RANDLEMAN, N.C. — WFMY News 2 is in Randleman for the Petty Family Foundation fundraiser called Boots and Blue Jeans. The annual event includes a live and a silent auction, live music, and more. The King is in the middle of it all, talking to people, shaking hands, and of course, signing anything!
The money raised from the Petty Family Foundation helps groups that serve kids like Victory Junction Camp, the Ricky Proehl Power of PLAY foundation, as well as Hospice, Veterans groups, and disaster and hardship relief. The foundation was created back in 2008.
WFMY News 2 will be talking to Richard Petty and his daughter, Rebecca Petty Moffitt, who is also the Executive Director of the Petty Family Foundation at 4:30 pm and during our Wilkesboro Special at 5:30 pm.
In case you need to be reminded of his numbers, there are seven NASCAR Championships, 200 race wins, and seven Daytona 500 wins.
But when you talk about The King of NASCAR, there’s so much more that needs to be in that conversation.
“The first cup race I went to, I was 11 years old," Richard Petty recalled.
“My brother and myself and my cousin Dale Inman, we started working on cars when I was 12 or 14 years old...I mean, when I was 16 years old, I drove a car to California, and Daddy raced it, and I drove it back home," he continued.
The future king…was learning from the best.
Lee Petty retired in the early 60s and built the foundation for what was coming next.
“He was the first to win three championships," Richard said. "And I think he won 54 or 55 races, and until I came along, nobody beat his record."