“We’ve been keeping a really big secret”: Richard Petty witnesses family surprise ahead of milestone-celebrating Martinsville race

Recently, NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty's family revealed the secret surprise party they have been planning for the latter at the Xfinity 500 set for Sunday, November 3, 2024, at the Martinsville track to celebrate 75 years of the Petty family in racing. Former Cup Series driver Kyle Petty shared the news on his X account.

The Petty family has been involved in racing since 1949, when Lee Petty made his debut in NASCAR's inaugural stock race at the Charlotte Race. His son Richard Petty has achieved some great milestones in his 35-year NASCAR career. He became the seven-time Cup Series champion and etched his name in history with a golden pen. Petty's performances earned him the nickname 'The King' and he holds the record for most races won (200), most races in a season (27), and most starts (1185) in a career.

The 87-year-old's family had a joint video call with him, where several of his family members surprised him. They revealed that Petty's family would celebrate his 75th anniversary in NASCAR.

"We have a surprise for you. We've been keeping a really big secret. We're all coming to Martinsville, and guess what? We're all going to be the Martinsville and celebrate the 75th anniversary of our family. Amazing at one of your favorite tracks, our home track, where you won 15 times. I know you're going to love this day, and I hate that we're going to miss it. We're all excited to be a part of this special milestone for our family. Thank you, NASCAR Martinsville Speedway, and especially Clay Campbell," the family said. [00:18]

Lee Petty, founded the Petty Enterprise in 1949. The team featured family drivers, including Richard Petty himself, his brother Maurice Petty, and his son Kyle Petty. Now the team is known as Legacy Motorsports, and seven-time Cup Series campion Jimmie Johnson is its co-owner.

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Richard Petty once shared an emotional story of his family's NASCAR roots

The 200-time Cup winner Richard Petty went on a podcast with NASCAR and recalled the memories of his dad becoming a professional race driver and starting a career in the sport. Petty was 11 years old when the father-son duo built the legendary Plymouth in their reaper shed.

The 87-year-old highlighted that they moved all the tractors out of their reaper shed and started bringing in cars. He also mentioned that his father, Lee Petty, used to race three in the morning when no one was around. Continuing further, the reporter asked Petty:

"Could you have ever, at 11 years old, thought that he was going to be a race car driver?" [01:15]

Richard Petty replied:

"It was a whole different world. Well, when I was growing up, here was just plain old country boys. I mean, we lived on a dirt road. We didn't have running water. We didn't have electricity. They read in the paper that Bill France was gonna have a stock car race in Charlotte. So all of a sudden we were going somewhere; they had the first time I'd ever been to Charlotte. When Dad did start racing, the whole world opened up. I remember we stood in the pit area here in the infield." [01:20]

Lee Petty won the 1954 Cup Series championship, winning 54 races in the season.