HMS legend pays the ultimate compliment to Richard Petty’s crew chief amid major honor announcement

NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty's former crew chief, Dale Inman, was inducted this week into the prestigious North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the sport. Following the induction, former Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Ray Evernham expressed admiration for Inman, acknowledging his remarkable impact on the sport.

Dale Inman served as crew chief for a majority of seven-time Cup Series champion Richard Petty's accolades. Petty, who holds the record for the most Cup Series wins in NASCAR history with 200 victories, achieved 188 of those wins and all seven of his championships with Inman by his side. In addition to his success with Petty, Inman also played a key role in Terry Labonte's 1984 Cup Series championship, further cementing his legacy as one of the sport's greatest crew chiefs.

Recently, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame named 12 athletes across different disciplines of sports as inductees for the 2025 year.

Following this announcement, Cup Series-winning crew chief Ray Evernham, who guided Jeff Gordon to the first three of his four Cup Series titles with Hendrick Motorsports, in 1995, 1997, and 1998, reacted to the announcement with enthusiasm, reflecting on the legacy and impact Inman has had on NASCAR.

Ray Evernham wrote:

"The best ever"

Dale Inman, inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012, now co-hosts the Petty Family Racing podcast alongside Richard Petty. On the podcast, they discuss events in NASCAR and also sometimes reflect on memorable moments from their storied careers in the sport.

---

Richard Petty reflects on how family became a priority after his NASCAR career declined

NASCAR legend Richard Petty retired from racing in 1992 after an illustrious 34-year-long career in the sport. The Presidential Medal of Freedom winner secured his final win at Daytona International Speedway at the 1984 Firecracker 400.

Petty discussed how his priorities started changing towards the end of his NASCAR career, in a video posted earlier this week via the "Petty Family Racing" channel on YouTube. Speaking with his championship-winning crew chief Dale Inman, Petty spoke about the change in his mindset, saying,

"I guess you just kind of learn to live a different life as you go from one part of your life to another life. And to begin with, you had no kids, then all of a sudden you got kids, then you got grandkids, then you got great-grandkids. The big deal there is I think as I get older, I get more family-oriented” [03:45].

“To begin with, I didn't have time for the family because I was busy racing. And as my racing went downhill, the family grew. So my attention then went to, you know, how to keep the family together.”

The Petty Family Racing channel also features episodes that give insight into the 84-year-old's personal life, providing another layer to the personality of NASCAR's most decorated driver.