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via Getty

via Getty

Richard Petty is called ‘The King’ for a good reason. Apart from raking up 200 victories in his Cup series career, and being one of the three seven-time champions, the King has become the personification of the sport itself. Owing to his awe-striking records, the former Cup Series champion made his place among the greatest of the sport in the Hall of Fame. However, it seems that a few lucky fans can get to taste a similar hallowed position.

One may be accustomed to Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, the 1.3-mile long landmark, that honors artists from the entertainment world. However, only a few may be accustomed to the Petty Family Walk of Fame. Yes, you heard it correctly. The Petty family has its own Walk of Fame beside the Petty Museum in North Carolina. Adorned with names of mostly family members, the walkway is iconic, to say the least. However, now, fans will also get a chance to see their name engraved in the same spot beside other legends. If you’re coveting a place in the Hall of Famer’s Walk of Fame, here is the way you can accomplish it.  

Richard Petty unravels how his fans can add a unique achievement to their name

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His trademark cowboy hat, dark sunglasses, and his incandescent smile are an indispensable part of the NASCAR world. Influencing generations of racers, Richard Petty occupies a revered position in the hearts of every driver and follower of the sport. Although it’s been decades since the driver has hung up his helmet, the octogenarian is yet to enjoy a life of recluse. 

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Instead, the former Cup Series champion to date provides his insights into the sport and its development, while heralding his family business, the Petty Enterprises at the same time. Nonetheless, with a record that could only be attained by a handful of drivers, the ‘King’ was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the Class of 2010 and commemorated his illustrious career. While his career accomplishments are carefully stored in the Hall of Fame, now the fans are to get a similar chance and etch their names forever. In a Twitter post, the King himself posted, “You can add your name to the Petty Family Walk of Fame! These bricks are laid out in front of the homestead next to the @PettyMuseum. All proceeds go to support the Petty Museum Capital Campaign.”

The pictures uploaded by Petty showcased the various names that are already carved on the bricks. To achieve this remarkable feat, Richard Petty also revealed the way forward. The legend noted, “For more info, call Bonnie Davis during business hours at (336) 495-1143.”

This achievement would surely last a lifetime for any Richard Petty fan. However, the surprises didn’t end there as fans were in for more treats when the King’s former secretary appeared in an interview with Kyle Petty and threw light on the legend’s blissful days with his wife Lynda Petty.

The King’s former secretary reminisces their old tales of double dates

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While the secrets were spilled by the King himself on how to claim a spot in the Petty Family’s Walk of Fame, his former secretary also spilled the beans about how Richard Petty and his secretary were part of a double date group in their days of youth. 

In an interview with Kyle Petty, the King’s personal secretary, Martha Jane Bonkemeyer, recalled how she and her then-boyfriend accompanied Richard and Lynda Petty to various theatres for dates. Bonkmeyer expressed, “We started to double-date and we’d go to Sun Theatre. We’d really splurge if we went to the Carolina Theatre in Greensboro.”

“Richard had the car, so we’d double date with him to go to the car. We go way back and I feel like it was part of the family, Lynda and I were so close friends. When Richard started racing, they said, ‘Well let’s go to the races’, and they’d invite me and Willis to go to the races.”

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With that being said, these snippets from the past and the driver’s personal life are an absolute piece of treasure for the fans, and more than often leave the fans asking for more.