Richard Petty had a significant impact on Adam Petty during his upbringing. The Petty family is a highly renowned American racing dynasty. They have had multiple generations of racers, including Lee Petty and Richard Petty, who were both NASCAR Cup champions. Unfortunately, Adam Petty, the son of Kyle Petty, did not reach his full potential and tragically passed away in a fatal accident during his 48th Busch Series start in May 2000.
Recently, Richard Petty, also known as the ‘King’ and a seven-time Cup champion, appeared on the Dale Jr Download Podcast. During the conversation, the former NASCAR driver discussed his relationship with his grandson and how much closer he was to Adam compared to his own son, Kyle. The dynamics within the Petty family were different during that time.
Richard Petty and his grandson were often seen together at ASA races before Adam’s tragic accident. The discussion on the podcast provided insights into their relationship, evoking nostalgic memories for the 86-year-old Richard Petty.
During the 1961 Daytona 500 NASCAR race, a major collision occurred involving J and Beauchamp. The crash was caused by Beauchamp losing control of his car and colliding with Petty. The accident was devastating, leading Lee Petty to be immediately admitted to Daytona Hospital for a four-month period. Richard Petty also shared on the podcast how the accident had impacted his father and how their family coped with the aftermath.
The incident was nearly fatal, and Richard Petty revealed that his father, Lee Petty, initially underestimated the severity of his injury, believing he would be back racing within a week. The injury dealt a significant blow to the Petty family, an ordeal that no family should have to endure.