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On July 18, 1959, Richard won his first professional race at Columbia Speedway in the NASCAR Convertible division campaigning an older 1957 Oldsmobile. He selected the number 43 to run on his car, one number after his father Lee’s famous #42. That same year, his father Lee won the first Daytona 500, while Richard finished 57th in the 59 car field after an engine failure on the 8th lap. In June, Plymouth elected to support Petty Engineering by delivering the team four 1959 Plymouth Fury cars, 2 hardtop models for Lee to race in Grand National and two convertibles for Richard to campaign in the Convertible division. Richard drove the Oldsmobile hardtop that his father had campaigned the previous years in the Grand National Division while his new Plymouth Fury was being constructed. Petty Engineering rolled out Richard’s new Plymouth Fury for the Firecracker 250 at Daytona. Richard finished 4th in the convertible division and 15th overall in the Grand National points chase. He won the Rookie of the Year title in the NASCAR Grand National division (which later became the Winston Cup Series and then the Nextel Cup Series). NASCAR announced that it was dropping the convertible division at the end of the season out of concerns for driver’s safety.

During the 1959 season, after having to rebuild one of the '59 Plymouth Fury's, Richard and Maurice were faced with a dilemma. They did not have enough blue paint to paint the entire car. They scratched around the shop and found a partial can of blue paint which was not sufficient to paint an entire car either. As funds were tight, they elected to mix the two cans of paint producing what Richard would later describe as an electric blue. They became so enamored with the color that the two scrambled to recreate the mixture and Petty Blue was created. A major paint supplier has since patented the color.

For 1960, all Petty Engineering cars were painted “Petty Blue”. Richard and father Lee campaigned two new Plymouth Furys equipped with 383 cubic inch engines packing 330 factory rated horsepower. On Feb 28, 1960 Richard won his first Grand National Division event on the half-mile dirt track at the Southern States Fairgrounds in Charlotte, North Carolina . He went on to win 3 events, qualify on the pole twice, and finishes 2nd in the points that year. Towards the end of the season, Richard’s cousin, Dale Inman, was experimenting with the Plymouth 413 cubic inch engine. Chrysler lended their assistance in making the engine eligible in NASCAR racing by equipping 100 factory Plymouths with the 413 engine and making them available for sale to State Patrol agencies across the U. S.

In 1961, Plymouth again supplied two new Plymouth Furys to Petty Engineering. These two cars were equipped with the 413 cubic inch engine. Richard’s season started on a sour note. On the final lap of the qualifying event for the Daytona 500, Junior Johnson blew a tire and Richard swerved to attempt to avoid hitting him. Johnson’s out of control car clipped Richard’s car in the right rear sending it head first into the outside guardrail in turn 4. Richard’s car climbed the guardrail and slid on top of it for several yards before the air turbulence launched the car into the parking lot way below the banking of the track and slamming into the ground below. Fortunately, Richard escaped with a cut and a twisted ankle that he received while attempting to escape from the wrecked car. The infield medical center spent time removing small glass particles from his eyes and released him in time for him to see his father wreck on the last lap of his qualifier race and also fly over the guard rail in turn 4 and land out in the speedway parking lot. Unfortunately, his father did not escape injury as Richard had. Lee Petty spent several months recuperating from the injuries he received in the crash and ended his fulltime driving career in NASCAR. Richard recorded 2 wins, 2 poles, 18 top-5s, 23 top-10s, and finished the season 8th in points.

In 1962, Plymouth downsized their cars. They supplied Petty Engineering with two new Plymouths, but instead of the Furys that they had previously been supplying, this year Plymouth elected to supply them with the Plymouth 2 door Savoy a smaller car which proved to be down on power to Pontiac’s 421 cubic inch motor. Fireball Roberts set the pole and won the Daytona 500 in a Pontiac prepared by Smokey Yunick. Petty used the power of the aerodynamic draft to suck up behind the more powerful Pontiac and finish second in the event. Richard won 8 events, had 4 poles, 32 top-5s, 39 top-10s and finished 2nd in points to Joe Weatherly, and he was voted Most Popular Driver.

