Wife of Richard Petty: Meet Lynda Petty – Richard Petty, born July 2, 1937, is an American retired NASCAR driver who won seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, the most in NASCAR history, and 200 career victories, also the most in NASCAR history. He is widely considered one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport.
Petty was born into a family of racing drivers in Level Cross, North Carolina. His father, Lee Petty, was a successful NASCAR driver, and his son Kyle Petty and grandson Adam Petty also became NASCAR drivers. Petty began racing at a young age and made his NASCAR debut in 1958, driving a Plymouth in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
Petty’s first NASCAR Cup Series victory came at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1960 driving a 1959 Oldsmobile. He won two races that season and finished seventh in the championship standings. In 1961, he won eight races and finished second in the championship standings behind Joe Weatherly. The following year, he won nine races and his first Cup Series championship.
Petty’s dominance in the 1960s continued as he won 27 races and three championships from 1964 to 1967. He also won the Daytona 500, NASCAR’s most prestigious race, for the first time in 1964. In 1967, he won a record 27 races in a single season, including ten in a row, a record that still stands today. He won his third championship that year, becoming the first driver in NASCAR history to win three championships in a row.
Petty’s success continued into the 1970s as he won four more Cup Series championships in 1971, 1972, 1974 and 1975. He also won the Daytona 500 again in 1971 and 1973, becoming the first driver to win the race multiple times. He was known for driving the legendary No. 43 Plymouth and later the No. 43 Pontiac.
In 1984, Petty made history by winning his 200th NASCAR Cup Series race, driving a Pontiac in the Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway. He is the only driver in NASCAR history to reach this milestone, and his record of 200 victories will likely stand forever since no other driver has come close to this number.
Petty retired from full-time racing in 1992, but continued to make occasional appearances in the Cup Series until 1992. After retiring from racing, he became a team owner and fielded cars for various drivers, including his son Kyle Petty and Jeff Grün. He was also inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010 alongside his father, Lee Petty.
In addition to his racing successes, Petty is also known for his charitable work. He and his wife Lynda founded Victory Junction Gang Camp in 2004, a summer camp for children with serious illnesses. The camp in Randleman, North Carolina, is named for his late grandson Adam Petty, who died in a racing accident in 2000.
In conclusion, Richard Petty is a NASCAR legend and one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport. He won seven Cup Series championships and 200 victories during his career, a record that will likely stand forever. He was known for driving the iconic No. 43 car and for his dominance in the 1960s and 1970s. Petty’s contributions to the sport of NASCAR and his charity work have made him a popular figure in the auto racing community.
Richard Petty’s Wife: Meet Lynda Petty
Richard Petty’s wife is Lynda Owens Petty. Lynda was born on March 6, 1943, in Level Cross, North Carolina, which is also Richard’s hometown. The two grew up in the same neighborhood and first met as children. They began dating as teenagers and married on February 15, 1958, just months before Richard’s first race.
Lynda was an integral part of Richard’s racing career and was his biggest supporter and confidant. She was often seen at races by his side and the couple raised four children together.
Tragically, Lynda passed away on March 25, 2014 after a long battle with cancer. She was 72. Her death was a great loss to Richard and the entire racing community, who mourned the loss of a beloved figure.
To honor Lynda’s legacy, the Petty family established the Lynda Petty Memorial Fund, which raises money for several charities, including the RPM Foundation and Victory Junction, a camp for children with chronic illnesses.
Despite Lynda’s death, Richard remains involved in the auto racing community and is a beloved figure to many NASCAR fans. He is also a grandfather and great-grandfather and continues to be actively involved in the family businesses.