Richard Petty Biography

Quick Facts

NAME: Richard Petty
OCCUPATION: Race Car Driver
BIRTH DATE: July 02, 1937 (Age: 75)
PLACE OF BIRTH: Level Cross, North Carolina
Nickname: King Richard
ZODIAC SIGN: Cancer

Best Known For

Richard Petty is a champion NASCAR driver who was nicknamed "The King" for his record setting Daytona 500 and NASCAR championship wins.

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Richard Petty

APA Style

Richard Petty. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 12:53, May 22, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/richard-petty-9439013.

Harvard Style

Richard Petty. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/richard-petty-9439013 [Accessed 22 May 2013].

MLA Style

"Richard Petty." 2013. The Biography Channel website. May 22 2013, 12:53 http://www.biography.com/people/richard-petty-9439013.

MHRA Style

"Richard Petty," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/richard-petty-9439013 [accessed May 22, 2013].

Chicago Style

"Richard Petty," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/richard-petty-9439013 (accessed May 22, 2013).

CBE/CSE Style

Richard Petty [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 May 22] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/richard-petty-9439013.

Bluebook Style

Richard Petty, http://www.biography.com/people/richard-petty-9439013 (last visited May 22, 2013).

AMA Style

Richard Petty. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/richard-petty-9439013. Accessed May 22, 2013.

Synopsis

Richard Petty was born on July 2, 1937 in Level Cross, North Carolina. Following in his father Lee Petty's footsteps, Richard began professional car racing in 1958. During his career he was nicknamed "The King" for winning the Daytona 500 and the NASCAR national championship each seven times during 1964–1981. In all, Petty accumulated 200 victories before retiring in 1992. Richard's son, Kyle Petty, also became a NASCAR driver.

Quotes

There's no old brave drivers.

– Richard Petty

Career Highlights

Athlete and stock-car racing driver Richard Petty was born in Level Cross, North Carolina, USA. Beginning professional car racing in 1958, he became the holder of numerous National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) records. He won the Daytona 500 and the NASCAR national championship each seven times during 1964–1981. With over 200 victories, he started more races, won more races, and made more money than any stock-car driver in history. His great popularity and financial success earned him his nickname, and on his final professional race in 1992 President George Bush made a point of being present. After retiring, Richard Petty made an unsuccessful attempt as a television broadcaster for stock-car racing. He also became an operating owner before passing the torch to his son, Kyle Petty, a decade later.