The NASCAR community honored Richard Petty’s legacy in the sport with an out-of-the-box idea earlier this year, showcasing one of The King’s iconic features. A 1000-pound fiberglass and concrete statue of Petty’s famous cowboy hat was unveiled by Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher during the Hard Rock Bet Fanzone’s Camperfest in February.
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The 87-year-old veteran of the sport only recently reacted to one of the life-size statues, the first of 28 that came up at Daytona. With the remaining statues popping up at various venues significant to the sport, Petty joked:
“I guess, everybody sees the hat, they going to think I got the big head. It was kind of a surprise, they never showed me any pictures of it and I didn’t realize how big it was. Seeing the first one at Daytona was a big thrill.”
The 200-time NASCAR Cup race winner went on to explain how much the tribute meant to him and his family.
“Being in racing for 75 years, being in any business for 75 years is a big accomplishment. It’s not just a Richard Petty hat, it represents the family. A lot of people that didn’t realize we’ve been here this long is going to realize that.”
Throughout 2024, Legacy Motor Club brought a King's Hat to tracks across the country, honoring the Petty family's impact on racing over the last 75 years. The King himself, @therichardpetty, saw his family's Legacy shine through this special campaign. 👑 pic.twitter.com/oIvrC31YMP
— LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (@LEGACYMotorClub) December 27, 2024
Richard’s father, Lee Petty, is also a well-known figure in the sport. He was a three-time NASCAR Grand National Champion and the inaugural Daytona 500 winner in 1959. Meanwhile, Kyle is Richard’s son and the third generation of the Petty family to be involved in stock car racing. His son Adam was also a stock car racing driver who died in a crash during practice in 2000.
Kyle, 64, also shared his thoughts on ‘The King’s Hat,’ saying it was a great way to celebrate his “family’s heritage.”
“My dad’s cowboy hat is iconic and is a part of who Richard Petty is. It’s been his signature look for as long as any race fan can remember.”
The six-foot-tall statues are made meticulously by hand by design and theming company Tivoli Too Inc. who specialize in the fabrication of sculptures.
Developed as landmarks at tracks across the country to remind the fraternity of the impact the name Petty has had on NASCAR over the years, followers of the sport can cherish one of stock car racing’s eternal icons.
The 2025 season is getting closer as the sport prepares to go live from Daytona International Speedway for the 67th running of the famed Daytona 500 on February 16. Fans may witness the statue in full glory at the track while also witnessing one of the sport’s most prestigious events.
