Richard Petty is a name synonymous with NASCAR. Being the winningest driver in the top-flight competition’s history, his skills as a race car driver are renowned worldwide. But many people might be yet to learn about Petty’s football experience. Standing 1.88 meters, The King was taller than his compatriots in NASCAR. Owing to the same, on one fine day, Petty and his former crew chief, Dale Inman, decided to have a go on the gridiron.

With the NFL’s biggest event, the Super Bowl, closing in, Richard Petty spoke about some fond memories on a football pitch on his YouTube channel. Petty also claimed that if one watched them from afar, they would conclude that neither he nor Inman knew how to play football.

Richard Petty served as the cover for his crew chief, Dale Inman, in football

The King was unbelievably fast on the race track. Be it a superspeedway, a short track, or an oval, speed is what defined him once he was in the pilot seat of his #43 vehicle. However, outside of his car, being fast on a football pitch was a daunting challenge. As Richard Petty claimed, “We played football, and we didn’t even know how it was supposed to be played.” Thanking his stars for his and Inman’s time on the football pitch not being televised, the 7-time Cup Series winner added, “At that time, they didn’t have a TV,” as Dale Inman responded, “I know when I had the ball, I had to run.”

Richard Petty has never flaunted a robust and tenacious body. While NASCAR demands its drivers to be in excellent physical shape to prevent injuries that result in breaks from racing, the standards are entirely different in football. Petty was a tall and dominating figure, making him the perfect man to guard Inman as he ran with the ball. “I was supposed to knock everybody down in front of you,” recalled Petty.

Speaking about the passage of time and its effect on their bodies, Dale Inman said, “You weighed about 210, 211, you said, and I weighed 145, and now look what’s happened.” Richard Petty raced for a long time and continued doing it even after his 200th win in NASCAR. While longevity is one of the best aspects of his career, his physical capabilities have inevitably waned with time. Upon hearing Inman’s dig, Petty answered, “I was almost as fast as you, though,” as Inman hit back, saying, “No, you couldn’t run a lick.”

Richard Petty’s exploits in football might not be well remembered, but fellow 7-time champion Jimmie Johnson has found the most perfect way to remind the NASCAR community of the King’s excellence on the track.

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Jimmie Johnson will pay a heartfelt tribute to the King at Daytona

Richard Petty Motorsports has continued its influence on NASCAR through Legacy Motor Club. With two seven-time champions as its co-owners, Jimmie Johnson has intertwined his plans with essential sponsor Carvana to bring the hype to Daytona. Last week, LMC announced that Johnson would race in a Carvana-sponsored No.84 Toyota Camry XSE inspired by Petty and his 1964 Daytona 500 win.

Richard Petty won the 1964 Daytona 500 en route to his first championship victory. Replicating the palette, Carvana and Johnson have designed a Petty Blue paint scheme with the ‘Petty 75’ logo on it. There are some more resemblances to Petty’s blue Chrysler Plymouth. Honored by Johnson and his team’s plans, Richard Petty said, “Seeing my family honored in such a significant way by another NASCAR legend, Jimmie Johnson, is a humbling experience…It’s a testament to the enduring impact of the Petty family on racing, and we couldn’t be prouder to tie our storied history to Jimmie’s success and the future of this great sport.”

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Jimmie Johnson revealed that his induction into the 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame helped him ponder the different influential drivers in his career. “My relationship with Richard, Kyle and the whole Petty family is so meaningful to me and my goal was to celebrate their enduring LEGACY with this design.” It has been long since NASCAR fans watched the Petty Blue paint scheme grace the race tracks. With another seven-time champion bossing it, fans will love it without a doubt.