There has been little normal about Richard Petty’s long and fruitful life.
Son of a NASCAR champ and father and grandfather of NASCAR drivers, Petty set stock car racing records that will live long past his lifetime, including 200 Cup wins and seven Daytona 500 victories. Still sought for appearances and sponsor events — and for his distinctive autograph — 25 years after he last drove a race car, he rolls into his ninth decade having barely lifted the throttle.
He is stock car racing’s ambassador-in-chief.
“I don’t know what the future is,” Petty told USA TODAY Sports. “I think health will dictate what I do and where I go and when I do it. As long as I am healthy and can afford to do all this stuff, I’m going to go as long as I can.”
