Sunday, June 4, 2017

Dover International Speedway to Honor Richard Petty’s 80th Birthday Today

NASCAR legend to appear on AAA Stage at Victory Plaza before ‘AAA 400 Drive for Autism’

Dover International Speedway to Honor Richard Petty’s 80th Birthday Today

Richard Petty, NASCAR’s all-time leader in victories who celebrates his 80th birthday on July 2, will be honored on the AAA Stage at Victory Plaza on Sunday, June 4 before the “AAA 400 Drive for Autism” Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway.

Petty, owner of 200 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins and seven NASCAR titles, will appear at 9:50 a.m. on the AAA Stage at Victory Plaza.

Among the day’s activities will be a performance by the Aqua String Band, a Philadelphia Mummers group, and a Petty question-and-answer session hosted by Riki Rachtman and Mike Bagley. Rachtman is the host of the nationally syndicated radio show “Racing Rocks” and a former MTV VJ, and Bagley is the host of Sirius XM’s “The Morning Drive” and a Motor Racing Network (MRN) announcer. Dover Motorsports President and CEO Denis McGlynn will also join Petty on stage for the event.

Petty will also receive a special, custom birthday cake made to replicate the same 1969 Ford that he drove to victory lane in the first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at the Monster Mile, the “Mason-Dixon 300” on July 6, 1969.

Petty has played a key role in the success of the sport and Dover. The Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Smithfield Ford is perched in the hand of the Monster Monument at Victory Plaza, presented by Smithfield. The 46-foot tall icon at the track also includes seven granite plaques to commemorate each of his Dover victories, along with a larger marquee plaque to recognize his role in the sport.

Just before the green flag waves on Sunday’s “AAA 400 Drive for Autism,” Petty will drive a street-ready, No. 43 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird tribute car around the track as part of the pre-race ceremonies. Just before the green flag waves on Sunday’s “AAA 400 Drive for Autism,” Petty will drive a street-ready, No. 43 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird tribute car around the track as part of the pre-race ceremonies. The car will be awarded by Smithfield to a lucky fan at the season finale in Miami later this year.

Dover International Speedway’s upcoming NASCAR tripleheader weekend also includes the “Bar Harbor 200” presented by Sea Watch International NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday, June 2 and the “OneMain Financial 200” NASCAR XFINITY Series Dash 4 Cash race on Saturday, June 3.

Another NASCAR tripleheader weekend returns to the Monster Mile in the fall, from Sept. 29-Oct. 1, featuring the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East on Friday, Sept. 29, the “Drive Sober 200” presented by the Delaware Office of Highway Safety NASCAR XFINITY Series race on Saturday, Sept. 30 and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, Oct. 1, which will serve as the first elimination race in the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

RICHARD PETTY FACTS

  • Birthday: July 2, 1937 (age 79)
  • Hometown: Level Cross, North Carolina
  • Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championships: 7 (1964, 1967, 1971-72, 1974-75, 1979)
  • Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career: 1,185 starts; 200 wins; 712 top-10 finishes
  • Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut: 1958 (Canadian National)
  • Dover International Speedway starts: 46 – 7 wins, 26 top-10 finishes


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