Richard Petty pays tribute to late ‘first girl of NASCAR’ in heartwrenching publish

Simply weeks after taking part in Donald Trump’s inauguration parade, seven-time NASCAR Cup Sequence champion Richard Petty, 87, shared a tweet and wished his late spouse Lynda a contented birthday on the date she would have turned 83.

The pair had been married for 55 years after first turning into highschool sweethearts – the couple wed when Lynda was simply 17 and had 4 kids collectively. Lynda nee Owens was recognized with most cancers in 2010 and bravely fought the illness earlier than succumbing to it 4 years later on the age of 72.

Petty, a hero on and off the observe, competed within the sport over 4 a long time from the Fifties till the Nineties – a interval throughout which he gained seven Daytona 500 races. His spouse stored the household house so as and was by his facet commonly through the racing season as his largest supporter.

Richard’s father, Lee Petty, his son Kyle and his late grandson Adam additionally raced within the NASCAR Cup Sequence. Tragically, Adam died on Could 12, 2000, in a apply session for the Busch 200 race which led to the game instituting new security measures. He was 19-years-old.

The reminiscence of Adam impressed his father Kyle and the household to start out a camp for sick kids which started in 2004. Cash can also be raised for the trigger in an annual charity journey. The game is an enormous a part of the Petty household’s life and by extension, it was an enormous a part of Lynda’s existance as effectively – resulting in the moniker ‘the primary girl of NASCAR.’

Lynda, a beloved determine within the racing world and her group died on the household’s house in North Carolina in 2014. She served on the Randolph County College Board for 16 years – She was lively in organizations just like the Crimson Cross and Randolph County Hospice. She additionally co-founded the Racing Wives Auxiliary, a charitable group supporting the households of NASCAR drivers.

Lynda lent her voice to a personality in Pixar’s Vehicles film sequence alongside Richard – reflecting their iconic standing in NASCAR. And simply as in actual life – the movies portrayed the pair as a pair. On the time of her loss of life, NASCAR Chairman Brian France launched a press release providing his condolences.

He stated: “By way of the years, Lynda grew to become an integral a part of the NASCAR panorama. We’ve misplaced a real pal, who can be missed each day. Our ideas and prayers can be with the Pettys all through this troublesome time.”