2010 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
Honors Richard Petty

THE KING IS COMING TO AMELIA

Over the years, Amelia has hosted royalty from all forms of motorsports, but in 2010, the 15th anniversary for the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance will truly be a special one. We are honored and excited to have “The King” with us – the one and only Richard Petty.

When you think of NASCAR, you think of Richard Petty first and foremost. With his trademark Charley One Horse cowboy hat and wrap-around sunglasses, he is widely considered to be one of the greatest – if not the greatest – driver in the history of NASCAR, and his impact on motorsports in general will never be fully appreciated.

Bill Warner, founder and chairman of Amelia, could not have chosen a better honoree for the 15th anniversary of the Amelia Island Concours. “It gives me great pleasure to announce that Mr. Petty is our honoree for the 2010 Amelia Island Concours,” Warner says. “He is a guiding force in the world of motorsports and a major reason that NASCAR is so popular in America today. He is a vibrant, sincere and honest man who inspires the greatest loyalty from fans worldwide. I’m really looking forward to having him.” Petty’s limitless dedication to the sport and his accessibility to the fans are considered important cornerstones in transforming NASCAR from a series of dirt track races in the 1950s to the multi-million dollar enterprise it is today.

A cagey driver who raced and won in both the Grand National and NASCAR eras, Petty is best known for winning the NASCAR championship seven times. (Only the late Dale Earnhardt equaled this feat.) He also won a record 200 races during his career, and notched a record seven wins in NASCAR’s crown jewel, the Daytona 500. Motorsports writers and observers all agree that his greatest quality was, and remains today, his accessibility to the fans. Recognizing the importance of the relationship with the fans, it was not uncommon for Petty to stand against a fence after a race win and sign autographs for hours and hours until the last fan had been taken care of. He has always been quick to point out that he owes his tremendous success to rabid fan support, which is as strong today as it was when he was behind the wheel.

Born in Level Cross, North Carolina, Petty’s first NASCAR race was on July 18, 1959, at the Canadian National Exhibition Grounds in Toronto, Canada. Driving an Oldsmobile, he finished 17th; he would go on to win an incredible 200 races. After a stellar career behind the wheel, which ended with his retirement in 1992, Petty went on to form and operate Petty Enterprises, now known as Richard Petty Motorsports, and he also worked in the television booth for several seasons. Racing must have been in his genes as his father, Lee Petty, was a three-time NASCAR series champion and winner of the very first Daytona 500 held in 1959. Petty’s son, Kyle, also followed in the family’s footsteps and raced in NASCAR for a number of years. Today Petty still lives in Level Cross and is an honored guest at as many NASCAR events as his busy schedule will allow. He splits his time between family, business interests, and operating The Richard Petty Museum in nearby Randleman, NC.

Amelia Week will be a full one for The King. On Friday, March 12th, he will serve as the grand marshal for the annual road tour for specially selected vintage cars participating in the show, which covers the length of Amelia Island and visits a number of historic sites. The following night, Saturday, March 13th, should not be missed as Petty will be the keynote speaker at the Mercedes-Benz Gala Dinner in the Ritz-Carlton Grand Ballroom. Petty will continue an Amelia tradition on show day, Sunday, March 14th, when he will pilot one of his famous #43 “Petty Blue” racecars onto the field of dreams to officially open the Concours.

Make your plans today to attend the 15th edition of the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance March 12-14, 2010 (www.ameliaconcours.org). It promises to be the best one yet – one truly fit for a king.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Winner of seven NASCAR Championships – 1964, 67, 71, 72, 74, 75, 79

• Winner of a record 200 races in the Grand National (predecessor to NASCAR) & NASCAR eras

• Daytona 500 winner a record seven times – 1964, 66, 71, 73, 74, 79, 81

• NASCAR’s Rookie of the Year in 1959 with nine Top 10 finishes, including six Top 5 finishes

• First driver to take home more than $1 million in career earnings

• Named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998

• Member of the first class inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame (1989) and the only stock car representative

• First motorsports athlete to be honored with the Medal of Freedom; presented by former Pres. George W. Bush in 1992

• Winner of a record 27 races (10 consecutively) in one season (1967), and a record number of poles (127)