  • Follow Live
  • NASCAR Mobile
  • Scanner
  • Drive
  • Fantasy Live
  • NASCAR Finish Line
  • NASCAR Shop

INITIATIVES

  • NASCAR Green
  • NASCAR Foundation
  • NASCAR Diversity
  • NASCAR Fan Council

MORE SITES

  • IMSA
  • TrackPass™
  • eNASCAR
  • Acceleration Nation
  • NASCAR Hall of Fame
  • Official NASCAR Members Club
  • NASCAR Foundation Auction
  • Monster Energy
  • Coca-Cola

NASCAR® and its marks are trademarks of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Copyright © 2021 NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

NASCAR Logo Home
Schedule
Race Center
Standings
NASCAR Fantasy Live Logo Fantasy