Once you are a race fanatic, nothing can stop you. The high-octane noises of heavy stock cars beating and banging around oval circuits are music to the ears of NASCAR fans. Be it swooning over the indomitable win streaks of Kyle Larson or the formidable last-lap passes of Tyler Reddick, they eagerly wait for everything NASCAR offers. This love was the case for later former American President – Jimmy Carter – who enjoyed the successes of Richard Petty and his rivals.

Carter, the 39th President of the United States, passed away on December 29th. He lived a grand life of 100 years, one which featured a strong passion for motorsports. In fact, Carter’s high-speed passion originated long before he occupied his office at the White House.

Jimmy Carter’s humble ties with the sport

Known for his blue-collar upbringing in Plains, Georgia, Jimmy Carter was a down-to-earth personality. In the 1950s, his family traveled across the country, as Carter served in the Navy. However, after his father fell sick, Carter retired to their family farm which produced a nutritious, everyday legume crop – peanuts. He even amassed a great amount of fortune by expanding the farm to three acres. Then Carter began selling peanuts himself and opened “Carter’s Warehouse,” which sold seeds and shelling. With peanuts, he got an opportunity to fuel his racing interest at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.54-mile quad-oval track in Hampton, Georgia.

The track opened in 1960, and Jimmy Carter was a permanent fixture. A few reports claim that he worked as a ticket vendor, while others claim he brought his peanut business to the track. A recent Twitter post by a NASCAR insider confirms the latter story. “In the 60s, before he was governor or president, Jimmy Carter would trade peanuts for tickets to races at Atlanta Motor Speedway. “Jimmy used to come to Atlanta Raceway. He’d bring me a big bag of peanuts and I’d give him a ticket in return. He’s just a good old country boy, one of the biggest peanut farmers in Georgia who refused to settle for peanuts.” – Alf Knight, Atlanta General Manager, 1971.”

Indeed, Jimmy Carter soared way beyond the realm of peanuts. From growing up in a home without running water or electricity to becoming the Georgia governor in 1971-75, Carter proved his mettle. But more was left. At a driver meeting after a Cup race in March 1970, Carter promised he would invite a delegate of drivers to the White House once he gets elected. He won the presidency in 1976 and invited NASCAR stalwarts like Cale Yarborough, David Pearson, Bud Moore, and others. Although he was away brokering a peace deal between Egypt and Israel, his wife and First Lady Rosalyn Carter hosted the legendary speedsters at the South Lawn.

And NASCAR’s stars also did not fail to show their respect to Carter.

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Reciprocation for Jimmy Carter’s passion

Once you put great effort into something, the recompense is equally magnificent. Jimmy Carter had time and again professed his love for all things NASCAR, and fans mourned his passing. As the Georgia governor, he hosted three dinners for drivers, team owners, and officials for Cup races in Atlanta. Then he feted a group of 26 drivers at the governor’s mansion in Atlanta, a group that included 7-time Cup champion Richard Petty and 4-time Indy 500 winner A.J. Foyt. “You two have been my heroes for more than 10 years,” Carter told Foyt and Petty. This burning passion for the sport did not fail to garner attention. In March 1976, NASCAR journalist George Cunningham conducted a presidential straw poll among 9 NASCAR drivers.

Most of them unequivocally favored Jimmy Carter. Cale Yarborough, a publicly declared Republican earlier, even changed his party to root for Carter. “If I’m going to work for him, I should be in the same party. Carter is the best man, and I believe he will be elected. He’s turned on 90 percent of the country’s big news media already.” Team owner Buddy Baker also voiced his support: “I’m for Carter because he seems conscientious and a good person. That’s about all you can judge by because they all sound alike. Besides, it’s nice to be able to say you had dinner with a president.”

Clearly, Jimmy Carter has a treasured place in NASCAR history. His humble beginnings and bonds with the sport are something to cherish.