NASCAR
Richard Petty, the King of racing, reflects on career before NASCAR's return to North Wilkesboro
NASCAR returns this weekend to the North Wilkesboro Speedway for the first time since 1996. It's the site where Richard Petty won 15 times.
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NASCAR returns this weekend to the North Wilkesboro Speedway for the first time since 1996. It's the site where Richard Petty won 15 times.
NEWS COVERAGE. YOU CAN GO HOME. >> THIS SUNDAY, NASCAR RETURNS TO THE NORTH WILKESBORO SPEEDWAY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1996 FOR THE NEXT RUNNING OF THE CIRCUITS ANNUAL ALL-STAR RACE. THE DRIVER WHO'S WON THE MOST RACES AT THAT TRACK. HOW ELSE? BUT RICHARD PETTY, THE ONLY PERSON EVER TO WIN 200 NASCAR RACES. >> WRAL'S KACY HINTZ VISITED THE KING AT HIS SHOP IN LEVEL CROSS WHERE PETTY SHARED MEMORIES OF HIS HALL OF FAME CAREERS. >> AFTER THEY DON'T WIN, YOU KNOW, 1917, A WALK AROUND. RICHARD PETTY SHOP AND MUSEUM CARS, PICTURES. TROPHIES, MEMORABILIA. IT'S A WINDOW INSIDE THE LIFE OF ONE OF NORTH CAROLINA'S GREATEST LEGENDS. THIS KIND OF CALM. THIS IS WATER STARTED. AND IT'S ALL RIGHT NEXT TO THE HOUSE WHERE PEDDIE GREW WHO KNOWS VISITORS MIGHT EVEN RUN INTO THE KING HIMSELF. YOU'RE A SINGER. SAME FOR YEARS. AND IT'S JUST THE WAY A LOT. A LIFE THAT BEGAN UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF HIS FATHER, LEE PETTY, ONE OF NASCAR'S FIRST STARS AND FOUNDER OF PETTY ENTERPRISES. WHAT MADE PETTY RACING SO DIFFERENT? WE JUST LOOKED AT IT AND IT WAS JUST A FAMILY BUSINESS AND WE WOULD PROBABLY THAT THERE'S A SHUN. >> THAT LOOKED AT IT AS A BUSINESS. I DIDN'T START WITH AT 21. BUT I MUST WIN STARTING WHEN READY >> AND NO ONE WON MORE RACES THAN >> THIS IS THE DRIVER OF THAT. SELLING THEM UP THERE LIKE A I HAD CONTROL RICHARD PETTY WAS DOING IN 1970, PETTY WAS THE LAST WINTER EVER AT RALEIGH STATE FAIRGROUNDS. DIRT TRACK WAS DINNER ONE YEAR. I WOULD HOPE THAT FOR HIM WENT DOWN WITH A BARGE POLE WITH A HEADACHE AS A STATE COURT TO WIN. OKAY OUT THERE THAT THAT. SO I REMEMBER THAT MORE THAN WINNING THE RACES IDEAS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE COMING UP COURSES NORTH WILKESBORO THE ALL-STAR RACE. I WILL SAY IT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE TRACK. >> BUT I GUESS IT WAS BECAUSE WE WANT A LOT OF RACES ARE. IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT OUR HISTORY IS NOT GOING AWAY AND THEN START YOUR ENGINES. PETTY'S LAST AND MOST FAMOUS WIN CAME ON JULY 4TH, 1984 WHEN RONALD REAGAN BECAME THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO EVER ATTEND A NASCAR RACE MAY BE THE RACE THAT WE'RE LOOKING OUT HERE. HEAVY HELD OFF CALE YARBOROUGH TO BECOME THE FIRST AND STILL ONLY DRIVER TO WIN 200 NASCAR REAR. AND THAT IS CLEARLY IN 2 MINUTES FOR A JULY. THE 4TH FOR THE PRESIDENT, THE UNITED STATES. I WANT TO PLAY ONE WAS ABLE TO WELCOME IN 2 GRAND NATIONAL RACE. WE GOT HIM IN THE SPORTS PAGE. >> AND HE GOT US ON THE FRONT PAGE. THE WINDS, THE RECORDS, THE CHAMPIONSHIPS KNOW AS A CAR OWNER. >> YOU KNOW WHAT IS THE ONE THING HE WANTS? RICHARD PETTY TO BE REMEMBERED FOR? EVERYBODY'S GOING TO REMEMBER IT UP FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE. THE BIG DEAL HE SAID JUST REMEMBER E. LIKE THE MEMORY IS FOR THEM. IF THEY REMEMBER, YOU THEN AND THIS IS OUR NATIONAL CASEY, ITS WRAL SPORTS LEVEL CROSS. >> WE CAN'T POINT WHAT MEMORIES PETTY TURNS. 86 YEARS OLD. THIS JULY HE'LL ACT IS THE GRAND MARSHAL FOR SUNDAY'S RACE IN NORTH WILKESBORO WOULD BE FUN TO SING DRIVE AGAIN TOO WELL, IT IS GOING TO BE A BIG WEEKEND FOR RACING TOMORROW AT THE NORTH WILKESBORO SPEEDWAY. GET READY FOR THE TYSON TO 50 PART OF THE TRUCK SERIES. YOU CAN WATCH PRE-RACE COVERAGE STARTING AT 01:00PM ON FOX 50 WITH THE RACE