The Pettys

Adam Petty, 18, is NASCAR's only fourth-generation racer. His father is Kyle, 38, who is the son of Richard, 61, who is the son of Lee, 84. Lee His 54 career victories rank seventh all-time. He won the first Daytona 500, in 1959, and became the first three-time champ. Richard The seven-time Winston Cup champion won 200 races, a record that almost surely will stand forever because there are fewer races on the schedule now. Kyle Has won eight races and $10.1 million in a 20-year career. Adam Will race full-time in Grand National series this season.

By Liz Clarke
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 12, 1999; Page N7

In the minds of race fans, the Pettys are the first family of racing. The family's history spans the lifetime of stock car racing itself, so picking one highlight is difficult. But to Kyle Petty, there was nothing quite like the excitement of the first time his father, Richard, was invited to the White House. Jimmy Carter was president, and Kyle was in high school in Randleman, N.C. He didn't tell any of his classmates, although the visit soon became big news.

"You have to remember, where we came from, we just went to school and were a part of the community," Kyle Petty recalled. "It was a little pretentious to have your father go to the White House, so we just didn't talk about it."

Richard Petty was invited back to the White House during Ronald Reagan's presidency to celebrate his 200th career win. This time, the whole family went.

"That was huge," Kyle Petty said. "It would have to be, for any family. I don't care whether you're the NCAA championship basketball team. I don't care whether you like the president or don't like the president. It transcends political parties. It's a big, big deal."

Kyle remembered being in awe, walking through the White House and out into the Rose Garden, thinking about the history of the place. He was struck by how quiet and soft-spoken Reagan was.

"To have him call you by name – to have him call my sisters by name and my mother by name ... I'm sure he was briefed like crazy," Petty said. "But to think of everything going on in the world at that time, and that he had 15 or 20 minutes and he remembered your name – that was incredible."