Richard Petty celebrated at the 2024 Festival of Speed

Never before or since has there been such a dominant force in American oval racing, and his record stands a very good chance of lasting forever. Having been a driver and team owner, he continues to support the sport he loves to this day – having attended the first-ever fixture as a child in 1948.

In 1967, Petty surpassed his father’s record of 54 victories to become the most successful racer in NASCAR history. In that season, he claimed 27 wins – ten of which were consecutive. It’s an incredible record.

But the statistics and the longevity tell only part of the story. Away from the circuit, Petty is beloved for his sportsmanship and charisma, being named NASCAR’s most popular driver nine times.

We’ve touched upon the fact that Petty’s father Lee was himself a successful NASCAR racer, and his son Kyle has also gone on to make a name in the sport. Between them, the Petty family have been associated with the sport for 75 years. Most of Richard Petty’s wins were for their own Petty Enterprises Team, meaning this has been a three-generation family business as much as it has a sporting endeavour. It’s a tale of determination and persistence.

Richard has been a visitor to the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard since 2006 and, during his moment on the balcony, spoke of his love of being here and socialising with racing people from other disciplines. For the first time, his son Kyle has joined him – and drove the Plymouth Superbird to the turning circle in front of an adoring crowd.

He spoke of the fact that the Superbird was built when he was ten years old, and this had been his first opportunity to get behind the wheel: “He would never let me drive it! This is my time.”

After so many years, Richard Petty’s love of the sport flows from him, and his interactions with the fans demonstrate his enduring popularity on both sides of the Atlantic. All hail The King.