News Flash

Richard Petty Answers the Call

When Dodge Motorsports arranged for its NASCAR drivers to place conference calls to U.S. troops in Iraq during the race weekend in Las Vegas, Dodge team owner Richard Petty was one of the first to volunteer his time.

Petty was involved in one such call with a group of United States Army engineers from the Coalition Network Operations and Security Center (CNOSC). When the group commented on Petty’s signature cowboy hat, he made sure that the group got one of their own.

"Our soldiers sacrifice so much to allow us to live in a free country," said Petty. "When they asked me to send them one of my Charley One Horse hats, I thought that was the least I could do. It meant the world to me that one of my hats could provide them with a little relief from what they deal with on a daily basis."

"Race car drivers are often called heroes, but the men and women of our military are the real heroes," continued Petty. "Not only do they need our support when overseas, but also when they return to their lives back home."

"With 200 wins and seven championships in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition, "The King" Richard Petty is firmly woven into the fabric of Americana as a true icon. Although those numbers place him at the top of his profession, "The King" is also noted for his generous giving of time and energy in support of others.