One of NASCAR’s most iconic families will serve as the grand marshals for Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400, per an announcement by Daytona International Speedway. The Pettys, the winningest family in the history of stock car racing, will give the drivers the command to start engines.
A Petty Family Command
The participants will span multiple generations of Pettys. 200-time race winner and seven-time Daytona 500 champion Richard Petty will be amongst the group, no worse for his wear at age 87. Also with him will be his son, eight-time race winner and NASCAR analyst Kyle Petty. Joining them will be Richard’s three nephews: Timmy, Mark, and Ritchie Petty.
The three Petty nephews, sons of Richard’s brother and NASCAR Hall-of-Fame engine builder Maurice Petty, all have careers in racing of their own. Mark and Ritchie had short lived careers in NASCAR’s multiple national touring series, while Timmy has worked on engines for some of racing’s top teams.
“As we continue to celebrate one of NASCAR’s greatest legacies, we’re thrilled to welcome the Petty family to help us get the Coke Zero Sugar 400 started,” said DIS Frank Kelleher. “Our history here at Daytona International Speedway and NASCAR goes hand-in-hand with the Petty family’s history, beginning when Lee won the very first DAYTONA 500 in 1959. With all the significant racing moments that came from their family in the years to follow, we’re honored to have the Pettys return to Daytona as our Grand Marshals.”
A Legacy of Greatness
The connection of the Petty family to Daytona International Speedway goes further still than just what the headlines say. Richard and Maurice’s late father Lee Petty won the first annual Daytona 500 in 1959, in a photo finish that took days to definitively score. Richard has three wins in the Firecracker 400 (the race now known as the Coke Zero Sugar 400), on top of his record seven Daytona 500s. Maurice has eight Daytona 500 wins under his belt as an engine builder.
Lee will be there in spirit on Saturday for his family’s command, as will Kyle’s late son Adam, who was destined to become the next storied Petty before his tragic death in a practice crash in 2000. The Petty heritage is currently carried by Richard’s grandson Thad Moffitt, who currently competes full-time in the Camping World Truck Series.
