NASCAR Fans Anticipate “Awesomeness” as Richard Petty Sits Down With Hendrick Motorsports Legend Jeff Gordon

Richard Petty, the man, the myth, the king of NASCAR. Known for driving in his iconic Petty Enterprises No. 43 Plymouth and the Pontiac. The seven-time Cup Series champion sits down for an interview with Hendrick Motorsports for the first time.

The interview is scheduled to air during pre-race this Sunday on USA Network.

The King of NASCAR’s three-decade-long career

Petty raced in the former Winston Cup Series and NASCAR Grand National from 1958 to 1992. His father, Lee Petty, was also a highly revered three-time NASCAR Champion. Moreover, Dale Earnhardt, Jimmie Johnson, and Richard Petty are the only three drivers to have seven Cup Series Championships to their name.

DIVE DEEPER

And, with a career spanning 35 years, the King took on 123 pole positions, more than 700 top 10 finishes, and a staggering 1,184 race starts. In 2010, Petty was inducted into the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame. Even to this day, he remains highly involved with his Cup Series team, Petty GMS Motorsports with drivers Erik Jones and Ty Dillon.

A near-death experience at Rebel 400 Darlington

In May 1970, the legend’s career almost came to a halt. After his car acquired frontal damage by hitting the wall, he chose to continue with the race. A few moments later, on lap 176, he slammed the outside wall with immense force due to a steering wheel failure. Which, in turn, flipped his car several times before coming to a halt upside down. Petty was left dangling from his seat.

Later in an interview, Petty mentioned, “At the time I used to run with a rag in my mouth,” Petty said. “Well, them rags got to coming out the windows and stuff. It looked terrible.” Though he was initially knocked unconscious, he later returned from the hospital with only a broken shoulder.

Fan Reactions over Petty’s Twitter Post

Petty took to Twitter to announce his interview with Hendrick Motorsports. Petty gave fans a sneak peek of some of the behind-the-scenes via pictures, which included his former racing suit and cars. Meanwhile, fans seemed ecstatic and eager about it.

Tell us your thoughts about the upcoming interview in the comments below.

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