Something iconic had a slice of embarrassment wedged up in it. The Petty family has been the torchbearer of NASCAR for decades and continues to do so. So this legendary racing family was given the honor of commanding the drivers into action at Daytona. However, seniority has indeed caught up with Richard Petty, the 200-time record-setter in motorsports. He muttered something else and got chided for it.

The Petty Fold was booked for an honorable duty at the Coke Zero Sugar 400. Five Petty family members joined to give the coveted command to drivers to start their engines. However, The King added humor to the entire deal.

Accidentally adding class to command

Well, what can be better than a motorsports legend saluting you with the utmost respect? That is what Richard Petty accidentally happened to do at NASCAR’s second 2024 Cup race at Daytona. Lodged among his jaw-dropping 200 Cup victories are 7 prestigious Daytona 500 wins, and the 87-year-old retired racer got a little too excited at his glorious racetrack. He missed the correct wording of the command and added a hint of class to it.

Instead of ‘drivers’, Richard Petty addressed the Cup racers as ‘Gentlemen.’ So the command ended up like this: “Gentlemen, start your engines!” His son Kyle Petty could be visibly seen instantly nudging his dad and pointing out his mistake. However, the damage was done, as drivers and fans were pumped nonetheless to begin the Coke Zero Sugar 400 race.

The starting command squad included five members of the Petty family. Richard and Kyle Petty were joined by Richard’s nephews, and Kyle’s cousins—Ritchie, Timmy, and Mark Petty. They are sons of Richard’s late brother Maurice, the racing family’s engine-building maestro who also ranks as a member of NASCAR’s Hall of Fame. The Petty family also started off the Daytona tradition several years ago.

Lee Petty, the family patriarch, won the inaugural Daytona 500 race way back in 1959. Then Richard Petty went on to clinch 7 victories. So Speedway president Frank Kelleher was thrilled to have the Pettys at the Coke Zero Sugar 400. “Our history here at Daytona International Speedway and NASCAR goes hand-in-hand with the Petty family’s history, beginning when Lee (Richard’s dad) won the very first Daytona 500 in 1959.”

However, the NASCAR community focused more on The King’s funny mistake at this race.

The “Petty” fumble tickles NASCAR fans

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Usually known as The King, Richard Petty took a humorous figure at the 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400. After his misspelled engine command, rumblings were afoot. Some NASCAR fans immediately took to social media and giggled about this mishap. Some took note of Richard Petty’s senile issues: “lol…Richard messed up.” And then somebody else commented: “Cancel Richard he said gentlemen instead of drivers! /s”

Kyle Petty could never clinch a Daytona victory like his father or grandfather, although he won the 1979 ARCA 200 on his first speedway start. Yet today he had to show his legendary racer father what to say. Kyle [funnily] chiding his father also brought out smiles in the community. “Lmaoo Richard said “gentlemen” and Kyle’s like wtf dude, we practiced “drivers!” Another fan added: “Kyle getting mad at Richard lmao.”

The last time the Petty legacy was celebrated was at the World Wide Technology Raceway, a venue that joined many tracks across the nation in tipping their hats to 75 years of Petty dominance and contribution to the sport.

Richard Petty, the man who put the family name in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, couldn’t help but feel the love. “With all the racetracks we’ve been through over the years, people still recognize the Petty family,” he shared, his iconic cowboy hat undoubtedly tipping as he spoke. “It started in 1949 with my dad. A Petty deal, it’s not just a Richard Petty, it’s the Petty family. To be recognized and have something at all the tracks I used to run on, it makes the family very, very proud.”

And, this time, Richard Petty may have instilled a sense of pride in drivers with his ‘gentlemen‘ address. However, the accidental move was enough to spin off some hilarious variations. Some people pronounced some funny contortions of Richard Petty’s command. “Drivermen…start your engines!” Another added: “Gentledrivers start your engines!”

Anyways, having Richard Petty’s blessing to begin the race should be lucky enough for the driver who will win today. Let us see how the race unfolds!