Sports Memorabilia -> Autographs-Original -> Racing-Nascar
Richard Petty is a NASCAR driving legend. Known as “The King,” he was one of the most fan-friendly sports figures in the history of racing or any sport, always willing to sign autographs and engage with the fans for as long as they remained after each event. He holds the distinction of winning the NASCAR championship 7 times along with only one other racer, fellow racing legend Dale Earnhardt.
Richard Petty won a career total of 200 races, and few will argue with the claim that he’s the greatest NASCAR driver in history. Racing was in his blood from birth, it seemed, because his father, won the very first Daytona 500 (of which Richard would win 7) in 1959, and was a 3-time NASCAR championship winner. His son, Kyle, is a NASCAR driver, too. His grandson, Adam, died in 2000 while racing.
Richard Petty won his first Daytona 500 in 1964 and his second in 1966, making him the first NASCAR driver to win it twice. He became a drag racer in 1965, while he boycotted the Daytona 500 due to their ban of a certain type of engine. During a crash in Georgia that year, 7 people were injured and an 8-year-old boy in the crowd was killed.
In 1967, back to regular NASCAR driving, Richard Petty won over half of the races he competed in, earning him the nickname “King Richard.” In 1969, Petty switched from Plymouths to Ford, but then went back to driving a Plymouth in 1970 because of the look of the Plymouth Superbird. He won his last NASCAR championship, his 7th, in 1979, after not winning a single race in 1978, in part because he couldn’t seem to “break in” the Dodge he drove.
Richard Petty announced his pending retirement in 1991, stating that after the 1992 season he would retire. He went on a year-long tour around the country, meeting with fans and enjoying his celebrity. His last race was Jeff Gordon’s first career start.
In 1993, Richard Petty crawled back into a race car, driving several laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and then donating the car to the track’s museum. In 2003 he drove a solo lap to commemorate his 7 Winston Cups at the Homestead Miami Speedway. And in 2007, he drove a Daytona car during the pace laps at the Pepsi 400. Petty was as famous for the crashes he survived as he was the races he won, and was famous for his willingness to talk to fans and stand sometimes for hours to be sure none were missed if they were waiting to get his autograph or talk to him.
Richard Petty autographs aren’t hard to come by because of his career-long willingness to sign them. Just be sure to compare any you find in an online auction or shop with known examples of his signature for authenticity. You can find jackets, posters, programs, replicas of his cars and tons of other items at large marketplaces like eBay.
Originally posted 2008-12-14 05:00:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Creating a Sports Card Collection Since the 1800s, it has been a normal part of our culture to want to create a sports card collection. At first, boxing cards were especially popular, and then during the early 1900s it became popular to collect baseball cards as part of a sports card collection. The thrill behind...... -
Kentucky Derby Sports-Memorabilia -> Fan-Apparel-and-Souvenirs -> Other-Sports -> The Kentucky Derby is the first of the three thoroughbred races held in the United States each year, known collectively as the Triple Crown. The derby is the first race, the Preakness Stakes is second, and the Belmont Stakes is race number three. It’s...... -
Muhammad Ali Sports Memorabilia -> Fan Apparel and Souvenirs -> Boxing Not that long ago, everyone recognized the name Muhammad Ali. He wasn't just popular during his heyday, though, even though many of the younger generation might not recognize his name today. As recently as 1999, he was given the title “Sportsman...... -
Bobbleheads Sports Memorabilia -> Vintage Sports Memorabilia -> Bobbleheads Bobblehead dolls may be considered silly by some, but there is definitely a national craze to collect them. Whether it is of a famous personality, sports hero, or even a cartoon character, these fun collectibles can be found just about anywhere. While...... - Nascar Collectibles Sports Memorabilia -> Autographs - Original -> Racing - NASCAR One of the nation’s favorite sports is racing, and Nascar is bigger than ever. If you’re a fan of Nascar, or you are just looking for a fun collectible, there are numerous different options available. Many of these are very......
Related Websites -
#Numan Readies for "Pleasure" Tour There's a flurry of news from Gary Numan today. The media finally seem to have buried the hatchet with him and are gushing over the upcoming Pleasure Principle 30th anniversary tour. After years of being ridiculed by the UK music press, Gary is now enjoying their adoration. Shame it...... -
Marlon Brando Films Collectibles If you ask many people to name the greatest films of all time, many will name Marlon Brando films. He’s considered the greatest actor of all time by many movie fans and critics alike. Though he lived to be 80 years old and barely resembled his sex-symbol persona for...... -
Christmas Shopping Christmas shopping for men shouldn't be too much different from shopping for a birthday present, with the exception of the fact that you'll probably be purchasing more than one gift, because you'll have several different men on your list. The most important thing to consider is that you should...... - On This date in Baseball History-Sept. 2 On September 2, 2006, Cleveland rookie Kevin Kouzmanoff hits a grand slam in his first major league at-bat, on the first pitch. On September 2, 1996, David Cone of the New York Yankees makes a dramatic return from an aneurysm in his right arm, pitching seven innings of no-hit......
-
Murray Injured, Novak Djokovic Takes No. 3 Andy Murray has withdrawn out of tournaments including the upcoming Shanghai Masters tournament as a result of an injured wrist. He is missing the event as a result of an ongoing injury to his wrist. This news is coming following the decision by Roger Federer to miss the same event......
- Jeremy Mayfield Racing-NASCAR Fan Apparel Souvenirs Sports Collectibles
- Rusty Wallace Racing-NASCAR Fan Apparel Souvenirs Sports Collectibles
- Casey Mears Racing-NASCAR Fan Apparel Souvenirs Sports Collectibles
- Paul Menard Racing-NASCAR Fan Apparel Souvenirs Sports Collectibles
- Clint Bowyer Racing-NASCAR Fan Apparel Souvenirs Sports Collectibles
