Richard Petty Has One-Word Response to What Separates Him, Dale Earnhardt & Jimmie Johnson in the Elusive NASCAR Seven-Timer Club

NASCAR will complete its diamond jubilee in 2023; that is 75 years of stock model racing for fans. And 21 of those 75 years were owned, dominated, and conquered by 3 drivers – Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Jimmie Johnson. But beware, if you plan on basketing them together because they weren’t all too same.

The sport has seen some brilliant drivers, but these 3 legends of the sport find themselves in a club of their own. Where winning one Cup Series title is considered a Herculean task, these three won seven. But fans often make the mistake of clubbing them together.

In an interview with NASCAR Race Hub, Petty was asked “Richard, what’s your perspective on you, Jimmie, and Dale… the three 7-time Champions. How do you characterize all of that?”

Petty had a one-word response –“Different.” After giving the iconic Petty smile, he elaborated on his answer. “Each one of us had a different personality, we looked at the world different. We approached racing different. Our lives were completely different. The only thing that puts us together is the 7 Championships. Everything else is different.”

His answer couldn’t be more accurate. All three of those drivers were great – titans of the sport – but they had their own personalities. For those who saw them during their heyday(s), it would be difficult to draw a common thread between them.

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It’s sad and unfortunate that fans could never witness a couch with Petty, Earnhardt, and Jimmie together. That couch would’ve been something else.

Sitting next to NASCAR legends Jeff Gordon and Richard Petty

Winning a title in the Cup Series is difficult, and there is no questioning that premise. With his second title, in 2022 Joey Logano entered a highly prestigious group of drivers with multiple titles.

Despite all that, sitting next to Gordon and Petty, and answering questions still remains intimidating for the Team Penske driver. 

He was asked by the host, “It’s amazing to look at the numbers the 2 of you [Gordon and Petty] have put together in regard to Championships; 11 combined. And Joey you made it 17 drivers with multiple Championships when you got your second.”

A deeply humbled Logano said, “First of all, I don’t even know if I should be sitting up here. Because they got so many more than me, and I’m sitting here on 2.” He then went on to describe what that second title win felt like.

“They are so special to get, right? A Championship, you can’t compare it to other things. The first 15 minutes after you win the Championship is the best. So special to celebrate that with raw emotion, there are no words being exchanged other than hugs and you’re just yelling at each other. It’s just incredible.”

“That’s why you work so hard. It’s to try to achieve that feeling that you can only get by doing something huge like winning a Championship,” said Logano.

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Logano might not quite be up there with Gordon and Petty, but still winning 2 of those is a feat he would be proud of – and he should be.