“I Just Ran Over Somebody”- Richard Petty’s Grandchildren Get Lost in Nostalgia as They Reveal the King’s Driving Test Tradition

If you think Richard Petty was only a legend on the NASCAR tracks, wait until you hear about his driving lessons. Being a renowned NASCAR driver, “The King” has been keen to instill the love of racing and pass down his wisdom. While fans have known Petty for his competitive nature on the track, it was no different when it came to teaching his grandchildren about getting behind the wheel.

For the King’s grandchildren, getting a driver’s license was not enough. They had to pass the Richard Petty driving test. In a video posted to Richard Petty’s YouTube channel, four of his grandchildren gathered to reminisce about their “sweet sixteen” moments, and the driving tradition that came with it. And let’s just say, the driving test they had to pass wasn’t the kind you’d find at your local DMV.

A helmet, a lost road trip, and a lot of pressure

On Friday, Kyle Petty’s children Austin and Montgomery hosted a podcast on Richard Petty’s YouTube channel. They were joined by Hanna and Maggie, the children of Richard’s eldest daughter, Sharon Farlow. During the conversation, Maggie fondly recalled how they had to go through the Richard Petty driving test after getting their driver’s license.

“Every time we got our driver’s license…he had to get us in the car. We have to pass the Richard Petty driving test. That was scary. Not getting in the car with the driving teacher, getting in the car with him scary,” she said. Hanna then chimed in and said, “He wore a helmet with me. Seriously, he took a racing helmet.” But that wasn’t all as Hanna revealed how he would put their driving skills to test.

“He took me somewhere way out here and then said, ‘Get back to the house,’ and I said, ‘I don’t know how to get back.’ And he said, ‘Too bad, you got to figure out. You should have been paying attention,'” Hanna recalled. Talk about tough love! But perhaps being strict with Hanna was warranted, after all, she ran over her cousin with a golf cart when she was young.

In the YouTube video on Petty’s channel, she narrated the incident, saying, “I didn’t wreck, I just ran over somebody, remember I did? I ran over Sarah Luck’s leg.” The King also had lessons to share with Maggie.

Maggie remembered, “He told me never to look behind me. Don’t worry about people riding.” Speaking of lessons, even Austin Petty, Kyle Petty’s son, had a story to share. “He (Richard Petty) told me never to put your hand inside the steering wheel,” Austin said. “Don’t ever reach into the steering wheel. Because if you ever get hit and it snaps, it will snap your wrist.” It’s hard not to appreciate the practicality of this advice—especially considering Petty’s career, where split-second decisions and extreme forces were the name of the game.

In addition to that, having the most NASCAR wins under your belt (200) along with the joint most championships (7) doesn’t hurt your credibility either.

Meanwhile, further in the conversation, they dwelled on instances of getting speeding tickets, or how Austin caused a red flag in Martinsville.

Austin Petty’s imperfect driving moments

Trending

NASCAR’s New Victoria’s Secret Driver Has the Potential to Be Better Than Hailie Deegan as She Preps for Her Awaited Debut

“Doesn’t Make Sense” – Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Sister Unconvinced as NASCAR Tries to Amputate Her and Others’ Only Leverage

After Failed Attempt to Hire SVG’s Kryptonite, RCR Boss Recruits 2024 Supercars Champ to End Trackhouse Sensation’s Dominance

“Shot My Dad”: Thanksgiving Celebrations Bring Back Tragic Memories for Kenny Wallace

If you’re wondering if Richard Petty ever showed any softness in his teaching style, Montgomery Petty, daughter of Kyle Petty and sister of Austin, might provide the closest thing to a warm, fuzzy moment in this intense family-driving tradition. “You know what he told me?” Montgomery asked with a smile. “He told me you did perfect.” Well, she’s a rare spectacle amongst the group.

Austin Petty remarked“You know how many speeding tickets I have? I’m probably in triple digits.” And that’s not all. Sharing another incident Austin recalled, “I flipped a car one time, leaving Martinsville. They had to red-flag the race. The closest hospital that the ambulance could take us back to was the infield care center.”

And while Montgomery may have aced Richard Petty’s driving test, she claims to have gotten, “22 speeding tickets.” Richard’s grandkids might have experienced a few bumps, bruises, and speeding tickets along the way, but they all passed Petty’s Test with flying colors.

And while they may not have all been perfect drivers from the start, they’ve all learned to keep their eyes on the road and stay focused—just like their legendary grandfather taught them.

What do you think about this Petty family tradition? Share your thoughts with us in the comments down below.