For 1963, Chrysler sent three Plymouth Savoys equipped with the new 426 cubic inch engine to Petty Engineering. Petty Engineering hired Jim Paschal to campaign the #42 Plymouth as a teammate to Richard and occasionally Richard’s brother Maurice would compete in the #41. Richard won 14 races, qualified on the pole 8 times, recorded 30 top-5s, 39 top-10s, and finished 2nd in points to Joe Weatherly who won the championship while driving for 8 different owners over the course of the season. At the end of the season, Chrysler began testing its new Hemi heads for the 426 engine.

In 1964, Chrysler scurried to supply the new 426 engine with Hemi heads to all the Chrysler teams at Daytona. Several Chrysler teams suffered engine failures, but Richard went on to win his first Daytona 500. Richard went on to win the NASCAR Grand National division championship by scoring 9 wins, 8 poles, 37 top-5s and 43 top-10s. Maurice Petty was named Mechanic of the Year.

In 1965, NASCAR banned Chrysler’s Hemi engine from competing in the sport. Subsequently, Chrysler and Petty boycotted NASCAR. Maurice and Richard elected to go drag racing and won a national event at Bristol. On February 28, 1965, while racing at a drag strip near Dallas, Georgia tragedy struck. The left front suspension on Petty’s car broke sending the car sailing into the spectators. An 8-year-old boy in the crowd was killed. Petty was significantly distraught over the situation. NASCAR suffered financially due to the Chrysler boycott of the sport. Late in July, Bill France revised the rules to allow the Hemi equipped 426 to compete in NASCAR but with significant restrictions. Chrysler rescinded its ban of factory backed teams competing in NASCAR, and Richard and Maurice returned to NASCAR racing. Richard only had 14 starts in the 55 race season but still won 4 events, grabbed 7 poles, and recorded 10 top-5s and 10 top-10s.

In 1966, NASCAR again revised its rules, limiting Chrysler to 405 cubic inches. Richard campaigned a 1966 Belvedere and won his second Daytona 500. He won 8 events, scored 15 poles, 20 top-5s, and 22 top-10s to finish 3rd in the points. NASCAR introduced stock body templates in August of 1966 after Junior Johnson produced a Ford so significantly altered from the stock body shape that driver’s referred to it as the “Yellow Banana”.

In 1967, Richard won 27 of the season’s 48 events, including an amazing 10 in a row, set on the pole 18 times, recorded 38 top-5s and 40 top-10s and won his second Grand National championship. In 1968, Richard and Maurice were quite upset when they lobbied Chrysler to allow the to swap from the aerodynamically challeneged Road Runner to the slicker Dodge Charger and Chrysler refused their request. Richard went on to win 16 events, 12 poles, 31 top-5s and 35 top-10s. He finished 3rd in points, and was again voted Most Popular Driver. At the end of 1968, Petty renewed his request and Chrysler again refused him. So on November 25, Petty announced he would not be competing in a Chrysler for 1969.

In 1969, Petty fielded a Ford Torino and scored a win in the season’s first event at Riverside, California’s road course. Petty went on to score 10 wins, 6 poles, 31 top-5s, and 38 top-10s for Ford during 1969. During the season, Richard chose to rename his father’s company from Petty Engineering to Petty Enterprises. At the end of 1969, Chrysler approached Petty with designs for a new winged Plymouth to compete with its winged sister, the Dodge Daytona. After much struggling to produce a winged version of the Chrysler Belvedere, Chrysler significantly altered its original plan and produced the Chrysler Superbird. Richard ended the season second in the championship points.

In 1970, during the Rebel 400 at Darlington, Richard slammed head first into the inside retaining wall. The car barrel rolled several times and tossed Petty around inside the car. When the car finally settled, it was on its roof and Petty was hanging out if the driver-side window. He missed 6 races while recuperating from the crash. He competed in 40 of the years 48 events recording 18 wins, 9 poles, 27 top-5s, and 31 top-10s.

In 1971, Richard scored 21 wins in the season’s 47 events, logged 9 poles, 38 top-5s and 41 top-10s and won his 3rd championship.

In 1972, STP came on board as the sponsor for Richard’s famous #43 and begun a historical relationship. Winston came on board as the NASCAR Grand National Division and the series was renamed the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Richard went on to win his 4th Championship recording 8 wins, 3 poles, 25 top-5s and 28 top-10s.

In 1973, Richard claimed his 4th Daytona 500 win and was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. He won 6 events, recorded 3 poles, 15 top-5s, 17 top-10s, and finished 5th in the points.

