Charles Chandler - Quotable Petty: Words of Wisdom, Success, and Courage, by and about Richard Petty, the King of Stock-Car Racing

T hanks to Mike Towle, my publisher, editor, and brother in Christ for the opportunity to work on this project; my editors at the Charlotte ObserverMike Persinger, David Scott, and Harry Pickettfor their support and friendship; the Observers Tom Tozer, Susan Gilbert, and Davie Hinshaw for providing photographs; the fine staff at the Mecklenburg County public library for their helpful assistance; longtime NASCAR reporter Tom Higgins for sharing from the riches of his knowledge; accomplished author Joe Menzer of the Winston-Salem Journal for his advice; Bob Dyar and Cindy Mangum at Joe Gibbs Racing and Cheryl Shore at Motor Racing Outreach for providing resources; the Asheboro/Randolph County Chamber of Commerce for background information on Richard Pettys political career; Roxboros Jay Holeman for the contagious admiration he had for Petty when we were children; andsaving the best to take the checkered flagmy wife Susan for her encouragement, support, and prayers.

1. Charlotte, North Carolina

2. Martinsville, Virginia

3. Hillsborough, North Carolina

4. Richmond, Virginia

5. Charlotte, North Carolina

6. North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

7. Martinsville, Virginia

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11. Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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13. North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

14. Tampa, Florida

15. Spartanburg, South Carolina

16. Weaverville, North Carolina

17. South Boston, Virginia

18. Martinsville, Virginia

19. North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

20. Columbia, South Carolina

21. Manassas, Virginia

22. Birmingham, Alabama

23. Bridgehampton, New York

24. Greenville, South Carolina

25. Columbia, South Carolina

26. Randleman, North Carolina

27. South Boston, Virginia

28. Savannah, Georgia

29. Daytona, Florida

30. South Boston, Virginia

31. Concord, North Carolina

32. Nashville, Tennessee

33. Spartanburg, South Carolina

34. Nashville, Tennessee

35. Huntington, West Virginia

36. Harris, North Carolina

37. Nashville, Tennessee

38. Weaverville, North Carolina

39. Hickory, North Carolina

40. Manassas, Virginia

41. Augusta, Georgia

42. Daytona, Florida

43. Darlington, South Carolina

44. Hampton, Virginia

45. Macon, Virginia

46. Weaverville, Virginia

47. Nashville, Tennessee

48. Atlanta, Georgia

49. Augusta, Georgia

50. Weaverville, North Carolina

51. Columbia, South Carolina

52. Hickory, North Carolina

53. Martinsville, Virginia

54. Richmond, Virginia

55. Darlington, South Carolina

56. Hampton, Virginia

57. Macon, Georgia

58. Maryville, Tennessee

59. Rockingham, North Carolina

60. Greenville, South Carolina

61. Trenton, New Jersey

62. Fonda, New York

63. Islip, New York

64. Bristol, Tennessee

65. Nashville, Tennessee

66. Winston-Salem, North Carolina

67. Columbia, South Carolina

68. Savannah, Georgia

69. Darlington, South Carolina

70. Hickory, North Carolina

71. Richmond, Virginia

72. Beltsville, Maryland

73. Hillsborough, North Carolina

74. Martinsville, Virginia

75. North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

76. Montgomery, Alabama

77. Hickory, North Carolina

78. Greenville, South Carolina

79. Asheville, North Carolina

80. Maryville, Tennessee

81. Birmingham, Alabama

82. Greenville, South Carolina

83. Oxford, Mississippi

84. Fonda, New York

85. Maryville, Tennessee

86. South Boston, Virginia

87. Richmond, Virginia

88. Hillsborough, North Carolina

89. Martinsville, Virginia

90. North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

91. Rockingham, North Carolina

92. Macon, Georgia

93. Riverside, California

94. Martinsville, Virginia

95. Kingsport, Tennessee

96. Dover, Delaware

97. Beltsville, Maryland

98. Nashville, Tennessee

99. Maryville, Tennessee

100. Winston-Salem, North Carolina

101. Martinsville, Virginia

102. Rockingham, North Carolina

103. Savannah, Georgia

104. North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

105. Columbia, South Carolina

106. Riverside, California

107. Kingsport, Tennessee

108. Malta, New York

109. Trenton, New Jersey

110. Maryville, Tennessee

111. Atlanta, Georgia

112. Ona, West Virginia

113. Winston-Salem, North Carolina

114. South Boston, Virginia

115. Richmond, Virginia

116. Dover, Delaware

117. Raleigh, North Carolina

118. Martinsville, Virginia

119. Macon, Georgia

120. Daytona, Florida

121. Richmond, Virginia

122. Rockingham, North Carolina

123. Hickory, North Carolina

124. Columbia, South Carolina

125. Maryville, Tennessee

126. North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

127. Martinsville, Virginia

128. Asheville, North Carolina

129. Greenville, South Carolina

130. Malta, New York

131. Islip, New York

132. Trenton, New Jersey

133. Nashville, Tennessee

134. Atlanta, Georgia

135. Ona, West Virginia

136. Columbia, South Carolina

137. Dover, Delaware

138. Rockingham, North Carolina

139. Richmond, Virginia

140. College Station, Texas

141. Riverside, California

142. Richmond, Virginia

143. North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

144. Martinsville, Virginia

145. College Station, Texas

146. Richmond, Virginia

147. Martinsville, Virginia

148. North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

149. Daytona, Florida

150. Richmond, Virginia

151. North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

152. College Station, Texas

153. Richmond, Virginia

154. Martinsville, Virginia

155. Daytona, Florida

156. Rockingham, North Carolina

157. North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

158. Nashville, Tennessee

159. Brooklyn, Michigan

160. Hampton, Georgia

161. Pocono, Pennsylvania

162. Talladega, Alabama

163. Richmond, Virginia

164. Dover, Delaware

165. Richmond, Virginia

166. Bristol, Tennessee

167. Atlanta, Georgia

168. North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

169. Martinsville, Virginia

170. Charlotte, North Carolina

171. Riverside, California

172. Daytona, Florida

173. Brooklyn, Michigan

174. Dover, Delaware

175. North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

176. Charlotte, North Carolina

177. Bristol, Tennessee

178. Rockingham, North Carolina

179. Long Pond, Pennsylvania

180. Rockingham, North Carolina

181. Rockingham, North Carolina

182. Hampton, Georgia

183. Charlotte, North Carolina

184. Riverside, California

185. Daytona, Florida

186. Daytona, Florida

187. Martinsville, Virginia

188. Brooklyn, Michigan

189. Dover, Delaware

190. Rockingham, North Carolina

191. North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

192. Nashville, Tennessee