Petty bloodline has a vast history in motorsports, especially in NASCAR. Lee Petty and his son Richard Petty together made significant investment in the sport and won multiple championships to establish a family legacy. Richard’s son Kyle Petty and grandson late Adam Petty continued that legacy with race winning performances.
Richard Petty and Kyle Petty is one of the most revered father and son duo in the American stock car series perspective. They share a unique bond beyond just of a father and son, as they have been rivals on track, teammates and more. The duo recently appeared on the Dale JR. Download podcast with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and detailed how their relationship has evolved over the years and how they are now closer than ever.
We're closer now than we have ever been Richard Petty said via Dale Jr. Download.
Then Kyle Petty explained in brief how their relationship has evolved through the years. The eight-time race winner explained that at one point in life, he was just the son of Richard. However, soon they became teammates, then competitors, and when everything was done, they were now father and son again.
There's a period of my life when I was Richard Petty's son, okay? Then there was a period in my life that I worked for Richard Petty, and then there was a period when I was teammates with Richard Petty. And then there was a period that I went and drove somewhere else, and I was a competitor... and then when all that changed and went away then I became his son again. So it's as full circle. Kyle Petty added.
Richard Petty explains how NASCAR has changed over the years
The 86-year-old used to race in an era of NASCAR when safety was almost non-existent, and the skills of the drivers were at another level. Subsequently, the Hall of Famer gave his views on how NASCAR has evolved throughout the years.
Petty explained that during the early ’60s and ’70s, the drivers were in another league as every other driver had won almost 80 races. Whereas, currently even breaking the 10 mark is difficult for the newbies. However, the eras are different, the machinery is different thus comparing the generations with each other is quite difficult.
Because you had that little group that come through, and all the group that I came through, all them guys won 80 races. You go to a group now, if a guy has won 15-20 races, he's a winner. Which he still is don't get me wrong but the era is so much different. Richard Petty said.
Apart from this, the Petty family is still involved in motorsports and makes regular appearances at races. Moreover, both Richard and Kyle Petty have taken up roles of analyzing races and giving their reviews on races quite often with their different columns or videos.
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