Despite the inherent risks associated with bull riding, the adrenaline-fueled sport was not enough to dissuade the NASCAR veteran and multifaceted personality, Kyle Petty. His perilous encounter in the sport, which he likened to being “worse than a car crash,” nearly cost him his life.
At 64, Petty’s exceptional career comprises a remarkable 30-year tenure in NASCAR, with eight Cup Series race wins to his name. However, his achievements are not limited to the race track. He’s also a recognized philanthropist, television personality, author, and talented musician. Yet, until 2011, there was a daredevil feat he hadn’t checked off his bucket list – bull riding.
Petty is no stranger to danger or bold endeavors. His family has a rich history of taking risks and pushing boundaries. The Petty lineage’s fearless streak was kick-started by Lee Petty in 1949 when he embarked on his first NASCAR race. This fearless perspective is what Kyle carried with him when he decided to venture into the high-risk world of bull riding.
In November 2011, Petty intended to ride a motorcycle on the ‘Wall of Death’ in Texas. When Eddie Gossage, the then president of Texas Motor Speedway, couldn’t make that happen, he arranged for Petty to ride a 1,700–2,000-pound bull instead.
Petty anticipated he would be given a smaller, manageable calf to ride, but instead found himself face-to-face with a colossal bull. Despite the unexpected turn of events, Petty was all in. He prepared himself with borrowed boots, chaps, a Kevlar vest, and a helmet. But nothing could prepare him for the turbulent ride that lay ahead.
In his own words, the experience was “the most violent thing” he’d ever done. The power-packed encounter was akin to an extreme roller-coaster ride, throwing him up in the air and slamming him down, all in a matter of seconds. The gravity-defying ordeal culminated with him being thrown off the bull and landing flat on his back. The sight of six bulls charging towards him and the sudden intervention of a clown redirected the bull, saving him from a potentially fatal situation.
His near-death experience left him with a newfound respect for all bull riders, acknowledging the danger they willingly embrace for the adrenaline rush, similar to what NASCAR drivers experience while maneuvering 750HP machines.
Petty’s daring spirit and resilience are not confined to sports. He had to prove his mettle to his own father, NASCAR legend Richard Petty who, despite having 200 Cup victories and seven championships under his belt, had to fight his own battles. Richard, like his father before him, taught Kyle the value of earning his place in the world.
When Kyle expressed his desire to become a race car driver as a teenager, his father made sure he understood the ins and outs of the job. Kyle recalls his father’s condition in his 2022 book, Swerve or Die, where he was required to work in every part of the shop for at least a year before even discussing his racing future.
Despite the challenging path laid out before him, Kyle never shied away from the hard work. He dedicated his after-school hours to working in the shop, while also participating in football games. His commitment led him to his first victory in an ARCA Menards Series race in 1979, at the tender age of 19.
From his daring escapades in bull riding to his illustrious career in NASCAR, Kyle Petty’s stories are as multifaceted and thrilling as the man himself. We eagerly await more interesting anecdotes from this daring and accomplished veteran.