‘Behind every successful man, there is a woman.’ This might sound cliche sometimes, but in Richard Petty’s case, it’s true. Behind his seven championships, seven Daytona 500s, the 200 wins, and all the NASCAR fame was one person and one person only: Lynda Petty. He might be ‘The King’ of the racetrack, but she was the glue that held everything together at the Petty house. Being the wife of a race car driver is no easy feat, but then again, Lynda wasn’t a woman who liked easy. Today, it saddens us that the jolly but tough woman is not among us.
Often referred to as the ‘First Lady of NASCAR,’ Lynda and Richard were high school sweethearts. Back in school, he was probably already a famous kid: the son of the great Lee Petty. Richard could have had any girl he wanted, but he had eyes for only one. And, he wasted no time marrying her, she was just 17 when they tied the knot in 1959. And we are sure Petty would agree that just 55 years of marriage with her was probably not enough. It was her birthday on the 6th of March, and Richard Petty was joined by the entire NASCAR community to remember her.
The woman behind NASCAR’s greatest driver
Richard Petty graduated from Randleman High School in 1955. And everyone assumed that he’d hit the racing tracks straight away and learn the craft from his father. Because Lee, his father, had promised to put Richard behind a car’s wheel. However, the young North Carolina boy was more interested in attending the Randleman Tigers sporting events. For those of you who don’t know, he was even the official transportation director for the cheerleading squad. And, the cheerleader Lynda Owens, of course, “was the prettiest thing” he had ever seen. These were Petty’s words.
He married her and went racing, while she stayed back to hold the Petty fort. Raised four kids, Kyle Petty, and three daughters, Sharon Farlow, Rebecca Petty Moffit, and Lisa Petty. And the only reason Petty could manage a full-time racing career while also being a family was a credit to her. Recently, Petty shared a few old photos of them on Instagram with the caption: “Happy Birthday to the First Lady of NASCAR!” Take a look:
The old photos even took NASCAR Legend Mark Martin down memory lane, as he replied with a comment, “.” That’s how all the people who knew Lynda felt, both in NASCAR and outside NASCAR. To put it simply, she was infectious! NASCAR Journalist Ryan McGee, remembering the first time he had met her, put it beautifully in an article. “I stood at the entrance of the office where our talk had taken place and looked confused. In my mind, when I thought about our chat, I’d always remembered us being on rocking chairs, sitting there by the front door…I don’t think there were ever actually any rocking chairs there. But that’s just how talking to Miss Lynda makes you feel.”
While Lynda took care of her family, she was also a strong leader of her community. And had a pull towards public service. She had a 16-year tenure on the Randolph County School Board. She also volunteered for the Red Cross, led Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, and served as president of the local athletic booster club. And even in NASCAR, she was an inspiration to all the racing wives. You’d always see her in the grandstands when Petty took the wheel. With the same determination, she fought cancer for many years before passing away in March 2014 at 72. As a proud mother of 4, loving grandmother of 12, and forever NASCAR’s first lady.
And the entire NASCAR community misses her…
Petty’s post was flooded with heartfelt birthday wishes as fans, too, joined on memory lane. One fan wrote, “Happy Birthday Linda!!! She set a lasting example for all of us drivers’ wives to follow!!! ” Which is true. And for them, she even started the Racing Wives Auxiliary.
And, If you remember Richard Petty, in a past interview, had described her saying: “She took care of the house, she took care of the bills, she did all of that kind of thing. I went out and did my racing and did my job, and then it was like I told people—three lives. She lived the life, I lived the life, and we lived the life together. So we were married 55 years, but we probably lived together 25.” So, she was a master in balancing everything perfectly.
Another fan echoed the same emotions, writing, “HBD Queen! Rest in Power!!!” She was probably one of the strongest women. Took care of her family and was always involved in social work. She was even honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals with a Philanthropy Award for her personal commitment to seriously ill children and American troops. She just loved children.
Even the NASCAR community had an unsaid bond with her through Richard Petty. That’s the reason why the wishes just kept coming. One fan missing her wrote, “Happy Heavenly Birthday Linda.” Another one wrote, “HBD RIP .” It would have been great to have her at Martinsville last year when Richard Petty was the grand marshal for the Xfinity 500. Surrounded by the entire Petty family. Lynda was missed. But still, she continues to live in our hearts. Or how Brain France had said during her passing, “Through the years, Lynda became an integral part of the NASCAR landscape. We have lost a true friend who will be missed each and every day.”
And to this one fan, this day is extra special as Lynda happens to be her birthday twin. The fan wrote, “ Happy Birthday Linda!! I’m happy to share this birthday with you!! .” Folks, what are some of your memories of Lynda Petty? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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