Richard Petty: podcast appearances and interviews

Richard Lee Petty, born on July 2, 1937, is an American former stock car racing driver renowned for his achievements in NASCAR. He competed from 1958 to 1992 primarily driving the No. 43 Plymouth and Pontiac for Petty Enterprises. Petty is a member of the notable Petty racing family and is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. During his career, he became the first driver to win the Cup Series championship seven times, a record now shared with Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson. His accomplishments include winning a record 200 races, securing seven Daytona 500 victories, and winning 27 races in a single season in 1967. Petty also holds records for most poll positions with 123, most consecutive starts with 513, and most seasons with top-ten finishes. He was the first driver to win in his 500th race start, a feat later matched by Matt Kenseth. Petty's career includes a remarkable 1,184 starts, with over seven-hundred top-ten finishes, and a streak of 513 consecutive starts from 1971 to 1989. He was inducted into the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010. Beyond his driving career, Petty remains active as a team ambassador for Legacy Motor Club and owns Petty's Garage, a car restoration and modification shop in North Carolina. He has also appeared in Disney/Pixar's animated films Cars and Cars 3, voicing a character inspired by himself. In addition to his motorsport achievements, Petty has been active in politics, serving as a county commissioner for sixteen years and running unsuccessfully for North Carolina Secretary of State in 1996.