"It was the pinnacle of my career" - When Richard Petty looked back on NASCAR's most memorable win, presidential recognition

No driver to ever race in the NASCAR Cup Series has won more races than Richard Petty. Sitting at 200 career victories, Petty is the all-time wins leader in the Cup Series, having won 95 more races than David Pearson, who has the second-most at 105 career victories. Among all those triumphs, it is win #200 that the seven-time Cup Series champion cherishes the most.

On July 4, 1984, at the Daytona International Speedway, Petty captured his 200th victory by wheeling his #43 machine to victory. The race was significant not only as Petty's final career win but also because United States President Ronald Reagan was in attendance. Reagan was the first sitting U.S. President to give the race's command as he said "Gentlemen, start your engines" from the phone on Air Force One, which later landed at the 2.5-mile speedway.

Back in 2016, on the heels of turning 79 years old, Richard Petty told The New York Times that winning his 200th race and meeting the president, was the highlight of his extraordinary career.

“It was a long time ago, but it was the biggest thing that happened to us. Winning and then getting to meet the president, it was the pinnacle of my career,” he said.

Petty is tied with Jimmie Johnson and the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. for winning the most Cup Series championships of all time with seven. The now-87-year-old also holds the record for the most victories in the prestigious Daytona 500 with seven.

Since retiring from NASCAR competition at the end of the 1992 season, Richard Petty has continued to be a figure in the Cup Series garage as an owner. Today, he co-owns Legacy Motor Club with Johnson, who drives on a part-time basis in the #84 Toyota.

Richard Petty gets into the "holiday spirit" with Jimmie Johnson at holiday party

Richard Petty during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway - Source: Imagn

Richard Petty helped spread some holiday cheer recently in an Instagram post with fellow Legacy Motor Club co-owner Jimmie Johnson. The two stood back to back and locked arms in a 360 video.

Petty penned a caption expressing his joy for the holiday season, writing:

"Getting in the Holiday Spirit!"

LMC fields two full-time NASCAR Cup Series cars and one part-time entry. John Hunter Nemechek pilots the #42 machine, Erik Jones is behind the wheel of the #43 car, while Johnson fields the #84 car on a part-time basis.

This past season, Nemechek recorded four top 10s and placed 34th in the points standings. Jones, meanwhile, registered two top 10s, one top five, and earned a 28th-place finish in the points standings. However, Jones' season was plagued by a back injury he suffered in a crash in the spring Talladega race, forcing him to miss two races.

Johnson competed in nine races in the 2024 season and scored a best finish of 26th in the season finale race at Phoenix. He is expected to return on a part-time basis again in 2025.