All great athletes must overcome diversity, but for "King Richard," his was diversity of the worst kind. Petty's grandson, Adam Petty -- who was being touted by experts as the next great racing Petty -- was killed in an accident at the New Hampshire International Speedway on May 12, 2000. Adam Petty, son of Kyle, was 19 at the time of his death.
The Legend
Despite the sorrow of losing his grandson in a racing accident, Richard Petty never wavered in his support for the sport, and helped usher in safety changes in NASCAR. At 68 years old, Richard Petty is still one of the most recognizable figures in NASCAR, as fans are still mesmerized by the tall man with sunglasses, cowboy hat and bushy mustache. Like all royalty, Richard Petty will always stand out from the crowd. To racing fans, he will always be "The King."