“Being alive is the greatest accomplishment”: Richard Petty shares an emotional message for his heartfelt tribute on completing 75 years in NASCAR 

NASCAR legend Richard Petty recently talked about celebrating his family's 75 years in NASCAR.

The seven-time NASCAR Cup champion is part of four generations of stock car drivers. Petty raced in NASCAR between 1958 and 1992 with his father's team, Petty Enterprises. He won 200 races, including seven Daytona 500s and a record 27 races in 1967.

The 87-year-old shared his thoughts on being part of the sport for so long.

"I guess the only reason it's a legacy is because we've been here so long. And, you know, just being part of NASCAR when it first started and still being involved in NASCAR is something that I think is a great accomplishment for me. Being alive, I guess, is the biggest accomplishment," Petty said (00:44 onwards).

Richard's father, three-time Cup champion Lee Petty was one of the first successful NASCAR drivers who competed in the 1950s. His son Kyle and his late grandson Adam have also competed in the series.

Richard also pointed out that the special hat created for this anniversary is not just for him but represents the entire Petty family’s legacy.

"And I think the hat, going to be in the 75th year of the Petty family, it's not just a Richard Petty hat. It represents the family... I didn't realize how big it was or what they was going to do. And seeing the first one at Daytona was a big thrill. And also knowing that all the rest of the racetracks was going to have one too," he said (00:10, 01:20).

Legacy Motor Club installed Richard's iconic cowboy hat art installations at NASCAR racetracks with different designs across the US. The first of the six-foot-tall, fiberglass and concrete statues was unveiled at the Daytona International Speedway this year.

---

Richard Petty's family donates to Victory Junction

Richard Petty and his family donated about 403 acres of its land to Victory Junction, a camp for children with serious illnesses. Richard and his late wife, Lynda, originally donated 140 acres to the camp in 2004.

Richard Petty's grandson, Adam visited a similar camp and wanted to create one for sick children. His son, Kyle opened Victory Junction in 2004 after Adam tragically passed away in an accident on the racetrack.

"I want to make sure Camp is here in 100 years, and we hope this gift inspires others to support Victory Junction so that it remains a place of joy for generations to come,” Kyle said in a statement.

Kyle retired from the Cup Series after 2008 with eight wins and works as a NASCAR broadcaster. He also runs an annual ride that funds the Petty's charity, which has raised over $22 million since 1995.