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 several generations of drivers, including Lee Petty and Richard Petty, who were both NASCAR Cup champions. Unfortunately, Adam Petty, son of Kyle Petty, did not reach his full potential and tragically passed away in a fatal accident during his 48th start in the Busch Series in May 2000.
Recently, Richard Petty, also known as the ‘King’ and 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 back then.
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 octogenarian Richard Petty.
During the NASCAR Daytona 500 race in 1961, a major collision occurred involving J and Beauchamp. The accident was caused by Beauchamp losing control of his car and colliding with Petty. The accident was devastating, leading Lee Petty to be immediately hospitalized at Daytona Hospital for a period of four months. Richard Petty also shared on the podcast how the accident had impacted his father and how his family dealt with the consequences.
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 in a week. The injury was a significant blow to the Petty family, a suffering no family should have to endure.
