
Richard Petty through the years
1 of 51

Getty Images
Richard Petty has led a life rich in NASCAR history. On The King's 87th birthday, scroll through to look back at key moments in his incredible life and career.
2 of 51

Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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.
3 of 51

Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
1959: Petty (L) and his father, Lee, take a break for a photo.
4 of 51

Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
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.
5 of 51

Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
1960: Petty finished sixth in the Southern 500 at Darlington.
6 of 51

Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
1961: Drivers and part-time pranksters (L-R) Richard Petty, Lee Petty, Jim Rathmann and Fireball Roberts share a moment at a NASCAR race.
7 of 51

Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
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.
8 of 51

Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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.
9 of 51

(Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images)
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.
10 of 51

Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
1964: Petty captured his first Daytona 500 in 1964, later gaining the nickname 'The King' for his record seven points championship titles.
11 of 51

Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
1964: Petty started the most races in NASCAR history (61) in winning the season-ending national title, his first of seven.
12 of 51

Photo by Racing Photo Archives/Getty Images
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.
13 of 51

Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
1966: Junior Johnson and Petty next to Johnson's Ford prior to the running of the Old Dominion 500 race at Martinsville Speedway.
14 of 51

Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
1960s: Petty poses with the Daytona 500 trophy after one of his Daytona victories.
15 of 51

Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
1966: Petty celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Daytona 500 on Feb. 27, 1966.
16 of 51

Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
Fellow Hall of Famer Pearson (L) talks with Petty before a race.
17 of 51

Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
1967: Petty in Victory Lane after winning the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
18 of 51

Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
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.
19 of 51

Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
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.
20 of 51

Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
1967: Crew chief Dale Inman (L) goes over a race plan with Petty. The chat paid off, as they won the Macon 300.
21 of 51

Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
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.
22 of 51

Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
Petty reads a book to his children.
23 of 51

Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
The Petty family.
24 of 51

Photo By Dozier Mobley/Getty Images
1970s: Petty climbs into his car.
25 of 51

Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
Pearson (L) and Petty.
26 of 51

Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
1973: (L-R) Mark Donohue, Bobby Allison, and Petty.
27 of 51

Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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.
28 of 51

Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images
Three generations of Pettys: (L-R) Adam, Richard, and Kyle.
29 of 51

Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
Several NASCAR stars including Buddy Baker, Tim Richmond, Kyle and Richard Petty play the popular card game UNO.
30 of 51

Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
Petty greets a young fan at a race.
31 of 51

Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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.
32 of 51

Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
A young Kyle Petty (R) joins his dad Richard in Victory Lane after a race.
33 of 51

Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
Late-1970s: Petty and son Kyle Petty together on a cool day at Martinsville Speedway before a race.
34 of 51

Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
Petty with his ever-present cigar.
35 of 51

Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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.
36 of 51

Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
Petty relaxes against a toolbox in the garage area at a race.
37 of 51

Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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.
38 of 51

Patrick Smith | Getty Images
2015: Petty looks on during practice for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
39 of 51

Scott Halleran | Getty Images
2015: Petty signs autographs during qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Subway Firecracker 250 at Daytona.
40 of 51

Robert Laberge | Getty Images
2016: Petty meets with former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning before the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
41 of 51

Mike Comer | Getty Images
2017: Richard Petty poses with a young fan at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
42 of 51

Chris Trotman | Getty Images
2017: Team owner Richard Petty speaks with driver Bubba Wallace during practice at Pocono.
43 of 51

Jerry Markland | Getty Images
2017: Bubba Wallace, Richard Petty and Ryan Blaney pose for a photo prior to Wallace's premier series debut race at Pocono Raceway.
44 of 51

Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
2017: Always 'The King.'
45 of 51

Sarah Crabill | Getty Images
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.
46 of 51

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Oct. 25, 2017: Richard Petty Motorsports names Bubba Wallace as the driver of the No. 43 for the 2018 season in the NASCAR Cup Series.
47 of 51

Jason Miczek | Getty Images
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.
48 of 51

Chris Graythen | Getty Images
2020: Richard Petty supports his driver at the time, Bubba Wallace, during pre-race ceremonies at Talladega Superspeedway.
49 of 51

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
2021: Richard Petty checks out the Next Gen car that debuted on track for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season.
50 of 51

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
2021: Richard Petty Motorsports agreed to sell a majority interest to Maury Gallagher, owner of GMS Racing, for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season.
51 of 51

Chris Graythen | Getty Images
2023: Richard Petty announces the formation of Legacy Motor Club, a rebrand of the former Petty GMS organization as Jimmie Johnson joins Petty and Maury Gallagher as co-owners.