Inside $65M-worth Richard Petty's childhood house: A glimpse into NASCAR legend's origins

NASCAR legend Richard Petty, affectionately known as "The King," is one of the first icons of the sport. The seven-time Cup champion, who is worth $65M (according to Celebrity Net Worth), is unequivocally among the greatest drivers to have ever competed in NASCAR.

Being a second-generation driver and the son of the legendary Lee Petty, racing royalty ran in Richard's veins. Racing caught up to the North Carolina native early on, and he found himself competing in the Grand National Series at the age of 21.

Petty's roots trace back to Level Cross in Randolph County, North Carolina, where he was born into the family of Elizabeth and Lee Petty. Petty's childhood house, built in 1924, has been preserved and transformed into the Richard Petty Museum. This was done in 1998 to commemorate Petty's illustrious career and legacy.

Richard Petty and his family once gave a house tour to YouTuber Stapleton42 in 2022. We look at some of the intricate details of this iconic home.

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Richard Petty's iconic home in Randolph County, North Carolina

The home-turned-museum provides an intimate look at the Petty family's life, featuring personal collections, vintage cars, and interactive exhibits like the kids' "pit stop," where children can design their own race cars.

One of the most striking aspects of the house is its authenticity. Everything from the flooring to the paint has been preserved, maintaining the original charm from the day it was built.

A notable highlight of the house is the master bedroom, which still houses the bed where Petty's parents slept. This room now also features a unique collection of dolls belonging to Richard Petty's wife.

The house also includes the room shared by Richard and his brother Maurice during their childhood. Another room is dedicated to displaying ceramic pots made by Lee Petty's wife.

One of the more fascinating elements of the house is its historical significance and the stories it holds. For instance, the first refrigerator Petty's family ever owned from the 1950s is still in the kitchen. The kitchen setup remains unchanged from Petty's childhood.

Upstairs, visitors can see the room where the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion legend was born and where he lived with his wife. Remarkably, the floors, despite being over a century old, do not creak.

Among the most intriguing aspects of the house is Petty's secret moonshine hiding spot. During the Prohibition era and beyond, moonshine production was a clandestine activity, as unlicensed production and distribution of alcohol were illegal.

To avoid detection by revenuers, who were government agents tasked with enforcing prohibition laws, many families had hidden compartments to store their homemade spirits.

In the Petty household, there were hidden compartments in the kitchen and a mini storage room on the top floor. Additionally, a pulley system below the staircase allowed for quick concealment of the illicit goods if revenuers were to unexpectedly visit.

Driving for his father's team, the iconic "Petty Enterprises," Richard Petty went on to achieve immeasurable success in NASCAR. At 200 wins, 'The King' remains the winningest driver in the NASCAR Cup Series.

His seven Cup championship wins also ties Petty with Jimmie Johnson and the late great Dale Earnhardt as the drivers with the most NASCAR championships.