In1974, Richard won his 5th Daytona 500, his 5th championship by scoring 10 wins, 7 poles, 22 top-5s and 23 top-10s. Again he was voted Most Popular Driver.

In 1975, Richard won his 6th championship. He won 13 events, 3 poles, 21 top-5s, and 24 top-10s. Again he was voted Most Popular Driver.

In 1976, Richard was voted Most Popular Driver again. That year Petty Enterprises introduced the first modern day transporter to Grand National Series. He won 3 times, recorded 1 pole, 19 top-5s, 22 top-10s, and finished second in the points.

In 1977, Richard won 5 races, had 5 poles, 20 top-5s, and 23 top-10s. He finished 2nd in points and once again was voted Most Popular Driver.

In 1978, Richard started the season in a Dodge and finished in a Chevrolet. For the first time since 1959, Richard went without a win or a pole. He recorded 11 top-5s, 17 top-10s, and finished sixth in the points battle.

In 1979, Richard’s son Kyle won his ARCA debut in Daytona and finishes 9th in Cup debut at Talladega. Richard won his seventh championship by winning 5 events, recording 1 pole, 23 top-5s, and 27 top-10s driving Chevrolets and Oldsmobile's.

In 1980, Richard won 2 events, logged 15 top-5s and 19 top-10s and finishes 4th in points.

In 1981, Richard opened the season at Riverside, California driving a Chevrolet. He then switched to Buick for the remainder of the season. He won his 7th Daytona 500. For the season he won 3 events, logged 12 top-5s, and 16 top-10s.

In 1982, Petty Enterprises switches to Pontiac, which Richard would pronounce “PONE-EE-ACK”. He went winless for the season picking up 9 top-5s and 16 top-10s. In 1983, Richard won 3 events, recorded 9 top-5s and 21 top-10s.

In 1984, Richard won his 200th career event at the Daytona 500 (his 8th) with President Reagan in attendance marking the first time a sitting president was at a NASCAR race. Richard won a total of 2 events that year and recorded 5 top-5s and 13 top-10s.

In 1985, Kyle elected to leave Petty Enterprises for Wood Brothers. Richard went winless for the season recording 1 top-5 and 13 top-10 finishes.

In 1986, Kyle scores his first Cup win at Richmond becoming the third generation Petty to win in NASCAR’s premier division. Richard recorded 4 top-5s and 11 top-10s. In 1987, Richard recorded 9 top-5s and 14 top-10s.

In 1988, Richard survived a horrific crash at the Daytona 500 flipping down the front stretch, his car dancing along the fence, pirouetting on its nose and tearing down 200 feet of fence narrowly missing the flag stand. His season improved very little from the dismal start. He recorded a mere 1 top-5 and 5 top-10s. In 1989, Richard went without a single top ten finish.

In 1990, Richard joined with Barry Graham who was operating NASTRAK driving school in Australia. In the Winston Cup Series, Richard recorded 1 top-10 in 29 starts. In 1991, Richard again had only 1 top-10 in 29 events.

In 1992, Richard launched his final season dubbed “The Fan Appreciation Tour”. He received the Medal of Freedom from President Bush and was inducted in Daytona’s Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame. He completed the 29 event season without a top-10 finish. His final event at Atlanta ended with his car sliding to a stop in the infield on fire.

As a driver, Richard Petty made 1184 starts in the NASCAR Grand National Division/Winston Cup Series. He recorded 200 wins, 123 poles, 555 top-5s, and 712 top-10s.

In 1993, Richard began the role of a car owner having his trademark Charlie One Horse cowboy hat modified to include an earpiece and microphone for the teams radio system. Petty chose Rick Wilson to take over the driving chores and selected the #44 for the car. In 29 starts, Wilson recorded 1 top-10. Petty put Jimmy Hensley in the car at Martinsville to sub for Wilson after a crash at Dover. Hensley started 8 but crashed out of the event.

In 1994, Richard and Barry Graham formed the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Richard selected Wally Dallenbach, Jr. to replace Wilson for the 1994 season. Petty also elected to return the #43 to the Petty Enterprises Pontiac. Dallenbach finished 4th in the road course race at Sonoma, California and 8th in the DieHard 500 at Talladega. After 14 starts, 1 top-5 and 3 top-10s, Petty decided it was time for a change. He selected John Andretti to replace Dallenbach. Andretti failed to score a top-10 finish in 11 starts.

