Richard Petty Nashville Return: Richard Petty, an icon revered as one of NASCAR’s finest drivers, left an indelible mark in his remarkable 35-year career. Amassing an incredible 200 wins in the series, Petty holds a revered position as the first to secure seven Cup Series championships, a feat shared with legends Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson.
Recently, Petty made a significant appearance in Nashville for dual purposes: induction into the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Hall of Fame and to throw his weight behind the efforts aimed at reinstating the NASCAR Cup Series through an All-Star Race on the 0.596-mile track.
The historical Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, the second-longest continually operational track in the US, played host to Cup Series races from 1958 to 1984, lending rich heritage to the sport.
Expressing his earnest desire, Petty advocated for NASCAR’s resurgence at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, akin to the sport’s return to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the Cup Series All-Star Race this year, and its scheduled return in 2024.
In a conversation, the 86-year-old Petty emphasized: “I would like to see NASCAR come back here like it came back to Wilkesboro (North Carolina) to show the history to people that this is where it all started. I mean they wouldn’t have that big race track on the other side of town (Nashville Superspeedway) if it hadn’t been for this race track here. It took tracks like this to nurture NASCAR into growing into what it has become.”
Petty, a revered NASCAR figure, expressed his wish to witness the All-Star Race continue its travels and proposed Nashville, Tennessee, as a prospective venue if the Fairgrounds Speedway undergoes renovation:
I like that they’re having the All-Star Race at Wilkesboro and would like to see them keep moving it around. They could come to Nashville for a year or two or whatever, and I think it’d be great. I think the fans would really appreciate it.
During his extensive NASCAR tenure from 1958 to 1992, Petty notably steered the #43 Plymouth/Pontiac for Petty Enterprises. His victories include seven Daytona 500 triumphs, clinching the World 600 twice, and securing the Southern 500 in 1967. Petty’s astounding records stand tall with 200 Cup race wins, 712 top-10 finishes, and 123 poles across 1,184 starts.
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Our Reader’s Queries
Where does Richard Petty currently live?
Richard Petty still resides in Level Cross, N.C. and occasionally visits Richard Petty Motorsports in Welcome, N.C. to converse with crew members and inspect the No. car.
What was Richard Petty’s last race?
Richard Petty, a legendary NASCAR driver, competed in an impressive 1,184 races over a span of 35 years. He achieved his best finish by coming in first place in 1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, and 1979. Petty’s first race was in 1958 at the Jim Mideon 500 in Toronto, and his last race was in 1992 at the Hooters 500 in Atlanta. His remarkable career spanned several decades and left an indelible mark on the sport of racing.
How old was Richard Petty when retired?
At the age of 54, Richard Petty made the decision to retire from racing after a 29-race fan appreciation tour in October 1991. Following his final race in 1992, Petty reflected on his impressive 34-year career in a sport that demands resilience and endurance.
When did Nashville Speedway close?
The Nashville Superspeedway, also known as NSS, has a capacity of 38,000 and was owned by Dover Motorsports from 2001 to 2021. As of 2021, it is now owned by Speedway Motorsports. The track first opened in 2001 and was closed in 2011, but has since been reopened.
