It’s no secret that Richard’ The King’ Petty had one of the most fiery personalities during his time as a full-time racer in the NASCAR Cup Series. It was this fighting spirit that carried him to seven Cup Series championship titles at a time when achieving something like that was inconceivable. While it’s considered a positive for a driver to have such a personality, it’s not always a good thing off the track. And that’s precisely what contributed to a hiring, an argument, and a two weeks’ notice, all in the span of a few weeks.

The King’s son, Kyle Petty, recently interviewed Richard’s former personal assistant, Martha Jane Bonkemeyer. In an episode of the Petty Enterprises Reunion Dinner, Bonkemeyer had several interesting stories about the first-ever seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. And one of them was the verbal escalation with the northerner in question.

Being the global superstar he was, Richard Petty felt he needed a manager to look after the non-racing side of things. That way, he could focus entirely on racing. That led him to Doug Patterson, a Chrysler employee at the time. However, the two did not get off on the right foot, and things got heated pretty quickly. “We really did not know, but he did help me get a word processor,” revealed Bonkemeyer. “One day, though, I cannot remember what the discussion was, but Doug Patterson and Mr. Petty got in a really heated argument.”

Although she couldn’t quite make out what the argument was about, Bonkemeyer knew that Richard Petty and Doug Patterson were getting close to a physical altercation. “It was coming to blows because Mr. Petty said, ‘I’m going to hit the hell out of you, Doug, if you don’t get out of my way.’ And I got up from my office and ran to the closet. I was not going to be a referee between that northerner and Mr. Petty. Because I knew whose side I was on, and I knew who paid my paycheck,” she hilariously recalled. From what Bonkemeyer revealed, the fight didn’t end in Patterson’s favor. And neither did the aftermath.

The whole fight resulted in Patterson bearing the brunt of a dismissal. ” Doug Patterson didn’t last two weeks after that. He was gone,” Martha Jane Bonkemeyer added. Whether it be his attitude on the track or his personality off it, Richard Petty was a force to be reckoned with. And more often than not, people preferred not to cross him. However, there was one person who didn’t just cross paths with him but also became a significant part of his life—the mother of his children, Lynda Gale. And Bonkemeyer shared some interesting anecdotes about their family life.

Watch This Story | The Uncertain Road Ahead Matt Dibenedettos 2024 NASCAR Journey

An aspect of Richard Petty’s home life is Bonkemeyer’s “claim to fame”

Martha Jane Bonkemeyer used to be best friends with Richard Petty’s former wife, Lynda. In the same interview, she shared stories about how they used to go out on double dates at the theater, which later became race tracks. It was truly fascinating to hear her recall the tales of the non-racer side of arguably the greatest stock car racer of all time. “Lynda Gale and I go back way back,” Bonkemeyer said.

“She was my very best friend, and we grew up in the same church, we went to school together, we did cheerleading together. Then, when she started to date Richard Petty, they asked me and Willis to go to the races with them. Well, Willis and I got married in 1958. They got married one year later, and then she had Kyle, and we didn’t have any children. So, we said we were going to claim Kyle, and I changed his diaper.” Looking toward Kyle, Martha joked, “That is my claim to fame is I have changed his diaper.” 

These stories go a long way with fans who are fascinated to learn about how the racers back in the day used to be when they were off the track. Indeed, NASCAR may be about racing, but these off-track stories add a lot to the lore of the sport as well.

Read More: Richard Petty’s Personal Secretary Reveals the Heartwarming Aspect of Working for the King