Richard Petty's wife Lynda dies at 72
Lynda Petty, the wife of seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty, died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer. She was 72.
She was diagnosed with central nervous system lymphoma four years ago.
Richard and Lynda Petty were married in 1959, and she played an instrumental role in her husband's early racing career. Richard Petty, who holds the Sprint Cup record with 200 victories, told USA TODAY Sports in 2008 that Lynda would feed their four children and the pit crew from the back of a 1960 Chrysler sedan parked in the infield.
"We finally got a station wagon in 1969," Richard Petty said. "She said she thought she'd died and gone to heaven because it had all that room for the kids and the food."
NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said in a statement: "On behalf of the France family and everyone at NASCAR, I want to offer sincere condolences to the Petty family regarding the loss of their beloved matriarch, Lynda Petty. Through the years, Lynda became an integral part of the NASCAR landscape. We have lost a true friend, who will be missed each and every day. Our thoughts and prayers will be with the Pettys throughout this difficult time."
Lynda Petty gave the command to start engines in May 2005 at Darlington Raceway for the first Southern 500 held on Mother's Day.
"I'm honored they asked me," she told USA TODAY in 2005. "But I'm not really excited. I don't know if you get excited about being the grand marshal. I guess some people might. I've been coming (to races) for so long, I never thought about it."
Though her family made its fame and fortune in racing, Lynda Petty admitted to growing disenchanted with NASCAR in later years, saying, "People are not as friendly today. They don't come by and speak to you as much because everything is very competitive. It's such a stab-you-in-the-back, dog-eat-dog world in the sport now. I can't tell you how it breaks my heart.
"I don't like what it's become," she told USA TODAY in a 2008 interview. "You've had people that's come in with money — big money — and they pay these ungodly salaries to people who have a high school education and came out of a local body shop. When you look at what (Richard) made his whole career compared to what they're making now, it's mind-boggling."
Petty attended fewer races in later years before she became ill, saying she didn't like battling the large crowds and traffic jams.
"I kind of pick and choose where I go anymore," she said. "I don't go to all of them because, after 50 years, I guess you kind of burn out."
Though she still watched racing on TV in her later years, Lynda once said her favorite sport was pro football and didn't call herself a race fan.
"I don't think I've ever liked it, and I have to be very honest in saying that. Richard, when we were first married, I was 17 years old. And, of course, anywhere Richard went and I could be with him, I was happy."
Grandson Austin Petty, COO of Victory Junction, said via statement:
"We have lost my grandmother, but my family and our Victory Junction family are grateful to have had her love and wisdom for so many years. It was no secret that she was the cornerstone of the Petty family; a woman of humility and extraordinary strength. While we mourn her death, we also celebrate her life and the profound impact she had on those who knew her. The pride she had in her children, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren was shared with us through her unconditional love. Her strong example of leadership outside of her home was most recently acknowledged by the Association of Fundraising Professionals when she, along with my grandfather, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement in Philanthropy Award for her personal commitment to seriously ill children and to our American troops. We honor my grandmother's legacy of inspiration and enduring love at Victory Junction today and always."
Lynda Petty is survived by her son Kyle (a TV analyst and six-time winner in Cup); daughters Sharon, Lisa and Rebecca; and 11 grandchildren.