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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 10: Team owner, and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty walks the the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series 63rd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 10, 2021 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 10: Team owner, and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty walks the the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series 63rd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 10, 2021 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Without a doubt, Richard Petty is an iconic figure in the NASCAR sporting scene. The 85-year-old is the proud owner and co-owner of a vast number of records in his entire career. One record that will probably never be broken is his record for the most wins in the Cup Series arena. This is because he has amassed an eye-watering 200 career wins. It is the rough equivalent of an F1 driver consistently winning every single race in a season for the next 10 seasons.
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However, it is worth mentioning that his 200th and final NASCAR Cup Series win was the most special. Aside from the fact that it was an incredible milestone, Petty triumphed right in front of the President of the United States, himself.
Exclusive photos from our #NASCARHall archives capture the moment President Ronald Reagan saw Richard Petty win his 200th & final race. As far as historic #NASCAR moments go, this one from the 1984 Firecracker 400 is near the top. #FourthofJuly #July4th https://t.co/YJuoyIl4H4 pic.twitter.com/2xf2rkeRsX
— NASCAR Hall of Fame (@NASCARHall) July 4, 2022
The scene of this victory was at the 1984 Firecracker 400 at the Daytona International Speedway on the Fourth of July.
So this Cup Series victory was as special as it could get.
Richard Petty and his legacy in the NASCAR Cup Series
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The NASCAR living legend has competed in more than a thousand races in the Cup Series across 35 years. In addition to that, he also boasts of seven Cup Series titles, tied with the late great Dale Earnhardt, and Jimmie Johnson. One thing he has over both of them is the fact that he reached the milestone first and has built himself a rock-solid legacy.
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – 1979: Richard Petty rallied late in the season to gain the advantage and win an unprecedented seventh national title in NASCAR’s Cup Series. (Photo by ISC Archives/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images)
His other accolade includes records for the most wins, the most poles, and the most wins in a season. In addition to that, he has the most consecutive wins in a season.
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The NASCAR legend is also the undisputed king of the Daytona 500 with 7 wins. Richard Petty entered the American Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1989 and in the International Hall of Fame in 1997. Furthermore, in 1992, he had the incredible honor of being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
