Kyle Petty reflects on Petty Family 75th anniversary: ‘It’s special’

Kyle Petty is enjoying 2024 because it’s a special year for his family. While appearing on Out of the Groove, host Eric Estepp asked the former NASCAR star about the Petty Family celebrating 75 years in racing and what it means to him.

“I think it’s really special,” Petty said. “Whether we’re in a grocery business, it’s special. If we had a family farm, it’s special man to think that it was passed on from my grandfather to my father to myself and then to Adam. I think you look at anything that’s three or four generations long and in this world today when everybody wants instant gratification, I think that’s a big deal.”

Petty went to reflect on his grandfather competing in the first race in 1949 and the first race at Daytona. He also mentioned his father’s career and his career before his son Adam came along. Petty also talked about the people who have been part of Petty Enterprises and have gone on to have successful careers with NASCAR.

The history of the Petty Family

“Those stories and those people are what the 75 years are about as much as is our family because it’s how this organization and how the family has the tentacles that go out in every direction in the sport.”

When it comes to racing, the Petty Family began with Lee Petty who won the first Daytona 500 in 1959. Lee went on to win 54 Cup Series races and was NASCAR’s first three-time Cup Series champion. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011.

Lee’s son and Kyle’s father, Richard Petty, is arguably the best driver in NASCAR history. Richard won 200 Cup Series races in his career, including the Daytona 500 seven times. He’s the first driver to win the Cup Series Championship seven times and holds the record for most Cup Series wins in a season (27 in 1967).

Kyle won eight Cup Series races and finished in the top 10 173 times in his career. He’s known for winning the Coca-Cola 600 in 1987 and was named Person of the Year by NASCAR Illustrated in 1999 and 2000.

Adam Petty, only competed in one NASCAR Cup Series race as he died tragically at the age of 19 in 2000. He was believed to be the first fourth-generation athlete in all of modern American pro sports.