Who is known as 'The King' in NASCAR?

Who is known as “The King” in NASCAR? Richard Petty is the answer. The nickname reflects his extraordinary success, popularity, and lasting influence on stock-car racing.

Petty won a record 200 NASCAR Cup Series races, including a record seven Daytona 500s. He also captured the premier-series championship seven times, tying the record later matched by Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson. His famous No. 43 Plymouth and later Pontiac became one of the most recognizable symbols in American motorsports.

Petty’s career stretched from 1958 through 1992, covering NASCAR’s transition from its early dirt-track roots to modern superspeedways. He was the son of racing pioneer Lee Petty and the father of Kyle Petty, making the Petty family one of the sport’s defining dynasties.

A common mix-up is confusing “The King” with other NASCAR legends who have their own nicknames, such as Dale Earnhardt’s “The Intimidator” or Jeff Gordon’s “Wonder Boy.”