The driver who would be King
Richard Petty reminds me of Richard Simmons. Not because he's hyper, has an afro, or is slightly effeminate, but because you never see the guy out of costume- a cowboy hat and dark shades are his bedazzled shirt and short shorts (it's probably the more appropriate ensemble for a guy named "The King").
He told me that he's tried to go incognito, and not wear the hat and shades, but still gets noticed. This was purely an experiment, as The King never hides from his fans. And that's why he's still NASCAR's most recognizable figure, even at 71 years old. You could put stars like Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and points leader Kyle Busch in the same room, and if The King walked in, he would OWN it.
There's a lot to like about Richard Petty. There's also a lot not to like. For instance, he's 71 and still has about 5% body fat; he has enough stamina to out-work guys a third his age; and he has a full-enough head of hair. After my last haircut, I can't say the same about myself.
When he visited the show this morning, it was like we'd known each other 10 years. The man is a geuine Southern gentleman, and befitting of the name "King" for more than his racing.
