What is Richard Petty’s Net Worth and Career Earnings?
Richard Petty, a retired American race car driver, has a net worth of $65 million. His career spanned from 1958 to 1992, during which he won a record 200 races and seven Cup Series championships, the first driver to do so. Petty also holds the record for the most poles with 127 and had over 700 top ten finishes in 1,184 starts.
Early Life and NASCAR Career
Richard Petty was born in 1937 in Level Cross, North Carolina, the son of Elizabeth and NASCAR driver Lee. He attended Randleman High School and played football as an All-Conference guard. After graduation, Petty went to Greensboro Junior College before joining his father’s racing company. In 1958, he began his NASCAR career at CNE Stadium in Toronto and was named Rookie of the Year in 1959.
Richard Petty’s NASCAR Success
Richard Petty had a breakthrough year in 1963, winning at tracks such as Bridgehampton and Martinsville. He continued his success, winning his first Daytona 500 and Grand National Championship in 1964. In 1965, Petty spent most of the year as a drag racer due to the Chrysler boycott of NASCAR. Despite a tragic accident that killed a young boy and injured seven others, Petty continued to drag race and returned to NASCAR to win his second Daytona 500 in 1966. In 1967, Petty won a record 27 of 48 races, including ten consecutive wins between August and October and his second Grand National Championship victory.
Richard Petty’s Historic Racing Achievements
Richard Petty won his third Daytona 500 in 1971 driving a new Plymouth Road Runner, followed by 20 more victories and his third Grand National Championship. He won his fourth NASCAR Cup Series championship in 1971 with 28 top ten finishes. Petty won his fourth Daytona 500 in 1973 and his fifth Winston Cup in 1974. In 1975, Petty won his first World 600 and his sixth Winston Cup. Driving an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme four years later, he won another Daytona 500, four more races, and his seventh and final NASCAR championship by just 11 points.
Richard Petty’s Continuing Success in the 1980s
Despite a major crash at Pocono in 1980, Petty won early races in Nashville and North Wilkesboro. He won his seventh and final Daytona 500 in 1981, but failed to score any victories in 1982 after moving to the Pontiac Grand Prix. However, he rebounded in 1983 with three wins and numerous top ten finishes. On July 4, 1984, Petty became the first driver to win 200 officially-recognized races, achieving the milestone at the Firecracker 400.
Richard Petty’s Retirement and Final Race
In 1991, Richard Petty had his final top ten finish at Budweiser at the Glen. He announced he would retire following the 1992 season. For his final season, he qualified on the front row of the Pepsi 400 but had to drop out due to the oppressive heat. Although his race results in 1992 were mediocre, Petty still managed to qualify for all 29 races.
Petty’s final race came with the season-ending Hooters 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, which was attended by a record 160,000 spectators. In the highly dramatic race, Petty became entangled in an accident on the 94th lap, with his car catching on fire. His pit crew got the car running again, and Petty was able to finish in the 35th position.
Petty hopped into a race car again in 1993 when he drove some laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a NASCAR tire test. He then donated his car to the Speedway’s museum.
Richard Petty’s Post-Racing Career
Following his retirement from racing, Petty became a color commentator for CBS television in 1995.
Later, he became a spokesperson for various companies and brands, including Liberty Medical, Cheerios, Nicorette, and Goody’s Headache Powder.
Petty also founded Victory Junction, a summer camp that provides seriously ill children with outdoor experiences.
In 2006, Petty lent his voice to the Disney/Pixar animated film “Cars,” voicing the character of Strip Weathers, which was modeled after his famous number 43 Road Runner Superbird.
Richard Petty’s Personal Life and Political Career
In 1958, Petty married Lynda Owens and they had four children together. Petty’s son, Kyle, also became a NASCAR driver. Petty and his family reside in his hometown of Level Cross, where they operate the Richard Petty Motorsports team and Petty’s Garage, a car restoration and modification shop.
Petty is a long-time Republican and was the Party’s nominee for North Carolina Secretary of State in 1996. However, he was defeated in the general election by State Senator Elaine Marshall.
