They needed to diversify, and racing was a great option. But the early stock car racing scene in America was chaotic and disorganized. Former bootleggers were barred from some of the more ...

Richard Lee Petty was born on July 2, 1937, in Randleman, N.C., the son of one of stock-car racing's early pioneers, Lee Petty. The elder Petty won three Grand National championships in the '50s ...

Richard Lee Petty was born on July 2, 1937, in Randleman, N.C., the son of one of stock-car racing's early pioneers, Lee Petty, who in the fifties would win three Grand National championships.