In 1995, Petty selected Bobby Hamilton to take over the driving chores for the #43. Hamilton recorded 31 starts, 4 top-5s, and 10 top-10s. In 1996, Richard scored his first win as an owner with driver Bobby Hamilton. Hamilton recorded 2 poles, 1 win, 3 top-5s, and 11 top-10s to finish 9th in the Winston Cup Series points. In 1997, Hamilton made 32 starts, recorded 1 win, 2 poles, 6 top-5s and 8 top-10s. Richard’s son Kyle returned to drive for Petty Enterprises in the #44 Hot Wheels Pontiac. In 32 starts, Kyle recorded 2 top-5s and 9 top-10s.

In 1998, Hamilton and Petty Enterprises split up. Richard rehired John Andretti to drive the #43. Andretti made 33 starts, recording 1 pole, 3 top-5s and 10 top-10s. Kyle made 33 starts and recorded 2 top-10s. In 1999, Andretti recorded 34 starts, 1 win, 1 pole, 3 top-5s, and 10 top-10s. Kyle recorded 32 starts and 9 top-10s.

2000 was a year of tragedies for the Petty's. Richard’s father Lee died in April due to complications from surgery for a stomach aneurysm. In May, his grandson Adam was killed in a crash practicing for a Busch Series event at New Hampshire. Adam had made one Winston Cup Series start at Fort Worth, Texas driving the Petty Enterprises #45 Sprint Chevrolet.

Andretti made 34 starts in the #43 STP/Cheerios Pontiac recording 2 top-10s. Kyle made 18 starts and recorded 1 top-10. After Adam’s death, Kyle elected to step out of the Cup Series and selected Steve Grissom to drive his #44 Hot Wheels Pontiac. Grissom made 5 starts without a top ten finish.

In 2001, Petty Enterprises returned to racing with Dodge. Andretti made 35 starts recording 1 top-5 and 2 top-10s. PE fielded the #44 Georgia Pacific Dodge for Buckshot Jones. Jones made 30 starts. He crashed out of 6 events and failed to record a top-10 finish. Kyle recorded 24 starts in the #45 Sprint Dodge but also failed to record a top-10.

In 2002, Andretti started 36 events, and recorded a single top-10. Kyle recorded 36 starts and 1 top-10. After 7 starts, 2 crashes and no top-10 finishes, Buckshot Jones was released from the #44. Steve Grissom replaced him and made 10 starts and had 1 top-10 finish. Jerry Nadeau took over the #44 at Pocono. He made 13 starts but failed to score a top-10 finish. Ted Musgrave drove the #44 at Atlanta and finished 28th.

In 2003, Andretti started 14 events and recorded 1 top-10. He was released by Petty Enterprises following the Pocono 500. Christian Fittipaldi was selected to take over the #43. Fittipaldi made 14 starts for PE and failed to record a top-10. Jeff Green was selected to take over the #43 at Talladega and went on to compete in 8 events for PE but failed to record a top-10. Kyle made 35 starts in the PE #45 Georgia Pacific/Brawny Dodge and also failed to record a top-10.

In 2004, Green started 36 events in the PE #43 recording 1 top-10. Kyle made 35 starts and did not record a top-10.

Richard handed the reigns of Petty Racing to Kyle naming him Petty Enterprises CEO. He continues to stay involved with Richard Petty Driving Experience and the Victory Junction Gang Camp that Kyle and his wife Patti established for children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses.

Career Accomplishments:

• Seven time NASCAR Winston Cup Champion (1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979)

• NASCAR Grand National division Rookie of the Year 1959

• 1971 Driver of the Year

• North Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame – inducted 1973

• National Motorsports Press Association Driver of the year 1974 & 1975

• 9 time Most Popular Winston Cup Driver Award 1962, 1964, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978

• Awarded Medal of Freedom 1992

• AARWBA Man of the Year 1995

• NMPA Myers Brothers Award 1964, 1967, 1971, and 1992

• International Motorsports Hall of Fame – inducted 1997

• Cup Series career: 1185 starts, 200 wins, 556 top 5’s, 713 top 10’